SAVANNAH
Rafe was not on my side when I woke up the next morning. I had sex with a demigod until the last ounce of energy in my body; I’d slept in his arms serenely. But something else felt odd. I wasn’t sure if I was dreaming, but I thought Rafe didn’t stay beside me. I just didn’t feel his presence.
He was dressed now in an impeccable black suit, walking back and forth to his bedroom. A phone was pressed on his ear, and he seemed anxious.
“What? Are you sure, Pax? Because twenty years ago, my parents gave up on following that lead.” He paused. “No, they looked, and they stopped. They stopped, but I didn’t... No, don’t tell anyone... Yes, yes. Come to my office by lunchtime.” He hung up and started pacing again with his two fingers pressing the pressure point of his temples. He cursed under his breath.
“Is everything okay?” I asked. Only then did he notice me.
“Hey”
He was hesitating if he should come to me or not, so I made the first move. I guess I shouldn’t ask him where he slept. I crawled out of bed and went to him. I threw my arms around his neck.
“What’s wrong? Is it work?”
He sighed, but his powerful arms enveloped my body. “No, just some personal family matter. Did you sleep well? I didn’t want to wake you,” he whispered. His eyes were smiling again.
I nodded, smiling back. “Best night ever.” Honestly, I still felt sore. But it was a good kind of sore. “I guess I should go home and change, or I’ll be late for work.”
“Or you can change here and have breakfast with me. I had Eddie pick up some fresh clothes you can change into. I hope they’re your size.”
“When did your driver have time to shop?”
He gave me a quick but sweet kiss. “Eddie has ways.”
“Fine. But thank you. I’ll grab a sandwich and coffee along the way because I’ll be late. Carter is still my boss.” I tiptoed to kiss his lips again. He smelled of mint, sandalwood, and aftershave, and I still smelled like bedsheets and sex.
He smacked my ass, making me gasp. “Take your time. I’ll take care of Carter.”
“No, sir. You won’t.” I giggled, walking to his bathroom and pulling the slightly damp towel I found. This must be the towel he used.
***
“Eddie is quite the fashion expert, huh?” I looked down at my tight pants and the edgy gray sweater over a white shirt. The fabric felt like hugging me, and the style seemed custom; they fit perfectly for me. I turned around and flaunted the outfit to Rafe.
His eyes darkened. “Yeah, he also picks up my dry cleaning and sometimes decides to match my suits. Come here.” He pulled me on the waist against him and brought his mouth on my lips like we couldn’t get enough. “Eddie will drive you to the office, but only until today. Next time, you ride with me, and we’ll come together to the office.”
Two luxury cars were waiting for us at his parking space. Rafe was loaning me his driver, so he would drive himself to the office today. I didn’t think it was necessary, but I thought it was sweet.
“Right. Because tomorrow Emilio will see us. That’s when my job starts.”
He frowned. “You’re still thinking that? I thought we said—”
I laughed. “Come on, I’m just joking.” I cupped his face. “Tomorrow, we’ll be official,” I corrected.
He sighed. “You’re slowly killing me.”
“You do the same to me too. But I must be at Michael’s tonight to tell him, so…”
A grunt vibrated in his chest. “We need to sort out our schedules. I have no free time today.” His arms around my waist tightened. “I want you to always be close to me now.”
“Yeah. We’ll talk about that.”
He took my mouth for another lingering kiss. His tongue tangled with mine until my skin rose to a fever pitch. God, we weren’t going to finish here.
I glided my hands over his chest. “Hey, we’ll be late. Shall we?”
He laughed softly. “Fine. Get inside. And let Eddie drive you to Brooklyn tonight, please.”
“Just today. I can’t wait to see you again.”
He beamed. “You beat me to it.” He opened the door of the backseat, and I slipped inside. Then I watched him rush to the other car from the front windscreen.
“Good morning, Ms. Gibson,” Eddie greeted me.
“Good morning, Eddie. Thanks for these.” I referred to the outfit. “I love your style.”
My middle-aged driver for today gave me a salute. “Anything for you, ma’am.” He revved the car’s engine to life.
***
I spent the rest of my day at my desk and couldn’t quite find time to relax. In the morning, I mostly answered calls and emails from the other offices and some outsourcings. After submitting today’s deliverables, I worked with the designers and the art director in the afternoon. Carter gave me the power to approve the team’s work before submitting it to the CEO. Wes was swamped too. I didn’t see him much despite working on the same floor.
I stretched my arms above my head because I was beginning to feel the numbness on my shoulders from sitting all day. Jade, one of our designers in the department, stopped by my desk in the afternoon. She’d been helpful to me the past few days.
“Hey, Ms. Gibs. I brought coffee.” Jade handed me a warm cup.
“Thank you.” I smiled at her.
“I just want to talk to you a bit. I have a question.”
“Yes, sure. What is it?” I took a sip. “Mm… The coffee just has the right amount of latte. Take a seat, Jade, please.”
“Thank you.” She pulled a chair to my side and sat. “Are you always this workaholic?”
I chuckled. “Is that the question?”
“No, I just think you are really good at your job, excellent, even. But that isn’t the question.”
“Okay? What is it?”
“Can I take a few days off?”
“How many days?”
“Just for a week next week. I’m going to visit my sister in India.”
I scratched my temple. “I’m sorry, Jade. This time is a bit hectic for all of us. We’re too close to our deadlines. I’m sure you know that.”
“I know, but she really needs me. She gave birth to her first child.”
“Wow.” I grinned. “Congratulations! I wish I could say yes right away. Babies are a blessing. But have you told Wes—I mean, Mr. Allen?”
“Yes, but he told me to ask you.” Right. Since I was Carter’s assistant. “But don’t worry, I’ll submit everything you need from me tomorrow.”
“Alright, um, sure. I’ll see what I can do.”
Her smile reached her ear. “Thank you so much, Ms. Gibson.” She glanced at my computer screen. “Hey, are those the designs from Moonlight Studios?” Moonlight Studios were one of our subsidiaries. We distributed motion graphic materials to them for TV commercials.
“Yes, but this work needs revision. I’m emailing them the changes before I show it to Carter.”
She watched it closely. “The effects look pretty cool, though. But I think the frames are a bit slow. Well… that’s just what I think.”
“No, you’re right.” I frowned at my screen. “I’m telling them that, too.”
“Oh, I should go back to my desk. Please enjoy your coffee.”
“Thank you.” I grabbed the cup and took another sip. When Jade left, another call rang my office line. I picked it up. “Carter Sebastian’s office…”
“Ms. Gibson, you have a visitor at the lobby,” Lorraine, our floor receptionist, said.
“Name?”
“It’s Mr. Brett Reed, miss.”
Brett? What the fuck was he doing here?! “Are you sure?” Of course, she was sure. It wasn’t like the receptionist was pranking me, and there was no other Brett Reed who knew me.
“Yes. It’s the CEO of New Star Media himself. It’s surprising, but yep, he’s legit.”
“Thank you, Lorraine. I’ll be there quick.”
Grunting, I picked up my damn purse and rushed to the door. I bumped into Wesley there.
“Where are you going?”
“Brett is here,” I whispered.
His brows knitted. “What? Why?”
“I don’t know. He’s not the type to do this. It means he’s here for whatever reason.” I sighed.
“Sorry, Sav. I want to go with you, but I’m too busy.” He pointed out his unruly desk.
“Yikes. No, it’s okay. What can he do in his rival company?”
“But tell me about it.”
“Yeah, sure.”
I dashed to the elevator car and rode to the lobby. I tapped my foot impatiently at the people coming and going.
I couldn’t think of any reason he’d see me. He never cared about me before, even after I married his stupid brother. We never even had a proper family conversation.
When the elevator doors opened, I hurried to the hall and saw Brett in our luxurious waiting area. He was reading some magazine with his ankle resting on his knee. He was wearing his usual business suit, so I assumed he had just come from his office.
“Hey, Brett,” I called him. I didn’t bother sitting.
He looked up at me. “That was fast.”
“Yes, so let’s get over it. Why are you here? I’m swamped.”
He smirked. “Typical.” He closed the magazine and put it away. “You’re always busy. Take a seat.”
“I don’t have much time with you, so just tell me what you need.”
“Don’t be cold, Savannah. We once ate at the same table. We were family. Well, we technically still are since your divorce is in process.”
I chinned up and crossed my arms. “Not for too long.”
“Yes, well. Your boyfriend is already making his move. I know that much, Savannah, and I’m quite fast. You see, Rafael and I are in this game.”
Suddenly, I remembered what Edward told me about their history and a woman named Gill.
I gritted my teeth. His smug smile was getting on my nerves. “Is that why you came here? I didn’t think that you’re the type to care.”
“I don’t. Just sit. My neck hurts looking up at you.”
I exhaled. I had a feeling Brett wouldn’t leave me alone until he was done, so I obliged. “Now, what? Hurry because I have loads to do.”
“I won’t be here long, so you can relax.”
“Are you here about Sofia and Edward? Or about PeekFlix? I’m sorry, but I don’t want to tell you anything about it.”
Brett laughed, but the mirth didn’t reach his eyes. “No, Savi. I can take care of that on my own. How about you listen to me first before you use your mouth, hm? I heard you’re looking for your brother’s family.”
I gaped at him, unable to speak right away. “Edward told you?” I choked out.
“No, but I know his every move. My brother is an idiot and gullible, so he still needs some watching. I’m sure you know that because you’re smart. I think it’s safe to say he still has feelings for you. Mixed feelings, probably.” He shrugged. “He’s into that new girl.”
Whoa. That was the longest sentence he’d ever said to me.
“Quit stalling! What do you want to say? I didn’t ask Edward to help me.”
“No. What if I tell you—” Brett rested his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands together “—that I can help you?”
My throat dried up. “What? No, you won’t.” I knew Brett almost half my life, just as I knew Edward. He was someone who did everything in his life for his own gain. He believed in ‘give and take,’ but his take was always in his favor.
“Yes, I will.”
“Why would you do that? You’re not that kind of man,” I said frankly.
He glanced at his wristwatch. “In the right time, you’ll find out why.”
“So there’s a reason? I don’t think you can gain anything from this.”
“Of course there is.” He chuckled. “You know me well, Savi. But for now, you can just trust me. I’ve known you since you’re… you’re what, seventeen? I still think my brother was at his best when he was still with you. As I said, he’s an idiot. So, I’ll take over here from Edward. We’ll use my private investigator.”
“Do you mean that? No tricks?”
“Of course I do. At least for old times’ sake. But I have one condition. Don’t tell anyone. Not even your brother or your new boyfriend.” He brushed his finger on my chin as he stood up.
Brett abruptly glanced up at the lobby entrance. We saw Rafe walking through the door with some old people in suits. I instantly sprang up, moving a meter away from Brett.
Rafe and I’s eyes locked. His eyebrow arched. He was probably wondering by now why his mortal nemesis was here. Eventually, he tore his gaze and continued on his way.
Damn it.
Brett cracked his knuckles. “I’ll call you,” he said, and then he, too, left.