Page 29 of When Hearts Awaken

But am I capable of that?

Until I figure that out, all I have is Grandma’s company. Her pride and joy, and protecting it the best I can because it’s the one thing I’m proud of…contributing to her legacy and adding my mark to it.

“Who has time for all that shit when running a company and battling PR scandals is a full-time job? Not everyone can multitask like you, Maxwell,” I reply.

He opens his mouth to say something, but the door bursts open and in strides the rest of the guys—Steven leading the pack in his three-piece black suit, but unlike his former workaholic self, his tie is loosened. It seems like being in love has finally softened his hard edges.

He’s laughing with Ethan, who’s shaking his head in amusement. Ryland is frowning at a stack of papers in his hands. Rex trudges in a few minutes later, his hair in disarray. He heads straight to the wet bar.

“Remind me never to take women on dates again,” Rex mutters.

“What happened? They expected…commitmentfrom you?” Ethan gasps in mock horror.

“You know what they say, the higher the mountain, the more people want to scale it. I don’t do relationships and these girls don’t seem to get it.”

We settle in the living room area and face the roaring fireplace.

“Aren’t you tired of it? Flings and one-night stands?” Ethan asks, his voice turning serious.

Rex shrugs and stares at the fire, a sudden heaviness on his frame. “It’s all I’m good for. Not everyone is cut out for relationships…requited or not.” He pins Ethan with a penetrating stare.

Ethan’s nostrils flare and the two have a silent stare down, seeming to communicate something we outsiders can’t seem to understand.

“Touché,” Ethan murmurs. “I swear, someday, I’ll get you to admit this playboy persona of yours is just an act.”

Rex curves his lips in a half-grin, the spark not reaching his eyes. “You’ll be waiting for a long time then.” He turns to his older brother. “What about you, Ryland? What’s got you smiling like an idiot over there? What are you reading?”

Ryland jolts upright in his blue tufted armchair, and stuffs his papers to the side. His amused smile turns into a scowl. “I’m grading papers, you idiot.”

Rex waggles his brows. “Papers, eh? Any hot coeds in class? Ohhh, Professor Anderson, I’ll doanythingto pass this class,” he says in a fake high-pitched voice.

Ryland rolls his eyes and sits back in his chair. “Unlike someone, I’m capable of controlling myself. I teach ethics, you dimwit.”

Steven mutters under his breath, “He’s not saying there’s no one.”

The guys guffaw and Ryland’s glower darkens, a vein throbbing on his temple. He takes out the papers again and his red pen flies across the page. There’s something going on with him.

“What about you, Charles? You look off today. Something bothering you?” Steven asks, and everyone turns toward me.

“What did I say? We know you too well to buy into your bullshit,” Maxwell mutters under his breath.

I hide my annoyance by taking another sip of my drink, which buys me a few seconds to come up with an answer that’ll hopefully fool some of the smartest people I know. After all, Fleur Entertainment’s exponential growth isn’t because they have idiots as management.

Something occurs to me—a misdirection. “I’m sure you’ve heard of the sexual assault scandal at the bank.”

The guys nod.

I tell them about the plan—the international ballet tour, Uncle Ian joining ABTC as the artistic director. And how I’ll even need to oversee parts of the tour myself because my trust in my team is lacking at the current moment.

“Hey, you said ABTC? Have you met our half sister yet?” Rex quips.

I frown. Half sister? Isn’t that Grace? I glance over at Steven and cock my brow in question.

“Grace has a younger sister who is a ballerina at ABTC. Taylor Peyton. Black hair, same eyes as these idiots,” he supplies.

I jolt.What the fuck? They’re related?Heat creeps up my neck. “Pissed off all the time, likes dark makeup, wears an equally dark piercing on her nose, and pale as a snowflake? Yeah, I’ve met her.”

Unfortunately.

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