Page 112 of Cashmere Cruelty

I cross my arms. “‘Permission’,” I echo.

“That’s right, Miss.”

“No one goes in or out without the boss knowing, Miss.”

By my side, Charlie blinks at me like I’ve gone insane. But before he can say anything, I give him a look.Thelet-your-big-sister-handle-thislook.

Then I turn to my guardian angels in Gucci. “Permission from the boss. That’s what we need, right?”

“Thank you for understanding, Miss?—”

“Luckily, I’ve got his heir right here.” I make a show of leaning down, hand cupped around the shell of my ear. “What was that, young master Nugget?” I ask my belly in front of three pairs of dumbfounded eyes. “Uncle Charlie can come in, you say? That’s great. Thank you so much.” I look up with a big smile. “Looks like there’s no problems on our end.”

The bodyguards exchange a look. “Miss, the boss?—”

“The boss said it’s fine,” I interrupt. “If you’ve got an issue, you can take it up with management.”

“M-Management?”

I point to my belly with both thumbs. “Right here.”

A few nervous glances fly between the gorillas. I can practically hear the conversation:I’m not crouching down there. The boss will kill me. You do it. You speak to the fetus.

“No one?” I ask innocently. “Then we’ll be on our way.”

“Miss—!”

Then I usher Charlie inside and shut the door. “Phew,” I exhale once we’re out of earshot. “Sorry about that. They can be a bit…”Sexist.“Overprotective.”

But Charlie isn’t looking at the door anymore. Going by his face, he’s not thinking about the bodyguards at all.

Instead, he’s staring at my belly.

“Charlie…?”

“So it’s true,” my brother breathes. “You’re really…”

He stretches out a hand, but quickly pulls it back again, as if afraid I’ll bite. I can read Tom’s influence all over the gesture:Don’t touch the chips, kid. If they get mixed up, you’ll pay.

“Here,” I say, reaching out to take his hand. “You can touch if you want.”

Then I place it gently on my belly.

Charlie’s face lights up. He looks mesmerized, like that time I snuck him out to the aquarium on his tenth birthday. Iremember watching him stroke the manta rays’ fins in the open tank, reverent and awed. Now, he’s wearing the same expression.

Then Nugget gives a kick, and he startles.

“Don’t worry,” I reassure him. “Nugget’s a bit rowdy today. Hasn’t had second breakfast yet.”

For the first time since he came here, Charlie gives a small smile. “Just like a hobbit.”

“Probably takes after you,” I tease.

It’s so strange, seeing him here. My brother.Half-brother, his parents would both chide, but I never cared to tell the difference. We were born from the same womb: what would we be, if not family?

Internally, I roll my eyes. All of Matvey’s blood talk must be getting to me after all.

Charlie. He’s grown so big since I last saw him: fifteen now, and way taller than me. Not that it’s hard, but still.

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