Page 120 of Soul Mates: Hercules Valentine and I

“Just working on a project for GIT,” I say.

His eyebrows shoot up. “You’re still your parents’ star, then.”

I snort a chuckle. “I don’t know about that.”

“Oh yeah, you are. Your parents are always bragging about you in one way or another. You’re a good girl, Paisley. Well, you’re not a girl anymore. But you’re down-to-earth. And you know, I have a nephew who…”

Thank the Lord my personal cellphone rings. I don’t even check before answering. I hold the device away from my mouth and say, “Sorry, Greg. I have to take this.”

“Sure, go on.” He readjusts in his seat. I think he feels he was crossing a line in trying to set me up with this nephew.

“Where were you?”

I groan and roll my eyes. It’s Max.

“When?” I ask.

“You know when.”

“Last night?”

He remains stubbornly silent.

“Asleep,” I say.

“Who answered your phone?”

Suddenly, it feels like an elephant is sitting on my chest.Hercules did touch my phone. Does he know? Damn it.

I massage my left temple. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“The hell you don’t, Pais. Finish it, and then get the hell out of VTI. Got it?”

Tears rush to my eyes, and my nostrils swell. I don’t want to get the hell out of VTI. I feel like I have to fight to stay.

“What you want me to do is not easy.”

“Not if you’re letting yourself be distracted by Hercules Valentine. And if you are, then stop.”

“I’m not distracted by him,” I say in a small voice.

“You’re lying. Finish it, Paisley, or I’ll end it for you.” He hangs up.

Suddenly, I don't feel like going to my parents’ house for dinner anymore. I want to call Hercules and ask if I can see him tonight after his mother’s birthday celebration. Or maybe he can skip the shindig, and we can crawl into bed and make love.

Screw our families.I have a lot of money in the bank, and it all belongs to me no matter what. He and I can run away together and start our own VTI or GIT. Or maybe we can do something else that’ll make the both of us even happier together.

“Hey, is everything okay?” Greg asks.

I didn’t realize I closed my eyes while taking deep breaths. “Hardly,” I whisper.

“Was that Max?”

With my eyes full of tears, I nod.

Greg grunts thoughtfully. “I’m sure you can handle him. You’re not a kid anymore. Remember that.” I press my lips into a thankful smile as Greg balances looking at me through the rearview mirror and watching the road. “Listen, I like Max. He’s a good guy. But you’re not, you know, his robot. You’re a smart girl—young lady, I mean. Your brain belongs to you, not them.”

I swallow to moisten my dry throat.Has he noticed? Have all of my family’s employees noticed our dynamic?