A Moment Like You (The Baker’s Creek Billionaire Brothers #2) - Claudia Burgoa Page 0,22
issues as best as she could, but keeping the fucker in the company for so long makes it look bad. I put in my report a few suggestions on how to handle the situation and who you should hire to help you. It’s a big deal, and you might get some people coming back to sue you or, if you get lucky, you might not. Now, back to your Sophia issue… Why do you need her here?”
Vance taps the stuff he brought me, “My work here is done. In my opinion, you should let her go. Not only because you have a lot of shit on your plate, but also because she deserves better than an Aldridge.”
Pierce laughs. “Ain’t that the truth.”
“Why don’t you tell that to Blaire?” I contend.
“She has the good Aldridge,” Vance replies.
“Of course, because Hayes is a better man than any of us.”
“You had to shatter his ego,” Pierce complains. “No, Henry, you’ll always be a better businessman than any of us.”
Vance glances at us, shakes his head and leaves.
“Leyla is fucking mad at you…and at me,” he states. “Let Sophia go, man. Take it from my experience, you can’t be who she needs. Why try to force a relationship that’ll fail in just a few months or years?”
I cross my arms. “Then, explain to me, why can’t you let go of Leyla?”
“She won’t take what I’m giving her and won’t leave the kids with me,” he explains.
“If that’s what makes you feel better, then keep lying to yourself. I’ve seen you. You live for her, just the way Hayes does for Blaire. And this is where you’re going to get a kick out of my life; I now get it. I don’t understand what’s happening, but I have that fucking need to make sure I am close enough and I’m taking care of her.”
“Take care of my Leyla?” he asks, arching an eyebrow.
“Asshole. You know I’m talking about Sophia.”
He grins and shakes his head. “Take it from me, you’re not who she needs. Look at her and take a good look at you, Henry. Do you think she deserves to end up like our mothers?”
“Sophia is nothing like my mother,” I protest.
“No, but you’re a lot like William. Look at how you are complicating her life. Why is it so important to have her here?”
“She’s in charge of Aldry’s Sweets,” I say. “None of us has the time or is capable of doing it, and she can’t fix the place from Manhattan. No matter how good she is at her job, it’s impossible. I’m actually trying to make things easier for her.”
I flaunt the brochures and say, “I’m buying her a house, bringing her parents, and offering her a bonus. We can’t afford to close the factory or The Lodge. I’m only one person, and I need her here.”
He shakes his head. “It’s obvious that I can’t get through you. Just…keep your dick in your pants. I wasn’t kidding when I said that if the need arises, I’ll be her attorney.”
“What happened to being my brother?” I ask, not because I plan on doing something stupid, but shouldn’t he be loyal to me?
He smirks. “She’s Leyla’s best friend—like her sister. If I have to choose between you and my wife… You’d understand if you really care about Sophia.”
“Well, if you cared so much about your wife, maybe you should stop being like William and let her go. I’m sure you have plenty of money to force the divorce.”
“You don’t force yourself in and out of people’s lives, Henry,” he taps the brochures. “No matter how beautiful the cage is, you can’t keep someone by your side, force new dreams, or change their future.”
He leaves me wondering if he was talking about Sophia or Leyla.
Eight
Sophia
Time zones drive me crazy. Don’t get me started with daylight savings. I constantly need to consult my phone where I have at least seventeen different times set. In my line of work, I have to know what time it is in places like England, Australia, Japan… The point is that even when I’m not a fan, today I am thankful that Blaire is three hours behind. While I was deciding what to pack and how to break the news to my family, she called to let me know that even though the doctor agrees that Mom could benefit from this change of atmosphere, there are some tests she wants to run before giving us the green light.