a split second how she feels knowing that he always dismisses her, even when she does have a great idea. Consequence of having a vagina, according to Dad. A kernel of pity gnaws at my gut for her. She is brilliant and works her ass off to chase down new directions for Danger Enterprises, but she never gets any credit. My lips are this close to tilting up, offering her a brotherly smile, when I see her lean over to whisper to a smiling Chase.
Fuck it. Let Chase smirk and Olivia scheme.
Dad demands my attention from the sibling battle taking shape in my head. “Scott, what do you think?”
“I’m not worried. I know my proposal is good.”
He raises an eyebrow, but I’m not bullshitting. I’m confident.
I can see Chase giving me an eye like he wants to needle me, but he stays silent.
Dad gives us both a look and smirks a little. He always has gotten off on Chase and me butting heads. “For appearance’s sake, I also expect you all to have dates.”
I blink, surprised as his announcement makes me realize . . . none of us have been involved in a relationship to speak of in a while. Sure, Chase plays the field, but I can’t see him settling down anytime soon. Liv, who knows? You can never tell with her.
Chase grumbles, sighing. “Really?” If either Liv or I had questioned him, we’d be flayed open. But Dad just gives Chase a sharp look.
“Yes, really. Dates,” Dad says, his raised eyebrow communicating that Chase has pushed enough. “Now back to work.”
We leave, and I’m surprised when Olivia gets on the elevator with me, because she normally takes the stairs, claiming it’s good for her calves. “Can we talk?”
“Sure, why?” I ask as the doors close.
“About the date. You mind if I borrow your friend, Robbie?”
I’m surprised and give her a look before bursting out laughing. “If I told you no, would that stop you?”
She sighs. “I’m not dating anyone, and if I ask someone from my team, it’ll lead to issues of favoritism. And we all know how well that doesn’t work. I’d rather not cause tension in my group.”
“But you will in mine? How’s it look that you’re taking one of my team members, my best friend at that?”
Her face looks pained for a moment, and I flash back to my earlier thoughts about the stranglehold my dad has on her, different from the one he tightens on Chase and me, but no less uncomfortable. I acquiesce, giving her a nod. “Fine.”
“Thanks,” Olivia says as the doors open and she walks off. Always short, at least with me. Given that Dad has always pitted us against one another, I understand.
On the next elevator stop, I get off and head into my office, where Robbie is already waiting for me. “So, how’d it go?”
“Olivia’s going to ask you to escort her to a work event,” I tell him before filling him in on Dad’s plan. “So I need you to start putting together a presentation. Start with the one I gave the board and polish it up to the point that every bit of it shines.”
“Okay . . . and for Liv?”
“It’s just business,” I reply, unconcerned. “I don’t think she’ll try to seduce you over to her team, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
He smirks, a light in his eyes. “Or maybe I’m hoping for a bit of seduction to her bedroom? See if I can melt the Ice Queen’s cave with my hot sword?”
“That’s my sister, asshole.” I doubt Liv needs me to protect her. She can protect herself damn fine on her own. But she’s my fucking sister, and I know what a perv Robbie can be. So no, just no.
His smile widens. “Speaking of girls, though. You owe me, man, after that whole honky-tonk night. Seriously, I’ve been working so hard that I’ve started to go down the porn rabbit hole.” He gestures like he’s jacking off, then wipes the imaginary sweat from his brow with a pained look.
I roll my eyes, laughing at Robbie’s faux-desperation. “You don’t need me. Do your thing.”
“Hell no, man! Let’s go out, make it rain like the old days,” Robbie says, grinning.
I think about it but shake my head. “Sorry, I’m going home tonight.”
Robbie snorts. “You lying sack of shit. You’re going back to that bar, aren’t you?”
“Fuck you. That place is a dive,” I lie.
I’m shocked when I pull in at Stella’s, my body driving there on autopilot