Page 84 of The Rebel

“Yeah, I do have a fucking problem!” Brady yelled back while Macon and Cooper joined him. “You’ve been on me since we walked into this building. I don’t fucking like it. You have some smart-ass reply to everything I say. I don’t want to hear it. Keep your goddamn words to yourself.”

Ridge rushed over, standing next to Rhett, attempting to calm him down.

It seemed Macon and Cooper were trying to do the same to Brady.

But among all the chaos, Rhett countered, “That’s because I don’t fucking like you. I keep hearing you chirp in my ear, and I can’t stand it. I don’t give a shit what you think about this building or any of the others we’ve looked at. I don’t give a shit what you think about anything?—”

“All right, fellas,” Jenner said as he moved in between them, “we’re going to settle down. Right now. There’s not going to be a brawl in this building, not on my watch.”

Rhett’s lips were wet and flaring, and as I put my hand on his back, he spit, “Fuck you,” into the air.

I didn’t know if he was speaking to Jenner or Brady or any of the other Spade brothers.

But what I did know was that it was time to separate the families before things got even worse.

“How about I call a car for my family and we end things for today?” I suggested.

“Good idea,” Jenner agreed. “But first”—he held a hand toward Brady and another toward Rhett, as though he were playing referee—“let’s make a decision. I know there’s tension and a lot of strong personalities under this roof, but we need to put that all aside and come together as a company.” His gaze shifted between Brady and Rhett. “We’ve looked at the best buildings in LA today. Unless you want to relocate outside the city, you’ve seen all there is to offer within your criteria.” His fingers pointed at both men. “Regardless of how badly you want to kill each other, this merger is happening, a building needs to be purchased, and there’s nothing either of you can do to stop it.”

“There’s plenty I can do,” Rhett threatened.

I grabbed his arm, circling mine around it, and whispered, “Relax. We’re almost done. Let’s just get through this.”

He glared at me and then at Jenner. “My vote is this building.”

“Mine too,” I offered.

Jenner looked around the room, collecting all the nods and approvals, and finally said, “It’s unanimous, then. I’ll have the paperwork drawn up as soon as I get back to my office. I’ll let everyone know once I hear from the seller’s agent.” He looked at me. “I assume you’ll be in charge of getting the Coles back to the office and the Spades will take the van?”

I nodded, partly humiliated and partly disgusted.

We were all adults.

Why couldn’t they act like it?

“The Spades, come with me,” Jenner said, and his arm went around Brady’s shoulders, walking him toward the elevator.

Jo and Macon were behind them.

Cooper went last.

But this time, it was me that avoided his eyes.

That didn’t even attempt to look at his face.

That wanted nothing more than for this whole day to be over.

SEVENTEEN

Cooper

Icouldn’t look at Rowan. Because if I even glanced at her for the briefest of seconds, I’d end up dragging her into my arms the moment we walked out of this conference room and then pull her into my office, ravishing her on top of my desk.

She was that addictive.

My body, my hands, desperate to have her.

Touch her.

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