Page 92 of A Temporary Forever

Roxy is waiting there. She flinches, her lips setting into a straight line as she assesses Celeste. Okay, maybe bringing your wife to your future workplace isn’t the best idea.

Roxy recovers quickly and puts on her welcoming smile. “They’re waiting for you, Mr. van den Linden.”

“Call me Cal. Could you please get my wife something to drink, Ro?”

“Cal, I’ll certainly make sure your wife is comfortable while she waits for you. Please don’t ever call me Ro.”

“My apologies, Roxy.” Okay, I like her. “I won’t take long.” I smile at Celeste.

She glares at me. Why I brought her is beyond me, but somehow I needed to know that she’d be on the other side of the door when I exited the battleground.

I wink at her, and she rolls her eyes. Chuckling with renewed energy, I march toward Corm’s office.

“At least one of them is taken. If one more candidate swoons over the rest of them during their interview, I’ll claw my eyes out,” Roxy says, I’m assuming to Celeste, and I turn to look back.

Celeste looks like she’d rather walk barefoot on broken glass, but she smiles at Roxy, and I leave themthere, almost certain the two of them might assume world domination while I’m gone.

I don’t bother to knock because Corm is expecting me. I’m not even surprised Xander and Declan are in the office with him.

They must be waiting for my move since they’ve pulled theirs. Besides, the security from downstairs gave them a heads-up. Hence Roxy’swarmwelcome.

“Caleb.” Corm greets me like I came for a friendly visit.

“Asshole,” I respond, and don’t bother to acknowledge the other two men in the room.

“Oh, come on, it’s not like the outcome would be different if we waited for you to come around. I respect the fight you put up, but I needed to move things along.” He gestures to the coffee table.

Xander and Declan are sitting there. Xander looks pissed—I’m guessing he really fought against the announcement. Declan looks bored, which I think is his regular countenance.

I sit down in the same chair I occupied when I first came here. The level of intrigue is very different.

Corm sits across from me and pushes a folder in my direction. Pulling a fountain pen from his pocket, he places it on the folder without saying anything.

I push his pen to the side and open the folder. The partnership contract includes everything we discussed,and it names me a partner with twenty-three percent in the company.

“I met you halfway,” Corm drawls.

If he’s in any way nervous about how this will go, he doesn’t show it.

My gaze turns to Declan. “Did you agree with his blackmail tactic?”

Declan doesn’t move. He doesn’t shift in his seat or clear his throat while he holds my gaze. He takes his time before he answers. “We have several deals at the point of signature. We couldn’t afford any further delays.”

That’s almost like admitting he was on board with Corm’s backstabbing. My research revealed very little about Declan’s relationship with his brother, but I assume he agreed with the plan too.

The older Quinn seems to be kind of a recluse since his wife left him, but he’s a financial wizard. Will these two always gang up against me?

But then Declan adds, “That being said, I read the announcement in the news probably at the same time as you.” His gaze flicks to Corm, his jaw set.

So Corm didn’t even tell his brother. I turn to Xander. “What about you?”

I don’t think it’s a secret I talk to Xander outside of this office, but I don’t want Quinn to know the extent of ourfriendship.

“Frankly, I’m considering cutting my losses and pulling out after this.”

Corm almost fucking rolls his eyes. “Okay, I apologize to everyone, and I promise I’ll respect your opinions in the future.”

That makes me laugh. “Your promise is worth shit, since nobody in this room trusts you.”

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