Page 53 of Without Regret

“I don’t trust a man willing to screw over his entire staff. I keep searching for a red flag.”

He sighed, having been down this road with arsehole owners before. “Right there with you.”

“How do you think Trevor will hold up with the layoffs?” I broached the subject, wanting to get a feel for Simon’s view on the topic before confiding anything.

“It’ll be rough for him, but I’m sure he’ll manage. Why, did he say something?”

I hesitated. I didn’t want to be disloyal, but I also recognized Simon could offer a lot of advice to Trevor in this area. “I doubt he’d wish to tell you if it did affect him because he realizes it’s part of the job, and he’s being judged. But it weighs on him.”

He nodded. “I’ll talk to him. Feel out how he’s doing. Unless the deal falls through, we’re going through with the layoffs.”

“I know we’re not supposed to want it to fail.” But I wished it would.

“Failed deals do not pay commissions, yet in this case, I might be willing to make the sacrifice if it keeps Peter from getting rich over it.”

“Me, too. Hey, were you still thinking about real estate investments?” When he’d decided to stay in Dallas, Simon had told me he hoped to dabble in them. It made sense since he definitely knew his fair share of investors. What would be more perfect than if Simon could assist Trevor in that business?

“I am. Why do you ask?”

“I think Trevor might be interested in that, too. Just a thought.”

He glanced over once we parked in the lot, studying me.

“What?”

“Nothing. You just seem to know a lot about Trevor.”

I hated the blush which creeped up. “He’s talkative, okay? And he’s nice.” Like when he called me sugar before going down on me. Or when he called me beautiful like he had on Monday night, gripping my ass, or when he went alpha in such an unexpected way.

Jesus. I needed a cold shower. After a mere forty-eight hours without him. Thank Christ Simon didn’t catch on to the true nature of my thoughts.

“Good. I’m glad you two are getting along. It’s critical if we’re going to make this team work.”

I felt slightly guilty I didn’t fess up to the true nature of our relationship. After all, I’d been privy to his relationship with Peyton when they’d been dating in secret. But I reasoned it would be better if Simon didn’t know the true situation in my case. Especially since I wasn’t sure how I’d go about explaining it.

“Also, I forgot to mention. Block out tomorrow night for dinner,” Simon said. “Trevor’s father is having a do at his house.”

Say what, now? I was caught so off guard I almost missed his next words.

“Charles Newhall is a powerful man. Not only in the field of oil and gas, but he’s also putting in a bid to run for mayor of Houston.”

Gulp. And I’d fucked his son in his pool house on Monday night.

“I thought you were going home for the weekend to see Peyton?” His plans were to fly out Friday night.

“I am. I’ll leave straight from the party and take the late flight. Which reminds me: please change my reservation to the nine o’clock flight.”

“Do we have to go to the party?” The last thing I wanted was to meet Trevor’s father.

We both got out of the car and started walking into the building. “Yes. We definitely do. It’s called hospitality, and people in Texas have it in spades. Why, do you have other plans in Houston?”

I sighed. “No.” There would be no way to get out of it. But why hadn’t Trevor mentioned it?

“How about you book Trevor and me for lunch today? I’ll take him out and talk to him privately about the layoffs. Give him some advice. Won’t make it easier, but I want him to know I’m supportive.”

“Yeah. Okay.”

If I’d been thinking straight I might have worried about how Trevor was going to take Simon bringing up the layoffs. But I was too focused on how dinner would go tomorrow with his family.

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