would happen. The finale aired only a month ago so it’s fresh on everyone’s minds. But it’s my first time in the city, so I wanted a photo with the stupid thing. I got what I deserved, didn’t I?”
Ethan wasn’t sure how to respond to the other man’s negativity, so he pretended as though he hadn’t noticed it. “The schedule that your agent sent me says you’re doing an appearance at the Mega Candy store on the Strip this afternoon at two?”
Theo groaned again. “Yeah. That’s right. It’s going to be torture.”
“You have a second appearance at three-thirty in Summerlin. That will be cutting it close with traffic.”
“Do me a favor and make sure we get stuck in traffic so I don’t have to go to the second appearance.”
Ethan felt himself beginning to sweat beneath his suit. “I’m not sure—”
“Kidding. I’m kidding.” Theo turned his mirrored lenses on Ethan. “Do what you can to get us there. I’m sure they’ll wait. I’m a celebrity, remember? People will wait for me.”
“Alright.”
Ethan wondered if Max knew about Theo’s personality and had deliberately hid it from him.
“Did you watch the show? Choose Me?”
“Sorry, I don’t watch much television, actually.”
Theo pulled a vape pen from the pocket of his jeans and slipped it between his lips. “Smart man. Damn thing ruined my life.”
“It’s where you met—” What was Ethan supposed to call Loren Demeter? Were they a hookup? Boyfriends?
“I think you mean, is it the show where I wrecked the world’s most perfect romance and brainwashed Loren into believing he likes dick?”
Ethan choked. “It’s, um, some story.”
Theo blew an opaque cloud of vapor ahead of them and walked through it like a superhero bursting through an explosion. “Like I said, the show ruined my life. Let’s see how much worse it gets this week.”
Ethan was definitely sweating. “I’ll just call the limo driver.”
Chapter Two
“Night and day,” declared the head of the European consulting firm that Maxmillian had hired for the overseas expansion. “Your father is a tremendous asset. I appreciate you choosing him as your new liaison.”
Max’s spine settled more comfortably against the back of his leather chair. “I’m pleased to hear that. Again, I apologize for the delay in putting together the team for you. I hope that everything you require will be at your disposal from now on.”
“I’m sure it will be. The elder Mr. Poole has been in constant communication with me. As I said, he’s assisted strongly in pushing this project forward.”
“Excellent.” Max kept his tone neutral enough, but he couldn’t help feeling a swelling of pride and faint amazement.
It was one thing to hire his father to head the European expansion, quite another to hear that he was dedicating the time and energy toward it that he was. The bitter truth was that Max had expected the older man to outsource the effort to one of his assistants. A few weeks ago, that would have been the case, although a few weeks ago, Max would not have even considered recruiting his father for the help.
“Sometime next week I expect to be inviting Mr. Poole to a few of the sites we’re considering. I’ve already informed him and he’s promised to keep his schedule clear for it.”
“I look forward to reading both your report and his,” Max replied, a part of his brain hung up on the idea of his father keeping his schedule clear for anything pertaining to his son. It would be a first, for certain. “Thank you for accommodating my time zone. I won’t keep you up further.”
They ended the call, leaving Max to sit thoughtfully. His father’s apparent earnestness was impressive. He wished he didn’t harbor doubts about how honest it was.
“Father doesn’t lie,” he told himself.
For the most part, it was true. His father had concealed the true reason for his coldness and his antagonism toward Ethan and their marriage, but he hadn’t made up a lie to explain it. He likely wasn’t lying about anything as he worked on The Elite Poole Worldwide’s behalf, either, yet Max couldn’t shake the thin mantle of distrust that rested on his shoulders. Could a man who’d attempted to paint Max’s husband as a prostitute abruptly flip a one-eighty and support their marriage without reservation?
Max wasn’t pleased by his own answer to that.
A knock sounded on the door of his office.
“Enter,” he called.
Kimberlyn popped her head in. “I have a large delivery. Is now a good time to give it to you or would you like me to