A Moment Like You (The Baker’s Creek Billionaire Brothers #2) - Claudia Burgoa Page 0,86

question. I still have six more weeks, and I hope that I won’t be stranded because my father couldn’t bother to think of me as more than a commodity,” she states.

“How about you Henry?” the counselor asks.

Though I can understand why Martina is upset, the energy she’s radiating screams I want blood, and I won’t leave without a fight. Maybe I should have Vance find us a few people to watch her until she leaves. Perhaps I’m overreacting.

“Henry?” the therapist repeats.

“I think I want to keep my therapy sessions with my other counselor. There’s just so much going through my head, and how can anyone share their life with someone who can’t handle their own emotions. Personally, emotions make me angry. That’s why I yell at everyone. This isn’t the person I want to be when I make a commitment to the woman I love or to my children.”

“That’s a great step. Let’s meet again next week.”

Thirty-Five

Sophia

I’m in the middle of an important meeting when Santiago calls me. I try to ignore him, but he texts me 9-1-1.

Dialing his number, I’m expecting him to tell me that my niece is in trouble, or someone at home lost an arm. Instead, he says, “Did you know the HR director is auditing everyone’s files?”

“Yes. It’s part of the plan to create an equal environment and to prepare the incentives to move to Oregon,” I respond, not saying, since when do you talk in third person?

Normally, when we speak, he’s more professional, but in this moment, he sounds more like an arrogant big brother than my colleague.

Also, how can he call this an emergency?

“I’ve found a lot of discrepancies,” he announces, my heart stops because what if we get into yet another public relations nightmare? “I’m emailing you everything that I gathered because, even though it’s not illegal, it’s…weird.”

“Weird how?” I ask puzzled.

“Just go through everything and if you have any questions, well, ask your boss because no one in the company has any answers.”

I hang up and stare at Martina, Pierce, and Fitzhenry who are watching expectantly and sigh. “Are we almost done?”

“Why?” Pierce asks.

“My brother found some discrepancies and wants me to take a look, but it sounds like what I’m about to see is not pretty and it’s lengthy. It might be something I’ll have to fix with Henry,” I inform him. “I’d rather wait if we have more to discuss.”

Pierce grins and says, “We’re wrapping this up so take your time.” He leans back on his chair, crosses his arms, and watches me.

“What are you waiting for?”

“It feels like you’re going to get pissed at the only man who knows how to push your buttons so…I want to watch from the beginning.”

I laugh. “Nah, I’m not contributing to your bashing. Find your own material to fuck with your brothers.”

Knowing Henry, whatever he did doesn’t need solving immediately. He’s pretty thorough. I disregard my brother’s email until we wrap up this stage of my special project. Martina and I have been working on it for the past few of weeks. Now that Fitz and Pierce are involved, it’s almost ready to be launched. Hopefully, it’ll happen in just a few more days.

“Are you sure this is going to work out?” Martina asks me.

“Trust me,” I tell her. “We’ve done our research. Every asset is in place. The rest is all up to you.”

“It’s scary,” she whispers.

“The beginning of any venture is exhilarating and yet, frightening. However, I believe you’re up for the part,” I reassure her.

The problem with Martina Edelstein is that she was told she was pretty and that’s all that matters in life. Her beauty was enough to have what her heart desired, a man to provide for her. She just needed a gentle push, someone to believe in her, and a little taste of a different world. I showed her how her life can look like if she doesn't follow the script written for her. I don’t think she’s chosen her destiny, but she’ll be able to do it soon.

Pierce shakes her hand and says, “If you need anything else, you know where to find me. At the Aldridge Mansion, either in the barn or upstairs, second room to the left.”

Once they leave my house, I dare to open the email which is actually a link to the cloud storage where there are tons of documents. I sigh because there’s a lot to do for the factory, but this seems like something I have to tend to