Page 27 of The Tempo of Truth (The Monsters Duet #3)

Winnie

“It’s a garbage deal. Halliday Inc. gets its hands on all our assets, and all we get is the use of the Halliday name.

It’s unbelievable that Oliver didn’t try to negotiate a share portion for long-term investors.

Between him and the girl, things are looking pretty grim for the future of Byrd Enterprises. ”

I pulled the plastic skewer out of my dirty martini and popped an olive into my mouth while eavesdropping on the conversations happening at the table next to me.

. This gathering was supposed to be a retirement party for one of Halliday Inc.

’s longest-standing employees. My Uncle Alistair had originally been invited to show respect, but one of his kids got sick, and his wife was out of town.

Instead of dragging the ill child across town so Win or I could watch her, I offered to fill in for him at the reception.

I planned to dash in, offer our sincere thanks on behalf of the company, deliver the retirement gift, and get home to Lowe before bedtime.

Unfortunately, I kept getting dragged into conversations about my plans for the company going forward and had to answer a hundred questions about my personal life.

I ended up stuck having drinks with Oliver out of politeness, since one of his family properties was hosting the event, while I was forced to endure a bunch of people who had no respect for me talking about me like I wasn’t even in the room.

“Don’t mind them. They’re all afraid of change. Even if it weren’t you leading the way, someone else who was younger and who had fresh ideas would come along to upset the status quo. And then they’d be talking about them behind their backs instead of you.”

I finished off the olives and pushed away my empty glass.

“It doesn’t bother me. Nothing anyone says about me can be worse or more scathing than the things my grandmother told me day in and day out when I was younger.

” I slid out of my seat and motioned toward the bar.

“I’m going to grab a quick refill, then try to sneak out. I want to get home to my kid.”

Oliver stood in a gentlemanly manner and asked, “Are you sure you want to call it a night? This is one of our hotels. We reserved a block of rooms for the guests tonight. I don’t get a chance to spend a lot of time with other suitable adults outside of work.

That’s gotta be even harder for you, since you’re a single parent. ”

I waved at his chair and told him to sit back down. Perfect manners would never impress me. They reminded me too much of the parts of my past I’d rather forget. I much preferred someone willing to defy social etiquette and break the most basic of rules.

“It’s hard, but I have enough privilege and help from my family that I have it much easier than most moms and dads in the same situation.

” I lifted my eyebrows and dropped the blunt reminder.

“Besides, I’m not really a single parent.

Lowe’s father is in the picture.” Even if his image might be a bit out of focus at the moment.

Oliver cleared his throat and reached for my arm to stop me from walking away.

“About that…” His fingers squeezed my elbow, which made me frown.

“I don’t want to be too forward, but given the chance, I’d like to get to know both you and your son better.

I’m sure I’d set a better example for Lowe as he gets older than that boxer. ”

I silently balked at this man’s arrogance. It was one thing to be certain he could win me over. It was an entirely different ball game to try to involve Lowe in whatever fantasy and schemes he was cooking in that perfectly coiffed head of his.

I pulled myself free and narrowed my eyes at him.

“We’re business associates, Mr. Byrd. I think I’ve made myself very clear that I’m not interested in anything beyond that.

It would be wise for you to recognize the very clear boundaries I’ve set between us.

” I lifted my chin and warned, “Don’t ever touch me without permission again.

If you do, the deal between Halliday Inc.

and the Byrd family won’t be the only thing that ends up dead in the water. ”

I felt Oliver’s eyes boring into my back as I walked to the bar.

I found an open space between two very drunk entrepreneurs and was just about to order another drink when I overheard, “No way she leaves with the uptight asshole in the business suit. I’ll bet you a hundred bucks the other guy shows up, and she leaves with him. ”

“You’ve got to be wasted. Why would she choose a broke nobody over a man with obvious class and ambition?”

The conversation was happening between a cute blonde girl holding a cocktail tray and the bartender. Their voices weren’t loud, but the subject filtered through all the business talk happening around me. I lifted my eyebrows in curiosity to see how the server defended her guess.

She flipped her hair over her shoulder and told the bartender in a matter-of-fact tone, “Women will always choose the bad boy over the nice guy. The hottie athlete who can rock a pair of gray sweatpants and has all those sexy tattoos looks like he’s a damn good time—even if he won’t be around for a long time.

Everything I’ve read about the Halliday heiress says she’s smart.

She’s not going to pass up what the hot-as-fuck boxer offers while he’s around. ”

The bartender rolled his eyes. “That’s how a normal woman might operate.

Someone with Winnie Halliday’s status isn’t going to pick a performing clown over the ringmaster.

Hell, she’s not even going to choose one of the circus performers; she’s going home with whoever owns the big top.

I’m happy to take the bet and your money, Delilah. ”

I giggled under my breath, enjoying the playful speculation and how on-point the cocktail server’s guess was.

I would pick Ky over anyone else in a heartbeat, not only because he was hot and made my heart beat faster than a racehorse, but because he was the only one who brought out my true self.

I wasn’t ashamed to be the very messy and completely unsophisticated version of Winnie Halliday around him.

Ky was the only one who ever opened the door of the cage I was caught in.

He reached through the golden wires and purposefully ruffled my feathers.

Everyone else just stared at me from the outside and waited for me to do tricks or sit there and look pretty.

Tickled at the idea of helping a fellow improper young lady get one over on an arrogant man who thought he knew it all, I stepped away from the bar with my refilled drink in hand and waited until the cocktail server unloaded her tray.

I intercepted her on her way to fill a new order and pulled her to an empty spot near the bar so I could whisper, “Raise the bet with your coworker. Get him to go as high as you can. I’ll make sure you win.

I’ve had enough of overbearing men tonight, and your friend just pushed me over the edge. ”

The pretty blonde giggled and stared at me with big eyes.

“I’m so happy you’re back in the city. When I was younger, I followed all the news about you and your family.

I thought you were a princess. All of my friends and I were so envious of your lifestyle.

When I got older, I started to realize that being you might not be as easy as it seems. It’s still fun to live vicariously through you, though.

I never imagined you’d be so nice and down-to-earth.

Or that you would be such a girl’s girl. ”

We both tittered, and warmth spread through my chest at her kind words.

“I don’t get to have fun or be mischievous like this very often.

As soon as I agreed to take over my family’s company, it was like everyone forgot I’m still in my twenties and like to have a good time.

I’m not ready to be as stern and boring as those fossils on the board of directors.

” I took out my phone, indicating I needed to make a call, and gestured for her to raise the bet.

I stepped into the lobby of the hotel that the expensive bar was attached to. I called Ky twice before he picked up. I heard the sounds of the gym in the background. I frowned as I realized he was working even though he was still injured.

“Aren’t you supposed to be resting?” I couldn’t help nagging after he mumbled an unenthusiastic greeting.

“I’ve got hospital bills to pay. I can’t sit around on my ass and do nothing with that sort of debt hanging over my head. I know that’s not something you can understand.” He snapped the reply and coldly asked, “What do you want, Winnie? I don’t have plans to see Lowe until the weekend.”

I leaned my shoulder against the wall and felt my heart thump heavily in my chest. “If you come and pick me up from the bar I’m at and make a show of it, I’ll give you the money for the hospital bills. You won’t earn that much trying to box with a busted hand.”

I heard him snort. “Are you out of your mind? What sort of game are you playing? Is this a rich people thing I don’t understand?”

“It’s a girlhood thing you wouldn’t understand.

Come on. I know you were never going to ask me to help you with the medical bills from the start.

I was never going to offer any help. Now, there’s a situation where we can give each other a hand, and there isn’t an ounce of charity or pity involved.

I’ll pay you for your time and effort, just like Lev. ”

It was apparent that he wanted to turn me down, but the offer to clear the looming debt was too good to pass up.

He’d eventually earn enough to pay it all off on his own, but that meant living on ramen and cheap pancake mix for months at a time.

Or taking on a fight he was bound to lose since he was still injured. Ky was stubborn, not stupid.

“Give me twenty.”