car door so Emily would not witness the contention that always sat between them.
“You know that’s not true. There is more than enough room for both of us in this business. This isn’t about you.” The dislike he had for Monique would forever overshadow the passion they’d shared. She always held a piece of herself back, setting barriers she protected. The mother of his child had always been a faucet, running either hot or cold, but never both together.
Her gaze was frosty… but wasn’t it always now? “Tell yourself that, Graham, but anyone can see the writing on the wall.”
“This isn’t revenge, Monique. It’s about a job. Not allegiance. In case you didn’t get the memo, I need this… and I can’t return to Upstart, now can I?”
Her bitter laugh was answer enough.
“Exactly.” He moved toward her and Monique didn’t step back. She’d wouldn’t. Not Monique. Small, delicate, with dark arched eyebrows, a bowed mouth and wavy hair, Monique was a fiery ballbuster. Even as Graham despised her for what she’d done to him, he admired her ability to stand her ground… all five feet one inch of it. “This isn’t war, so don’t don the armor.”
“I’ll do whatever I wish to do, Graham.”
“Of course you will, but I’m asking, for all of our sakes, don’t make this personal. There is plenty of business for both Ullo and Upstart.”
“You didn’t used to feel that way,” she murmured, an almost savage look in her eye. “You hated Frank Ullo. You hated that he controlled the market and squashed smaller businesses trying to take a piece of the pie. That’s changed now because he signs your paycheck?”
“Upstart is no longer in the position it once was. Frank Ullo isn’t, either. You know that.” He wanted to get out of there before he and Monique started shrieking at each other on the street. Dealing with her had become more and more contentious in the past two months… ever since she learned he intended to come home to New Orleans. Monique liked having control, and the agreement they had over Emily would change.
Josh walked out wearing a pair of dark jeans and a weirdly patterned shirt with a hot pink tab collar. Tall, lanky with a soul patch on his chin, Graham’s former best friend had a wicked sense of humor, a badass restored Harley, and a shitty sense of loyalty to a friendship started back at Jesuit. He’d been too weak to resist Monique… probably still was.
“Hey, Monique, we gotta jet,” he called, not even meeting Graham’s gaze.
Irritation flashed in Monique’s eyes. “We’ll go when I’m ready, Josh.”
Emily knocked against the window, pressing her button nose against the glass smudging it. Graham smiled and nodded, dangling the keys.
“We’re going to head out, Monique. Text me when you’re through with your fundraiser and I’ll bring Emily back. I’m guessing it won’t be too late since it’s a school night?” Graham started around the front of the car.
“I’m not finished talking about this, Graham,” Monique said, smoothing the lines of a dress that was too short, but still looked incredible on her. Monique’s beauty had never been in question. Even as slight as the woman was, her essence screamed “lush” and “sensual.” It was her heart he questioned. As determined as she was to create an empire she could control, she had one fatal flaw—her ego. Often Monique valued her own worth above the truth. This inability to see the writing on the wall was the main reason Graham didn’t fight for Upstart. Well, that and the fact Monique and Josh had started sneaking around sleeping together.
“Well, I’m finished. Everything will work better if you shut down whatever you’re working up inside yourself about me running Frank Ullo. I’m not competing with you. I’m trying to take care of Emily.”
“You could have done that with another company. You could have done that from Houston.”
“But I didn’t want to,” he said, before sliding into the car. “Don’t forget to text me.”
Closing the door, he shut out the dissonance Monique created in his life, and instead focused his attention on the only reason he’d done Monique and Josh a favor tonight—the bouncing, wonderful Emily. “Ready to roll, squirt?”
“Can we go to the pet store and see the kitties?” she asked, ignoring his question.
Graham pulled away from the curb, unable to resist glancing at Monique who stared angrily after them. He wished he didn’t get satisfaction in needling her. He’d have to be very careful to keep the