by Kasey Krane
But who cared?
I definitely didn’t.
This was the only way I made it through the wasteland of my days and nights.
When Tate still hadn’t spotted me and was about to leave the house, assuming I wasn’t even here at my own party, I got up and rushed towards him.
Thankfully, the floor wasn’t spinning and I’d managed to pull myself together at the last minute.
Maybe I should’ve just let Tate leave. That would’ve been the sensible thing to do, but nothing about me was sensible anymore. So I went after him.
“Tate!” I shouted his name and he heard me over the music and stopped.
Our eyes met and he clenched his jaws tightly. That was enough for me to know he had no faith in me anymore. He didn’t see me as the responsible older brother I used to be in his eyes many years ago.
And I didn’t know what I could do to fix it.
We went outside together to stand by the pool where there were relatively fewer people.
“What’s going on around here?” Tate finally asked, looking around suspiciously.
“It’s just a party, bro, relax,” I said, grabbing his shoulder and giving it a squeeze. “I’m just having some fun. Remember, fun? That thing we used to have together?”
Tate nudged my hand off his shoulder.
“Yeah, we used to have fun together, but it was never like this. Not with these idiots. Do you even know these people?”
I looked over at the people splashing about in the pool. I didn’t want to admit to Tate that I didn’t recognize them. Maybe if I was sober I’d know who they were, I told myself.
“So why are you here? It doesn’t sound like you actually want to be here at all. Did the others send you to talk to me?” I continued with a grin.
Tate rubbed the side of his neck, struggling to get his thoughts in order.
“No, the others don’t know I’m here. As much as you’d like to believe it, we don’t sit around bitching about you.”
I laughed at that because we both knew it was only half-true.
“I’m here because I got a call from Michael. He told me what happened today. With the woman.”
I knew who he was talking about—the same woman I’d spent the day trying not to think about.
“That was a low blow, bro. What made you guys think I’d go for it? Image consultancy? Are you kidding me?”
“Have you seen the video from the funeral?”
“I don’t need to see it. I was there. I know what happened.”
“You need to watch the video to see exactly what we all look like to the rest of the world. A pack of wild dogs who don’t know how to keep their shit together at their own parents’ funeral. You took a shot at our biggest competition. You were about to push him into our father’s grave. Maybe if you were sober you’d know exactly what that means.”
I didn’t know what to say. Tate was calm. He spoke in a low voice and looked straight into my eyes so I couldn’t look away. For the first time in a long time, he was successful in making me embarrassed of my own actions.
I ran a hand through my hair.
“I was trying to defend Dad’s honor.”
“But now you’ve got to defend Dad’s life’s work. Our business is going to be in crisis if you don’t get your act together and fix this while you still have a chance.”
I glared at my brother, hoping he’d break into sudden laughter and confess he was just kidding around. But Tate didn’t laugh, he didn’t even crack a smile.
“Do you hear what I’m saying to you, brother? You’ve got to fix this.”
Nine
Keira
Less than twenty-four hours since I last saw Everett Baker, I saw him again—and this time he stepped off the elevator onto our office floor. He was being led by Misty, George’s assistant, and it looked like he was headed straight to my boss’s office.
I nearly sank into my chair, while I tried to hide behind my computer screen. Thankfully, he wasn’t looking in my direction because he would’ve easily seen me. My office was basically just a glass box with nowhere to hide.
I had no idea what he was doing here. I didn’t think I’d see him again.
Once he had fired me and I walked out of his house yesterday, I wanted to believe that the chapter was closed. I was relieved when I left. I wasn’t sure how I’d remain professional if I had to work with him closely.
I was well aware of the kind of man he was—rich, spoiled, a brat who hadn’t worked a single day of his life. Moreover, his life was a complete mess at the moment. Based on all the information I was able to gather on him, Everett Baker had consistently been drunk or high every waking minute since he found out about the death of his parents.
But I couldn’t feel sorry for him even if I tried.
He was too arrogant. Too full of himself.
He was also very hot. Almost unrealistically handsome. It was unfair.
I watched with bated breath as he and Misty walked across the office floor to George’s door. Once they went inside, I could breathe again—but only barely.
I thought he hated me. Hated the idea of us. He was too messed up to know what was good for him.
When I informed George yesterday that I’d been fired on the spot, I noticed he was disappointed. It’d be a big account for us and he wanted me on the case because he believed I’d be able to get the job done. And as disappointed as I was in myself, I was still relieved I didn’t have to work with Everett. I was sure I’d have other opportunities to prove myself.
But now, within minutes of being inside George’s office, they walked out and headed in my direction.
I started typing aimlessly on my computer, trying not to meet their eyes in the hopes they’d just forget about me. Where could I run? It was too late.
George tapped on my glass door before opening it for Everett. I looked up, trying to hide the horror I was experiencing.
Everett wasn’t naked this time. He was fully clothed in ripped up jeans and a flannel shirt. It was a struggle not to stare at him.
“Keira, we have some good news, Mr. Baker has decided he’d like to work with us after all,” George declared happily.
However, I noticed Everett didn’t look happy about it. I sensed he’d been forced against his will, probably by his brothers—to come here and give this mission a shot. He didn’t actually want to work with us at all, and that would be a problem for me.
I remained in my chair and noticed the way Everett’s eyes drifted to my legs. I kept them tightly crossed, and noticed the way my body reacted to his eyes on me. He didn’t have any qualms about watching me like that. He didn’t care if George noticed the electricity in the air between us.
I had goosebumps on the back of my neck. Just because his eyes were on me. What would happen if I had to work with him every day? Had to be around him all the time?
“Would he really like to work with us?” I asked suspiciously, raising my brows at George. I tried to ignore the glares Everett gave me.
George smiled at me. I imagined he was nervous. I knew what he was thinking—he didn’t want me ruining the opportunity we had here.
Everett had his hands thrust in his jacket pockets.
“Like is a strong word. Probably the wrong one. I’m here because I’ve been told I don’t have a choice, even though I disagree.”
I turned to Everett. He had a butter grin on his face. He really didn’t want to be here and it’d be impossible to work with someone like that—someone who didn’t want to be helped.
“So you don’t think you need us?”
He shrugged.
“I’m definitely not going to put on a show for those blood thirsty sons of bitches who follow me around with their cameras now.”
“There are some very specific things that need to be done in order to fix your public image.”
“You mean suck up to people? Smile and wave at the cameras? Apologize to Samuel Mendez?”
I didn’t respond to his
question, but he was right…yeah, maybe he didn’t need me after all. He clearly knew what needed to be done.
“Yeah, I’m not doing that,” he snapped, answering for me.
“I’m sure Keira can work on a few alternatives,” George tried to interject. However, neither Everett nor I paid any attention to him.
“If you’re not here to take my suggestions, then why are you back here at all?” I snapped.
Everett’s blue eyes turned dark and stormy again, just the way I remembered them from yesterday. He still despised me, but maybe he wanted me too. Just maybe, he experienced the same conflicting feelings I was.
“I’m the client, right? You’re supposed to work around me. Figure out a way to make this work for me,” he commanded in a deeper voice.
“And I have the right to reject your offer, which is exactly what I’m going to do. So, please leave my office.”
This time around, the tables were turned—I was the one kicking him out.
I knew I’d shocked both Everett and George with my response. Neither of them saw it coming. George hoped I’d somehow make this work for the sake of our company and Everett thought we’d be frothing at our mouths simply because he’d walked into the building. Well, I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of having that victory.
I glared back at him while he watched me in burning silence.
He clenched his jaws, nodded quickly, then he turned and walked out of my office.
George muttered under his breath—I assumed he was cursing. He shot me a threatening look before rushing after Everett.
My heart raced. I felt flushed and very hot. I needed to stand up. I couldn’t stay still.
I couldn’t believe I did what I did. I’d never rejected a client before. Nobody would’ve rejected a client like Everett Baker. Working with him could have put our company on the map—it could have definitely put me on the map. From a career standpoint, I needed the exposure and the attention. If I was able to rescue Everett’s reputation, it’d do wonders for my career.
However, from a personal standpoint, I knew it’d be suicide.
In the short period of time that I’d spent with him, I knew I wouldn’t be able to think straight around him. My professional demeanor would crack easily.
He turned me on like no man had done before. His life was spinning out of control, and if I got anywhere near his orbit, he’d take me down with him. I couldn’t afford to take a risk like that. I couldn’t afford to get close to a client.
I paced around my office, trying to calm myself. Anybody looking in would’ve seen me crumbling. They would’ve seen the look of complete disaster on my face too. I lost it.
Especially because I knew George wasn’t going to be happy.
I’d let the Baker account slip through our fingers. Not just slip, but I’d kicked an opportunity out with both my feet.
Would I lose my job over this?
I knew George respected and trusted me. He’d just promoted me! But would he actually want to keep me around when I’d isolated and rejected a client like Everett Baker? How much money had I cost the company?
I had a feeling I was going to be asked to clear out my table any time now.
When my phone pinged with a text message, I was startled out of my dark thoughts.
It was Sean.
Hi! What are you doing, Sis? Wanna come over? I feel like talking.
I couldn’t stop the smile curling my lips. It was exactly what I needed. I’d been so afraid Sean was drawing himself away from me, but seeing a text like this from him validated the fact he still needed me sometimes.
I sure as hell needed him.
I grabbed my purse and rushed out the door without looking back.
“Ms. Cunningham, you have a meeting in twelve minutes!” Alisha called out when I breezed past her desk.
“Cancel it. I need to see my brother,” I snapped, without looking at her.
Spending some time alone with Sean was the only thing that’d help me forget the disaster I’d just created.
Sean looked anxious when he opened the door. I stepped in hurriedly, trying to keep my calm even though I couldn’t help but be worried that something had happened. He rarely reached out to me like this these days. Typical teenager.
“Sorry, were you busy? Did I interrupt something?” he asked when I deposited my bag on the kitchen counter. I helped myself to some instant coffee.
“No, I needed the break. It’s been a shitshow at work today.”
Sean seemed distracted. Usually, he would’ve wanted to know exactly what had gone wrong with my day. He was always curious to know more about my job. However, today, he didn’t seem that interested.
“Anyway, what’s up with you?” I tried to sound casual. The worst thing you could do to a teenager was push them for answers and explanations. I, myself, had been a teenager not long ago and I remembered that feeling well. Even though I never really got to have a normal teenage life because of the responsibilities that were thrust upon me because of the death of our parents.
Sean was silent for a while before he sighed, forcing me to turn to him. I needed to see his face. I needed to make sure he was doing okay.
“College is…stressful, I guess. Living on my own is strange.”
I was silent because I’d never heard him admitting something like this before. Sean was always so strong and confident, despite the things physically holding him back.
I stirred the cream in my coffee mug, fighting the urge to throw my arms around him and give him a hug. He wouldn’t have wanted that.
“Yeah, college is hard,” I agreed.
He stared at me in silence.
“You’re not going to tell me you told me so? You’re not going to suggest I move back in with you?” he asked.
I wanted to, but I didn’t.
“No, it’s your life and I’m slowly learning to let go. It’s not easy for me either, you’re all I’ve had for a very long time. You’re my family, and now you’re…getting ready to have your own life without me. But you need to go through these experiences. You need to learn. I just want you to know you will always have me, no matter what. You can always come to me.”
I felt hot tears pricking the backs of my eyelids as I tried to rein them in.
I didn’t know what was going to happen at work—if I still had a job or not. But at least I had my brother, and he was all that mattered.
Ten
Everett
George Polanski followed me out of the office building. I wish he hadn’t, because now I had to be rude to him.
I’d forgotten about all the paparazzi fuckers who’d be waiting there for me. I caught the cameras as soon as I stepped out of the building. They weren’t crowding around me the way they did sometimes these days, but I noticed them with their long lenses, clicking away. They were hoping to catch me in action again—making a fool of myself.
I glared directly at the cameras, itching to go up and break their equipment.
George appeared beside me, a little out of breath in his attempt to catch up with me.
“I’d smile and wave at the cameras now if I were you,” he said casually.
I glared at him too.
“It’s not going to help your cause any further if you give in to them. They’re trying to provoke you, now that they know you have a temper and you’re not afraid to show it.”
“What the fuck do you want? Your colleague has made it very clear she doesn’t want to work with me,” I snapped.
George dabbed his forehead with the back of his hand.
“Well, we have other equally experienced people at our organization who’d be happy to work with you, Mr. Baker. I just want you to know we value your presence here. Ms. Cunningham…I’m sure she is deeply apologetic for her…what she said.”
I hated the fact he spoke for her. I didn’t know her at all but I understood her enough to know she’d never apologize to me for what happened in her office today.
“It d
oesn’t matter. I’m done. I’m not going to participate in this charade.”
“Mr. Baker, you need us. I’m going to be very blunt and tell you that you and your family business are going down if you’re not able to turn your reputation around and please your shareholders. Other companies have gone down for far less. Mr. Mendez might sue you for assault and everything will come crashing down on you.”
This man, whom I’d never met before, seemed to know what he was talking about. He made it appear like he knew me better than I knew myself.
I also knew that Tate and my other brothers would’ve wanted me to stay. They would’ve wanted me to work it out. I was the one who was bringing the business down, so it was my responsibility now to keep it afloat.
“Fine, I’ll do it, but the only person I will work with is Keira Cunningham,” I replied.
George led me back up to their offices and requested I give him a few minutes so he could locate Keira. It seemed like she had left the building in the time we talked downstairs. She was clearly in a rush to go.
George was profusely apologetic and said he’d fix the situation immediately, and I was interested to see him try. I was tickled by the idea of watching him trying to politely convince Keira to work with me even though she had specifically stated she wouldn’t.
She just didn’t seem like the kind of woman who wouldn’t give in to pressure easily. Especially from a guy like me.
Her distaste for me was obvious for everyone to see. She disapproved of everything about me—but she wanted me at the same time. I knew I turned her on. The sexual chemistry between us was palpable, it was only a matter of time before I had her. And I wanted to take her just because she didn’t want to give in. Because she was making it difficult.
