Page 90 of One Wealthy Wedding

“Millions if it’s successful. But I have no idea if it would work. It’s purely experimental.”

“Millions. And you’re going to give it to a twelfth-grader,” she says.

“Kai’s smart. It’ll be a graduation gift.”

“I don’t understand you.” She looks annoyed at me, with her flashing eyes and her angry expression.

I don’t understand me either. I’m not going to explain to her that this code is useless. It’s a vestige of a former me, and while it’s fun, it’s not something Jonah and Miles will care about. I have bigger fish to fry. Like this European deal.

I push off the door and open it into the study. “I’ll be ready in a bit for the event,” I tell Cat, who nods and heads upstairs. I glance at Kai, where he’s bent over the laptop again. “Kai, you want to eat an early dinner with me?”

He stills. His mom doesn’t get home until late and he would probably love something to eat. “I’m good, Mr. A,” he says carefully.

“Let me give you some pizza for the road. It’s going to go to waste if we don’t eat it. I forgot about the event.” I didn’t forget. I just ordered a pizza when he got here because the kid loves to eat. “Come on.”

He trails me into the kitchen, admiring the art on the walls like he always does. I forget how ridiculous the mansion must look to outsiders, with the ornate outside and more modern interior. It’s ridiculously opulent for a single person.

“You don’t have maids or anything, right?”

“Correct,” I say as I pull out plates for us.

“How do you keep this place clean? Does your wife clean?”

I nearly drop a plate. “No, my wife doesn’t clean. She’s in school and she has a job. I would never ask her to clean.”

He looks skeptical. “But there’s, like, fifty rooms in here.”

“I don’t really use most of them.” I shrug and plate some pizza for us, mushroom for Kai and pepperoni for me, even though it’s going to ruin my dinner.

“You should hire some people. Lots of kids will be back from college for the summer. Just get someone temporary.”

My chest constricts. Kai takes a huge bite of pizza, but I can’t bring myself to eat. “My mom was a maid, you know.”

“She was?” His eyes are round, like he can’t imagine anyone in my orbit working for money.

“For a long time.” I nod. “It wasn’t an easy life. I wouldn’t ask someone to be my…servant.”

Kai shrugs. “Yeah, but Mr. A. You’re married now. You gotta grow up. You live like me.” He shakes his head.

I choke back a laugh. “What do you mean I live like you?”

“You’re eating pizza for dinner. Your study is a mess. And I’ve seen your fridge. My mom would be so pissed at you.” He takes another huge bite, and sauce drips onto his shirt. I silently pass him a napkin.

“You think I need to grow up?”

He swallows. “I think, if you really want to impress Mrs. A, you’re going to have to make some changes.”

“What makes you think she’s not already impressed?”

His gaze darts to the doorway. “She’s like…really pretty. Sorry. I know she’s your wife.” He whispers the last words, and I fight to keep a smile off my face.

“I know she’s really pretty,” I say. “I’ve been aware of that for a long time.” Longer than I care to admit, really.

He makes a face. “Sounds like you need to up your game, then. You’re rich but…I don’t know. You gotta really woo her.” The skepticism on his face is wildly amusing and disheartening at the same time.

“You think if I clean my house, that will do the trick?”

“Mr. A.” He levels me with a look. “You’re like…a millionaire. You should have a gourmet chef and a whole fleet of cars.”

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