Page 57 of Office Affairs

The paleness in Dad’s cheeks worried me, but he flushed quickly enough to push aside the concern. “So you went to Grady, my best friend and rival’s company, to prove a point?”

That was all he heard from my little speech?

“Yeah, Dad. I did it all out of spite. Sure. Whatever.” This was why I’d known better than to try. “It’s not like I needed a job and Chase offered me one that actually meant something to me.” I willed them to see my feelings in my face, my eyes, my words. “Being at Grady International was the best thing that’s ever happened to me, aside from Keith. I loved every minute there.” I loved them. Words failed me as everything inside me screamed that I would never get them back after this.

Chase’s jaw worked side to side, his expression growing darker with every passing second. “What else did you lie about?” His head tilted toward me, eyes narrowing. His nostrils flared, his tone turning dangerous. “Did you tell him about us?”

30

RUSELL

No fucking way. Emotions rose in a surging tide that threatened to rip my legs out from under me. How had we gotten everything so wrong?

Leon and Chase continued to hurl insults at each other. I expected the secretary to intervene at any moment, but maybe she’d gotten used to this kind of noise over the years. I tunneled a hand through my hair and approached Sabrina, who eyed me like she thought I’d eat her alive.

The door behind her opened and Keith shuffled out. He took in the room with a wide-eyed expression and tucked himself in close to Sabrina. The quiet look that passed between them broke my heart. It said they were used to this, that shouting and cursing had been such a part of their lives that they expected it and had learned how not to react.

I broke away from Garrett with a warning look. “Keep calm.”

“Whatever.” He crossed his arms and watched Chase and Leon square off. They were good friends, and we’d sort this out eventually. Leon seemed to have missed Chase’s question, and I wasn’t about to remind him. Not yet. I had someone else I worried about more.

Sabrina kept an eye on me as I approached but didn’t back down or run away. Her hand settled on Keith’s shoulder and the boy looked up at her with such fierce devotion that my anger melted. “Hey. You okay?” I met Sabrina’s eyes, but the question was for them both.

Silent tears puddled in her eyes and fell in smooth tracks down her cheeks. “Fine.” Her voice cracked and she swiped at the tears with a shaking hand. “Can’t you tell I’m fantastic?” Her dark laugh caused Keith to tighten his grip on her waist, and she patted the top of his head. “We should go.” She took a step to pass me, her chin falling forward as she deflated.

I spotted the instant shame burned into her features as her gaze shot to Chase and slid away. Her steps quickened.

“Wait.” I reached out, stopping short of touching her, not knowing if she’d welcome the contact or swat me away. The world split into two sides. Sabrina and Chase. Both needed me, and my loyalties were to Chase first, but that didn’t mean I’d abandon Sabrina.

She stilled but kept her head turned away. “I understand if you want me to move out.”

I barely heard her over Leon and Chase arguing about who now owned the tech stolen from us and bought by Leon.

“You can’t prove it was yours,” Leon said.

Chase fisted his hands. “Your contract is void if I can prove it.”

I pushed aside their argument and stepped between Sabrina and everyone else. The open pathway to the door drew her attention. I wouldn’t stop her from leaving, but I hoped she’d stay. “Do you have anywhere else to go?”

Sabrina shot a look at Leon over her shoulder. Her mouth twisted into a grimace, her hair falling over her shoulders when she shook her head. “Not anymore.”

I’d thought all along that she was estranged from her family, but I never expected this. What exactly was her situation? What happened to push Sabrina into needing a place to stay? I’d been to Leon’s house many times through the years. How had I never seen Sabrina?

“Why the fuck would I send my daughter to work for you?” Leon’s voice pierced the air between us.

Sabrina flinched back like she’d been struck, bright spots of color dotting her cheeks. Her floral dress twisted around her knees where she gripped the material. “He’s never believed in me. Never thought I’d make anything of myself. I was almost homeless because of his wife, and he couldn’t be bothered to care.” An audible swallow followed by another head shake kept my attention on her. “I wanted to prove him wrong. I fucked up.” A long exhale rounded her shoulders. “I regret not telling you the truth sooner. But that’s all I regret.”

I read what I could from her face and the passion in her words. Her regret did not extend to us, to our time together.

“Wait, please. Sit tight and let me talk to them.” I held up a hand to her and walked backward until I could grab Chase. “Leon didn’t send Sabrina to spy on us.” I yanked on his arm until I had his full attention. “Stop shouting and think.”

Chase wrenched his arm from my grip, but I’d gotten his attention. Silence wrapped around us. Chase flexed his hands and tucked his tie into his jacket, buttoning it with careful precision.

“Let’s have a calm conversation about all this.” My temper firmly in check, I walked Chase to a chair and pushed him into it. I’d been a mediator between my parents and siblings first, then between Chase and other hot-headed business associates. The role came naturally after all this time. “We’re going to talk this through like adults.”

Movement from Sabrina pulled my head around as she tugged Keith down onto the couch. She gave me a tight smile that I took as approval.

Leon looked at no one except Chase. Why? Had he forgotten Sabrina was even in the room or was he so disappointed in her that he ignored her as punishment? Either way, it ignited a slow burn that curled through my veins with each heartbeat. No one should be ignored, but especially not someone as brilliant, creative, and vibrant as Sabrina. I was partial to her, no doubt there, but she possessed all the qualities of a brilliant businesswoman, and Leon refused to acknowledge that. If anything, he stifled her with his harshness. What kind of man didn’t even give his daughter his last name after her mother abandoned her? We’d all heard the story, but only today did I learn Leon’s true nature and the pettiness that he’d allowed to come between him and Sabrina.

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