Page 109 of It Starts With A No

She took out her phone again, this time to send a text to Mr. E and Grandma Moretti. I’m going back to the mansion. My friend, Andrea Lowe—ex-detective and my new assistant—will stay with me.

After a couple of minutes, Grandma Moretti replied. Does she have a gun?

Clary cracked a smile. I’ll need more food.

* * *

“You need to get her back.”

Refusing to pay any attention to Oliver, Seth kept his gaze on his laptop.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Anderson.” His assistant, Tony, was right behind Oliver. “Your brother—”

“It’s okay,” Seth said. “You can go back to work.” He was referring to both of them, but only Tony left his office.

“She really left, Seth. I checked her room. She took everything.”

“She should. She won’t be coming back.”

Oliver slapped Seth’s laptop closed.

For a moment, Seth didn’t react. He wouldn’t have blinked if Elton had done that. But Oliver? “Did she cast a spell on you?” He rolled his eyes. “Because she said you’re her favorite?”

The muscles along Oliver’s cheeks twitched, and Seth immediately regretted the words he’d chosen. “I didn’t mean—”

“You’ll regret letting her go, Seth.”

“I didn’t let her go. She chose to go. She chose the Eolenfelds.”

Oliver opened his mouth, but Seth wasn’t interested in whatever he had to say.

“Enough. She’s an adult. She can make her own decisions.”

“Seth, I—”

“I’m busy, Oliver.” He opened his laptop. Now that he’d gotten the money, he should start negotiations with the board. “I don’t have time for this.”

“You guys never listen to me,” Oliver grumbled as he headed out of the office.

That made Seth look up.

He’d gone to Clary in the first place because of Oliver.

He didn’t want the robotics developed by Movement to be weaponized. He wanted to continue working toward a future where robotics made a real difference in people’s lives.

But Oliver couldn’t lose the sleep research.

If Seth lost the robotics arm of Movement, Oliver’s research would belong to the new owner. And the new owner probably wouldn’t continue with it. What would his brother do then?

“It’s going to be too late when you decide to make time,” his brother continued before Seth could say anything.

When the door swung closed, Seth ran his tongue under his teeth and rubbed it against his chipped tooth. He’d been replaying what happened since he got up from the couch back home.

No, probably since he sat there on the couch and kept his mouth shut.

Seth didn’t care that there were four police officers in the apartment. He didn’t care that Elton was there, blabbering on with his unwanted commentary. He would have asked—begged—for her to stay.

He wanted her close so he could make sure she was safe.

---