“It wasn’t a scheme,” I said tightly. “Angie may have been a poor businesswoman, but she had a good product. It is a good product. Once I get distributors to see it–”

“You’re talking about a strapless bra, Bay, not some technological advancement that’s going to change the world.” Arron’s tone wasn’t cruel, but his meaning was clear.

He didn’t believe in me any more than our parents did.

“Do you know how much money is spent on lingerie every year?” I asked. “Do you know how much women are willing to pay for a bra they like? One that makes them feel and look good?”

“We don’t need to bring up such private things at the table.” Mum’s voice was sharp.

I ignored her. “The numbers are there.”

“And who showed you those numbers, Baylen?” Da cut in. “Angie? Did she show you numbers when she was convincing you to give her our money?”

While Da would never be impolitic at the dinner table, he was skilled at making his meaning known, no matter how he said it, and there was no mistaking what that question indeed was asking. Not that he was actually asking it.

“Once I take it to production–”

“How, exactly, do you intend to take it to production?” Da asked. “Your little idea?”

There was an edge to that last question that made me sit forward.

“The bank is closed.”

I felt Fi stiffen next to me, the only sign of her surprise. No one else said or did anything.

“What does that mean?” I spoke carefully, hoping to keep down the anger that had been simmering just under the surface from the moment I’d gotten in the car.

Maybe longer. Probably longer. My anger was building with every cutting comment and snide remark my parents had ever made.

“It means I will no longer give you money to throw away simply because some tart came up with an idea and you were too blindsided by love,” he said the word as if it tasted sour, “to care about the harm you’d do to the people who matter–”

I slammed my hands down on the table. Everyone was staring at me now, but I looked only at my father.

“She mattered to me.” I didn’t yell, but the room had gone dead silent. “Things didn’t work out, but at least I pursued her for love. Not power or money or whatever else. And that relationship was my business.”

“Except it affected family business,” Da said harshly, his expression stonily. “And since you don’t seem to understand how to be a productive member of this family, you’ll benefit no longer.”

I felt my jaw drop. I heard the words, but I didn’t understand them because they couldn’t mean how they sounded.

“You’re cut off, Baylen. No jet. No money from the family accounts.” He sneered at me with the sort of disgust that made my stomach tighten. “Until you can show the proper respect and learn how to get in line, no more resources.”

I nodded as I stood. “All right.” My legs felt weak, but I didn’t let it show. “I’ll fix it myself.”

I didn’t bother to listen for anyone coming after me because I knew no one would. Straight to my room and then to my car without a single person trying to stop me, even just to say a word, either of support or condemnation. They all just stayed in the dining room and kept eating.

I was halfway back into the city when I came up with a plan. I needed to get away from Edinburgh. From Scotland, even. I needed to put aside everything that reminded me of Angie, including the patent. I had to sell it with a profit. Show my parents that I had business sense. But to do that, I needed to go to production and demonstrate its success.

And I needed help.

Fortunately, I knew exactly where to go, and it would get me out of Scotland.

My first call was to my assistant, Brigh. I told her to book a hotel in Seattle, as well as plane tickets. My second call was to Alec, telling him I was taking him up on his offer for a visit.

Four

Harlee

Since I was 18 years old, I have had a few great jobs and many terrible ones. Working at Comix & Games for the past six months has been the best. A hundred times better than my four-month stint doing tech support over the phone for Sprint. I liked my co-workers at Comix & Games, and I didn’t dis-like the customers.