Page 25 of Wicked Truths

Or is she looking at Spencer Reed?

I shake my head as I picture her fitting in with the family. I can imagine her at the house for the holidays. She and Joey would be a cute couple together, but asmuch as I would root them on, I have bigger problems to focus on right now.

“We really need to head upstairs for the meeting.”

She tears her gaze away from Joey and nods.

We walk side by side toward the extra-wide staircase. Neither one of us speaks as we head to Dad’s office.

His office is the grandest of them all.

It’s a corner office with two walls of solid windows. His large mahogany desk sits in the middle of the room, and his high-back chair looks more like a throne than an office chair.

To the side, nestled near one of the large windows, is a six person meeting table. In the middle of the table is a box of doughnuts from my favorite place in town.

Dad is already sitting at the head of the table. A smile forms on his face and tears form in the corners of my eyes as I rush toward him.

“Daddy, you got my favorite doughnuts. I can’t believe you remembered.”

He stands and wraps his large arms around me, enveloping me in his spicy scent. No matter how long it’s been, I always feel like daddy’s little girl when he hugs me like this. I feel loved and protected in his embrace.

Safe, even.

It’s been too long since I’ve been home.

“Of course I did, Principessa. Welcome home.”

“Thanks, Daddy.” I whisper to keep my tears from falling.

Joey’s voice interrupts our moment. “Are we going to get the meeting started or what? I don’t have all day. Practice has already started.”

I roll my eyes and head toward the seat closest to the box of doughnuts. “Practice may have already started, but I think you will be excused for a little while. Besides, I don’t think anyone has the balls to say something to you or to us with Dad owning the team.”

Dad clears his throat and sits back down.

I glance around the office, expecting to see Alexandra standing nearby, but she’s nowhere to be seen. Does she not sit in on meetings?

I grab a Bavarian Cream doughnut from the box and ask, “Is Alexandra not joining us?”

“No, she never does. This meeting is just for us.” Joey glances toward the door before shaking his head and sitting at the other end of the table opposite from Dad.

I raise my eyebrow. “Then why send her the same text informing her of the meeting?”

“Because she forwards the calls from here to her desk and she makes sure no one interrupts our meetings.”

How long has she worked with Dad and Joey if she already knows what to do during their meetings?

Dad just bought the team last week. That seems too short of a time for him to find and train an assistant.

I turn my attention to Dad. “How long has she been your assistant?”

Dad thinks for a moment before saying, “Maybe about eight months.”

So she’s been around long enough to know what’s going on, but not long enough to be invited into the meetings.

“So, Dad, what businesses have you acquired over the past two years?”

Dad doesn’t answer, so I turn to look at Joey, who doesn’t even glance my way.

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