but it’s been years.”
“God! You remind me so much of our father when you get like this.”
Irritation causes my hands to clench into fists. “That’s bullshit.”
“No, it’s not. He’d have me married off to the first rich prick around so he can parade me around charitable benefits and social functions and you… I don’t even know what you want from me.” She waves her hand in my direction.
“I want you to use your brain for more than just unboxing clothes and makeup and taking pretty pictures to post on social media. It’s not like you don’t have the resources to do whatever you want.”
She stands from the couch, clutching her small purse tightly in her hand. “I am doing what I want. Why is that so hard for you to believe? Don’t be pissed off just because I’m not stuck being Daddy’s errand boy.”
My office door opens, and we both turn our heads in that direction.
Asher steps into my office. As usual, he’s charmed Roslin into letting him in without pinging me.
“Am I interrupting?” He directs his attention to my sister. “Hey, little Stone.”
“No, you’re not,” Harper says. “Thanks for ruining my night, Garrin. Next time I have the urge to stop in to see my big brother, I’ll pass.” She stomps off past Asher, giving him a wide berth.
“Don’t I even get a hello?” Asher calls out, his eyes following her to the door.
“Go to hell!” My door slams shut.
I stand from the chair and push my hand through my hair on a rough exhale. I’ll give her a few days to cool off, then call her and smooth this fight over. I have no idea why I chose now to lecture her on what she should do with her future.
“What do you want?” I ask Asher, walking back to my desk.
“Who pissed in your cornflakes?” He sits on the other side of my desk and props his feet up like this is his damn office.
“What do you want?” I repeat and push his feet off my desk. They hit the floor with a thud.
“Can’t a guy just swing by one of his best friends’ offices to shoot the shit?”
“No. Some of us don’t spend all our time and money partying and actually have responsibilities to fulfill. Now what do you want?” I lean back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest.
He chuckles, his bright blue eyes lit with amusement. “You’re just jealous. You should try my life. Maybe you’d lighten up.”
I clench my jaw and turn to my computer to shut it down. It’s almost time for me to head to the restaurant and meet Isla, and I’m clearly not going to get any more work done with this jackass here.
“See? Was that so hard to put the work away?”
“Asher…”
“Okay, okay.” He raises his hands in front of himself. “I was just wondering if you’d spent any time with Isla yet? How’s that going?”
My eye twitches when I cock my head at him. “Why do you ask?”
“Just curious. Why is she back? Why does Dick the Prick care?”
I can’t even force my face to express anything other than boredom. This is not how shit goes on with my friends, and if he’s about to tell me he holds some torch for Isla, we might throw down like we’re in an MMA cage right now. “That’s the only reason?”
He leans forward in his seat, resting his elbows on his spread knees. “You don’t think it’s weird that she’s back here after all that time away and no one knows why? And now your dad wants something from her?”
“Of course I think it’s weird,” I say, my voice louder than I intended. “For now, I’ll do what my father wants to keep him at bay until I can figure out what his angle is. Which is why”—I glance down at my Patek Phillippe watch to check the time—“I have to go. I’m meeting Isla for dinner at Rendezvous.”
He gives me his annoying-as-fuck shit-eating grin and leans back in his seat. “Pulling out all the stops, I see.”
I roll my eyes and stand from my chair. “I’m not going to take her to get a Big Mac, Asher.”
He stands from his chair as I walk across my office to the closet. I pull my Burberry coat off the hanger and button the front, then wrap my cashmere scarf around my neck and pull on my leather gloves.
Asher’s standing near the door, waiting for me. “How far are you gonna