Billion Dollar Beast - Olivia Hayle Page 0,14

first,” he instructs.

“Yes, sir.”

I frown at him. Is he going somewhere after? Something within me sinks when I think of how little I know of his personal life. Nothing of his relationships—or lack of them. Nothing of how he spends his time, or indeed, with whom.

“We don’t talk about this tomorrow at work,” he tells me.

“I wasn’t planning to.”

“Good. And remember our agreement.”

Civility and profit. I turn my gaze away from him and out to the Seattle lights. I have a job to do, my own business to start, and now a niece or nephew on the way. Being disliked by Nick should be at the very bottom of my concerns.

“I won’t forget,” I vow.

5

Blair

History repeats itself the very next weekend.

I’m standing with a few friends, a glass of wine in hand. This event—a yearly autumnal fundraising event—draws a giant crowd. My brother used to be a regular guest, but he and Skye bailed last minute. When I’d asked him why, he’d laughingly said they needed to decide on a color for the nursery. At nine o’clock in the evening? He’d known it was an excuse, and I’d known it, but he’d sounded so content on the phone that I’d just wished him good luck.

My brother, a father.

I’ve spent the better part of this week thinking through what kind of aunt I want to be. I think I’ve settled on fun—that’s key—but still with authority. Fun but kind. Someone the kid can call, during those inevitable teenage years, when they’re in trouble but too afraid to go to Cole or Skye.

“Blair?” Maddie’s voice reaches me and I force my eyes to refocus. “We lost you for a while there.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Just a lot on my mind.”

“You’ve started working on something, I’ve heard.” John leans against the bar table with a sly light in his eyes. “Will you please put us out of our misery and tell us what fantastic new project you’re debuting?”

“An art exhibition, curated by the one, the only, Blair Porter?” Maddie intones. “Or perhaps a new Porter hotel, decorated by the fashionable Blair.”

The group laughs and I make myself laugh along. “Good guesses, but no. I think I’ll have to keep it to myself for a little while longer,” I say, taking a coy sip from my drink.

“Oh, put us out of our misery!”

“I think you should suffer a bit more,” I tease. In truth, I don’t see the point in making it public knowledge that I’m working for Nicholas—ever. It’ll raise questions, and I fear the convoluted logic won’t make sense to anyone but myself, and possibly him.

Tate raises an eyebrow. “Are we finally going to see your comeback as a designer, Blair?”

A chorus of oohs and aahs erupt amongst the group. I force a carefree smile on my face. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”

“You can’t even tell me? For old times’ sake?”

I roll my eyes at him. We’d been classmates in high school, had even dated for a hot minute, but now we’re nothing but polite acquaintances. “For old times’ sake, I believe I still owe you a slap for homecoming. Who ditched me?”

His smile widens. “You’re welcome to cash in anytime. I was a fool.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I say dryly, my eyes drifting from his to the mingling guests behind him. There are a lot of familiar faces here tonight. Swirling my wine in my glass lazily, I listen with half an ear as Maddie launches into a discussion about a friend.

“He’s terribly distraught,” she says. “It’s his family business being butchered, you know.”

“Well, they sold it,” John says. “The least they can do is watch.”

“Who are we talking about?”

“Bryce Adams,” Maddie replies. “I think you met his father at the Spencer wedding?”

Something sour burns in my throat. “Yes. Yes I did. He’s distraught?”

“Park bought B.C. Adams,” Tate says. “Though I’m sure you already know that.”

They all chuckle, aware of the connection between Nick and Cole as well as the well-documented fact that Nick and I don’t get along. I take a sip of my wine and ignore the flipping of my stomach.

The cuts Nick had made in the last week were extreme. Another forty stores slashed countrywide. All stock heading to one central location to make it easier for online sales. He was trying to salvage a shipwreck.

Surely they had to see that? I wet my lips, wondering if there’s anything I can say on the matter.

“And speaking of the devil…” John says, his voice trailing off.

Maddie’s voice