Page 76 of Frayed Owner

I smiled when I saw Kelton working and getting stuff ready, going over by him but feeling awkward. He’d been upset that I’d ignored him at the factory and asked if we could work together. I was fine with that, but it was all—it was never easy making the first move.

Or I guess he had by asking. Life and relationships weren’t easy.

“Hey, morning,” he greeted when he saw me standing there. “You sleep well?” He smiled when I nodded. “We’re still on for today, right?”

I immediately nodded, totally not remembering that we’d made plans or what we were doing. And I was pretty sure he caught onto that.

“Sorry, I should have confirmed instead of just saying let’s do something Saturday after the factory,” he said easily.

“It’s fine. I just—there’s so much. I’m sorry that everything is so complicated.” Neither of us seemed to know what to say then, so I just pushed forward. “IKEA? Normal Saturday trip to IKEA, right?”

He beamed at me. “Sounds great. Yeah, whatever you want.”

Okay then. Good. We could just walk around and get lost in the crowd and I could get ideas for my room at home after the renovations… Which apparently would be soon with the way Clare was now motivated.

Better than me having to handle it for sure.

We worked hard and well together. I was glad that he seemed to understand that I kinda had to ignore everyone a lot of the time. It was just so hard to focus on anything else besides getting the big batches done.

I was ready for some relaxing fun when I was done, but instead there was a menace and problem waiting for me. The address of the factory had already been disclosed, so I couldn’t get upset about that, but I wasn’t happy he knew I was there and my schedule.

Then again, it probably wasn’t hard to guess given I was a college student. Still, it was definitely a conversation to have.

“You look well, Bevin,” my uncle said with a smile that creeped me out.

And always had.

I simply nodded, raising an eyebrow to basically ask what he was doing there and what he wanted. But then I thought better of it and glanced at my watch as if it was notifying me of a text. Then I held up my finger to him and pretended to respond, but really I was recording the whole thing so my ass was covered.

That seemed to surprise him, or he was at least going to act that way because of how many people were around. “I thought there would be a better reception from you when—”

“When you offered no help or support when I filed to be disowned? When my father was a menace and psychotic? I don’t know why you thought that would be, Uncle Jeff, but I cannot think of a single reason you would come see me. Well, a reason I would want.”

It was hard not to smirk. Normally, I would have just called him Mr. Shaw, but Jeffrey Shawhatedbeing called Jeff.

Hated it.

It was so stupid, but Father and others would do it intentionally and tease him for blowing up that it wasn’t his name. I’d always made a point to call him by his full name because I understood being bullied and picked on by the family.

He’d never acknowledged it or given me a second look, but his wife—who was an absolute snake—would always make mumbled comments about me being a weirdo or freak. Seriously, the whole family was rotten.

“Look, you’re too young to understand, but your father had a hold over all of us—”

“Oh, this is going to be good when you start off so strong,” I drawled. “Spit it out. What do you want so I can tell you no?”

Anger burned in his eyes at me doing that in front of others, but he quickly swallowed it down and smiled. “You won’t want to do that when this benefits you, Bevin. You’re a smart girl, and I’m sure you understand the current situation the family is in. Jean isn’t the right choice and it’s not because she’s a girl. She’s better than Alex but not the right choice. You are.”

So I wasn’t smart enough to get things when he wanted to excuse his bad behavior, but I was when he wanted to use me? Right, but he didn’t really believe that and was going to pull a fast one on me.

I decided not to even play the game. “Yes, I am a smart woman.” I smirked at him when victory filled his eyes. “Which is why I won’t let you puppet me.” I threw my head back and laughed when he frowned. “Oh, you are as dumb as Charles always said, Jeff.”

He doubled down though. “I understand your distrust after all you’ve been through, but I don’t want to puppet you, Bevin. I want to support you—your aunts and uncles do.” He gestured to the warehouse. “Clearly, you were the overlooked gem in the family, even Jean and Mother have said it.Youshould be the one to take over the family.”

I let out a huge sigh and scrubbed my hands over my face. “You think I’m a fucking moron if you seriously expected me to buy this shit. I’meighteen. There is no world where this family of vipers will let me ever be a real family head.Plus, now you want what I know about Familiar Treasures. You want the owner. You want the business secrets.

“And you think I’m too stupid to understand that.” I snorted. “You’re not even the first Shaw family member to try this.” I nodded when shock flashed in his eyes. “Yeah, you’re late, but I’ll tell you the same thing I told Jean—I’m not a Shaw. I’m a Millen. You all can sit and spin. More than that, you also underestimated me, and I won’t forget this stupid ploy.”

He grabbed my arm when I turned to leave but froze when one of my security pulled a gun and demanded that he let me go. He did but acted like it was on his own. “We’re not done talking, Bevin.”

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