The Rebound - Stefanie London Page 0,8

world.

“What happens when Abby comes back?” My brain is shuddering at the thought, wildly popping up ideas so that I can sooth myself with certainty.

“You’ll figure it out. You can go to Mum’s for a while before you try to find a new place. I’m sure Flynn would let you stay with us, if you’d prefer that. God, Sherilee’s house is a fucking mansion from what I’ve heard. You. Have. Options.”

“Options,” I repeat, like a dazed parrot. “I have options.”

“Take this as a chance to just...live.”

It’s terrifying, but at the same time there’s a hint of something tempting there. Clearly my perfectly planned, everything-written-down way of life hasn’t worked for me so far...and isn’t madness doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result?

“You’re right.” I nod, pushing myself up into a sitting position. “You’re totally right.”

Drew grins smugly. “I know.”

One month without a plan. Just living. Enjoying. Being selfish and doing what I want to do...all the things I never did because Perfect Presley wasn’t wild or a risk-taker or a daredevil. One month to let my hair out and screw the consequences.

That is exactly what I need right now.

CHAPTER FOUR

Sebastian

I CAN’T BELIEVE I fell for the twin switch. When I made it to my parents’ place that night, I was met with stony looks and snide remarks. What’s the better option—letting them think I was going to bail or confessing that I helped my stepbrother’s bride get away?

I went with the first option. Better to be disrespectful than an accomplice.

Only the problem is now I’m on my father’s bad side...again. Mike isn’t exactly singing my praises, although most of his fire and brimstone is currently being directed at his ex-fiancée. And Dad thinks I can’t uphold a commitment. Not a good thing considering I want him to name me as the next CEO of the family business—Foster & Co.

No, not Fosters the beer, unfortunately. Foster & Co. is an integrated services company. Think cleaning and laundry services, catering and hospitality, electrical maintenance, facilities management, small-scale freight and physical security. We partner with the biggest businesses in Australia and New Zealand, and service almost half of the top one hundred companies on the ASX.

I’m not really that interested in the family business because of what we do. Frankly, facilities management doesn’t exactly get me jazzed.

But I’m trying to save my family’s business from ruin, which is absolutely what’s going to happen if Mike steps into the top position. He knows nothing about how to run a business, and my grandfather—God rest his soul—would turn in his grave if he knew what Mike had planned. He wants to “transform” it into something different. In other words, he’s going to sell if off piece by piece and put the money into something he deems worthy, thereby dismantling my family legacy.

All of that is to say... I need to convince Dad to give me the CEO position so I can prevent Mike from burning Foster & Co. to the ground.

And Presley is exactly the right person to give me dirt on my stepbrother. Dirt I’m hoping will knock him out of the running.

I wait outside 21 Love Street, contemplating my next move. I haven’t been able to get hold of Presley’s number but I’m hoping I might be able to convince the building concierge to call her. Or her sister, Drew. Whoever actually lives in this building.

But it seems Lady Fate is smiling on me tonight, because a woman swiftly exits the building, heading away from me. I catch a glimpse of her face as she turns and then, from behind, I see the strands of white-gold hair swishing freely above the very short hem of a leopard-print miniskirt. Shapely legs are encased in a pair of sheer black stockings with a seam up the back that’s doing unspeakable things to me. The heels of her boots click against the pavement. It’s crisp outside—not cold, but the air has that damp chill, which is something I don’t miss about Melbourne’s spring weather. She sidesteps a puddle, hips swaying a little.

Is it Drew or Presley?

“Presley!” I call the name, hoping for the best.

She stills and then turns around, eyes widening as they land on me. She’s a little pink in the face, lashes rimmed with dark smudgy liner and lips slick with a shimmering gloss. “Uh...”

“I know it’s you.” I step forward, jamming my hands into the pockets of my jeans. “And I figured out what happened.”

“I have no idea