Page 27 of Tangled In Lies

I huff out a half-grunt and push him away. “Dickhead.”

“Just saying.” He shrugs and steps back. “You know I’d hate to miss a good bloodbath.”

I rub a hand over my face. “I’m fine.”

“Okay.”

I drop my hand and stareat him. “Thank you.”

“No worries.” His big shoulders rise. “That’s what I’m here for.”

“And because I pay you a shit ton of money.”

He chuckles. “Of course you do. You’d be fucked without me.”

This time, a chuckle escapes my mouth because he isn’t wrong. While there’s a large staff working on the estate, I’m not close with any of them. Huxley is probably the one I’m friendliest with, but I’ve also known him my entire life. He used to work for my grandparents and was in charge of the estate after my grandfather passed away and while I was gone. There are a few other employees left from before, but most of the staff are new and vetted by Holden and his security team. Other than that, I don’t have anyone in my life. Not anymore.

Holden nods in the direction of the hallway behind me. “It’s probably better for you to be gone when she comes out. We don’t want to have another incident.”

I stare daggers at the wall, but I know he’s right. I hate that I snapped, and keeping some distance between us is better for now. At least until I can control my anger better around her.

Lifting my hand to my forehead, I give him a small salute and walk away.

Away from the person who ruined my life.

With every step I take, the urge to spin around and go back to her grows.

I should be running away, but instead, I wish I could undo what I did to study her more.

She’s like a puzzle I need to solve, but the pieces don’t fit together, no matter whichway I try.

An enigma that still keeps me occupied during the day and up at night.

When it comes to Evangeline, nothing makes sense.

Of course, there’s a chance I’m wrong, and she really is a conniving bitch who deserves everything coming her way, but I feel this inexplicable need to find out everything there is to know about what happened.

For the next few hours, I lose myself in work. Reading the reports my dad sent me about new and upcoming acquisitions and mergers. Even though he doesn’t want me officially back at work until my public image is better, he still wants me to know everything about what’s going on.

After an hour, I’m bored to death and switch over to my Foxhole Foundation files. There are several documents from our accountant for the IRS and the state that need signing. I also want to delve into other charities to analyze their business models in more depth.

Holden asked me a few days ago if I wanted my focus to be supporting other charities and institutions that are already helping teens, or if I wanted to take it a step farther and also create my own safe place for teenagers to fall back on when they don’t have anywhere else to go. It would transform the project into something much bigger than I had initially intended for it to be, but there was something in Holden’s gaze when he suggested it that I haven’t been able to shake.

It would require more planning, more staff, and a lot more money, but that’s where the sponsors will come in. A task Evangeline will help me with, even though she doesn’t know it yet. It would certainly boost my public image even more.

We even thought of a name already: The Fox Hideout.

Kids deserve to have a safe place. A refuge. Although my dad is an asshole, and my family has never been warm and fuzzy, I at least never had to worry about going hungry or having a secure place to sleep.

My phone buzzes on the table, and I lean over the screen to read it.

There are two text messages from Holden. One from a few hours ago, and then the one that just came in.

Holden

Shit. School is boring. I don’t know how the princess does it. She’s like a damn robot.

Holden

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