Page 86 of Naughty or Nice

I’m trying to make light of it, lift the mood, but he’s quiet. His silence is unsettling, and I can feel his hatred towards Nate all the way down the line.

‘Look, he wasn’t seeing straight,’ I say. ‘Catching us like that had him completely knocked for six.’

‘You’re making excuses for him again?’

‘In this case it’s justified. But as far as business goes, and the past, he’s on his own—no more cleaning up after him.’

‘Good.’

The line goes quiet again. The question burning to get out: Does he still want there to be an ‘us’? But I’m scared. It doesn’t matter that he has hinted strongly at a future—that was before the showdown with my brother, before I fell apart in front of them both.

‘Lucas?’ I say.

‘Eva?’ he says at the same time.

Hope sparks within me. ‘You go first.’

‘I want to amend our agreement.’

His words are clear as day, businesslike, and I struggle to shift gear, from personal to professional.

‘What do you mean?’

‘You want your family out of your company, yes?’

‘You know I do.’

‘Well, that works for me too, clearly.’

‘My intention is to buy them out as soon as my sales revenue is big enough. It shouldn’t take—’

‘I want to give you the money now. So you can do it upfront.’

I shake my head. ‘Look if you’re worried about them interfering, they wouldn’t dare.’

‘What? Like your brother just didn’t dare?’

Before I can speak he carries on.

‘I’m not taking any chances.’

I hesitate. ‘Okay...’

‘But I want something in return.’

So many things stream through my mind, and hope is rising with every one.

I want us. I want you. I want you to tell your family we’re together, that there’s no getting between us.

‘What is it that you want?’

‘I want in.’

I frown, a cold tremor running down my spine as I straighten. ‘You want in?’

‘The twenty-five per cent share they currently have—I want it. We can come up with a gradual repayment of the shares over time—say a couple of years, which I imagine isn’t too dissimilar to your current plan—but...’

‘Back up, Lucas.’ I struggle to draw breath, disappointment making my lungs contract. I can’t believe what he’s saying. What he’s focusing on. ‘Are you telling me you want me to replace my family with you?’