Page 32 of When Hearts Ignite

Taylor snorts and rolls her eyes. “Of course he is rich. Rich men are pigs.”

I nod, the same belief carved into my heart by the currents of time and disappointments.

But not all rich men are bad. What about Steven?

I flinch, a pounding kicking off inside my chest. Bringing the cup to my face, I inhale the smoothness of the alcohol and toss back my drink in one gulp, relishing the scorching burn, which brings tears to my eyes.

I clear my throat, forcing my thoughts to drift to something else. “Anyway, more to come on that. Eventually, I’ll make enough money to hire an investigator and we’ll get our answers once and for all. For now, my internship at an investment bank is hard as expected. Long hours, cutthroat environment, but I’m learning a lot. My cubicle neighbor, Jamie, is pretty awesome, and mostly everyone treats me well. I’m learning a lot. Definitely a lot.”

“You’ve said that three times now. Sis, everything good with you? I see you with the same strange, vacant expression at home too. Something doesn’t feel right. I don’t think this is just from finding those letters alone. I mean, you’ve been searching for answers ever since you could read. Something else is going on.” Taylor narrows her eyes and points her black polish tipped finger toward me.

“Come on, guys. I’m good. You’re all overthinking.”

“And you’re working for the King of Wall Street, right? How’s that?” Millie asks, her eyes sympathetic, as if she can sense the confusion swirling in my mind.

“It’s fine.” That’s all you guys are going to get from me.

Millie gulps down her sake and lets out a sigh. “There’s something I’ve never told you guys, but I think it’s time for me to share.”

We look up and find her biting her lip, nervously twirling a strand of hair around her finger.

She grimaces and takes a deep breath. “Your boss is my brother-in-law.”

“What? Steven Kingsley is your brother-in-law?”

Millie nods. “You guys have heard of Adrian Scott, right?”

We all blink. “Of course. I’ve actually been working on some investments for him at the firm,” I reply.

The lip biting is back again and Millie swallows. “Adrian’s my brother.”

“What? You’re loaded?” Taylor shrieks next to me. “So why do I have to buy you freakin’ gummy bears every time we’re out and about? You should buy me gummy bears. And none of the no brand shitty ones. I want Haribo, the classic ones made in Germany from now on.” She grins and throws out a teasing wink.

Belle waves her away. “Tay, missing the point here. Why didn’t you tell us? And don’t you guys have different last names?”

Millie looks down sheepishly. “It’s a long story, but my brother changed his last name in college for a very complicated reason I won’t go into. And well, I just don’t want people to meet me and think…heiress or rich girl, and I try to stay out of those circles. I’ve always wanted to tell you girls, but the opportunity never came up and I didn’t want you to look at me differently.”

“What? I’m thrilled. Now I can have two sugar mamas.” Taylor grins and I swallow a laugh, still trying to process how I’ve had this tenuous connection to Steven all along.

“How is that possible?” I whisper under my breath.

It almost seems like the fates have been conspiring behind my back, and at some point, one way or another I’d meet him.

And I’d end up here.

Which is nowhere, Grace. You had a moment of alcohol-induced connection, which is a physical reaction to listening to a beautiful man with an equally sexy voice singing a song about undying love. Anyone would feel unsettled.

Nothing happened. Men are still unreliable. Mind over body.

I’ll never become my mom.

Nevertheless, if she’s my boss’s sister-in-law, maybe she can give me more information about him. Shed the mystery. Scuff up the shine. A magician’s trick always dulls when the behind-the-scenes come to light.

“Is he always so intense?” I stare at the empty plate in front of me, willing my face not to twitch.

“Steven?” Millie thinks for a few moments. “He’s always been the quiet, broody type. A workaholic through and through. I think he and my brother have an unhealthy fascination with work. But Adrian is better now that he’s with Emily. He actually takes time to enjoy life. Steven, on the other hand, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him not work. Even at family events, he’d take out his phone and type emails or get on conference calls.”

The thought of him working himself to the bones makes me sad. I swallow the lump growing in my throat.

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