Page 76 of Remy

She drags on her seatbelt as I pull from the curb.

I keep one eye on her as I drive through the busy morning traffic, her focus intent on her screen.

“What is it?” I mutter, yet again giving too many shits about what’s running through her head.

“Dad sent a heap of messages Saturday night. He must be worried sick.”

“He’s not.” I force my attention on the road. “He called me when he didn’t hear from you. I explained that it was best to give you a few days without the interference of Google swaying your perception of me and mine.”

“What am I going to find online?”

I shrug. “Unsubstantiated stories and speculation.”

“Are they though?” she whispers. “Speculation, I mean.”

“Sometimes.”

“Will you tell me why my father trusts you?”

“Our agreement couldn’t work without trust. It’s non-negotiable. And we’ve worked closely since the beginning. He showed me the ins and outs of your business. In return—apart from the money—I’ve helped where I can with his health issues. We may not have the same outlook on life, but we’ve learned to understand each other.”

She focuses out her passenger window, as if trying to distance herself from me, her fingers self-consciously raking through her hair.

“Stop fidgeting. You look fine.”

“I’m a wreck,” she murmurs to the frosted glass. “And FYI—fine is never a comforting descriptor.”

Does she want me to tell her she’s mesmerizing? That the state of her hair doesn’t mean shit when her gorgeous face has the ability to steal breath?

She continues finger-combing her damp strands, then starts fussing with her clothes. Her leg jostles, her jitters filling the car as I drive toward the city, her knee constantly bobbing, her hands a frenzy of agitated movement.

“You’re going to need to get those nerves under control.” I shoot her a glance.

She sighs. “Yeah, I’ll get right on it.”

Her knee continues to jolt. Up and down. Up and down. Faster and faster.

“I’m serious, Ollie. Lorenzo needs to know you have your shit together.”

“I’m trying, but it doesn’t help when I don’t know what he’s going to do to me.”

My hands tighten around the steering wheel. I wish I could answer her with an impending Hallmark moment but the truth is, I don’t know what to expect.

I’ve only had a relationship with my uncle for little over a year. Before that I barely knew he existed. I’m unsure how much influence I have.

What I do know is that he’s smart, calculating, and risk averse. He’s a powerful man with a hell of a lot to lose. He’s also highly principled with a soft heart for those he cares about.

Too bad Ollie doesn’t fall into that category.

It’s all on me to sway his hand.

“You don’t know, do you?” Her voice fills with sorrow. “You have no idea what I’m up against.”

“We,” I correct. “What we’re up against.”

I reach across the center console to slide a hand over her knee before I can think better of it. Before I can contemplate how fucking pathetic it is for the man who placed her in this situation to offer her comfort.

Her breathing hitches. The jolting stops. She turns rigid.

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