Page 77 of New York Love Stories: Vol. 1

“Who’s? John’s? I’d remember that.”

He says, “Natalie and Jackson St. James. You were right there, Nick, when he showed us the photo.”

I try to recall John’s daughter,Jackson’s sister, but I’m drawing a blank. The call from my mom comes to mind, though. “Was this when Mom called?”

“I saw the photo. I’d recognize his daughter.” Andrew stands and hurries to the door, rushing out.

Oh, shit.I run. My mind is muddled with jagged-edged pieces of the puzzle not fitting together. Praying to God we didn’t just buy her family’s legacy without her knowing a thing, I need to beat him there to soften the blow or explain why we’re acting like maniacs.

I practically slam into the back of Andrew when he stops just inside the living room. His eyes are set on her, narrowed, and he’s already shaking his head. Keeping my voice as quiet as possible, I ask, “What’s the name of the company John’s fighting for?”

Andrew looks at me curiously. “STJ Co. Why?”

Without taking a breath, I push past him, wanting to protect her from this news. It’s going to destroy her. I don’t understand how it got this far without her having prior knowledge or why her parents didn’t tell her. I can only speculate that they were trying to protect her as well.

She looks at me concerned and then turns toward my brother and Dad who remain with distance between us. Andrew’s solemn expression is easy to read.

Fuck.Why would her parents keep this from her? From memory, John St. James had said that his daughter wasn’t interested in the company, so I guess it makes sense why she doesn’t know about the takeover.But will she feel as though she’s been betrayed by being kept in the dark?There’s no way around this now that she’s here. Staring at my brother and then my dad, I shake my head, pleading through the silence that’s engulfing the room. “Please let me.”

Natalie looks up at me innocently. “Let you what?”

My mom glances at the three of us, and then says, “What’s happened?”

I reach for Natalie, thinking it might be best if I tell her alone, but then she pulls her phone from her back pocket and glances at the screen. “My mom’s calling.”

The four of us look at each other, and then I say, “You can take it on the terrace if you’d like privacy.”

She nods, and I show her to the door, opening it for her. Just before it shuts, I hear her say, “Hi, Mom, what’s up?”

Turning back to my family, I say, “What the fuck?”

“Nick!” my mom scolds, anger firing in her eyes. She rests her palms on the stone counter and angles to my dad. “What the fuck is happening, Corbin?”

Andrew is usually the first one with a smart-ass comment, but he scrubs a hand over his head and sits this one out by moving to the living room sofa.

My dad comes closer, glancing toward the terrace, and then whispers, “Natalie is the daughter of the former CEO of Manhattan Financial.”

“Layman’s, please,” my mom says, staring at him and tapping her fingers impatiently.

He replies, “The company we just bought in New York. That’s Natalie’s family business.”

Her mouth falls open, but then she clasps her hands in front of her chest, grinning wide as the day is long. “Destiny.”

“No, Mom. Not now.” My gut twists, watching my girlfriend . . . my fiancée through the windows. I’m unsure of the implications of this bombshell, but from what I have gathered, Natalie has been content in her discussions with her dad regarding business. Why would he sell it without telling her?

Will she blame me for making this deal happen? For being a part of it at all? For being the messenger or for not putting one and one together with their last names from the beginning. Although, now that I think about it, should I have questioned things more? I did see her coming out of the same building I was entering—where her family’s company’s offices are located.Be rational, Nick. There are nearly nine million people in New York City.

“I need to tell her.” I start walking toward the back door, but every step has a thousand pounds weighing me down. “Without an audience.”

Andrew says, “The truth is, you didn’t know.”

“Will that matter?”

Nodding his head, he says, “It should. Good luck, little brother.”

With my hand on the doorknob, I look back. My mom says, “Destiny will always find a way through a misunderstanding.”

“She’s going to think I’m lying.”

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