Page 69 of Built to Last

“Then I’m going up.” I’m not about to let him fight this battle alone. Even if he gets anxious and kicks me out, he’ll know I want to be there with him.

I can barely breathe the whole way up. I wish we went back to my apartment the night before. Now that I know more about Reid, I see the penthouse for what it is. Carefully designed to show the world what he wants them to see. Perfectly designed. He’s not actually comfortable here. He seems happier and more at ease at my place.

The doors come open, and I realize he is absolutely not comfortable right now.

“How much, Britta? You know there’s only so much I can fucking give.”

“I don’t know about that. You still have this place.” Her voice is soft but with a hint of mocking. “Poor little rich boy. I don’t want money this time.”

He goes quiet, and I move into the living room.

“Hey, babe. If I knew we were having guests, I would have brought more coffee.” I act calm, cool, and collected even though I’m trembling with rage on the inside. I believed him before, but now I have confirmation that this woman is nothing but an albatross around my guy’s neck. I need to find a way to permanently remove her. “I brought you some croissants, but I bet you lost your appetite.”

Reid stares at me like he can’t quite believe I’m here.

But Britta can. She’s dressed in slim slacks and a white shirt that’s unbuttoned down almost to her navel, showing off some barely there curves that would look fab on a magazine cover or a runway. Here in the apartment in the middle of the morning, it’s a bit much. “What are you doing here?”

It’s said with a disdain only Europeans can achieve. American disdain is a whole other thing, but the force is strong with this Swede. “Well, I spent the night here with my boyfriend, so I should be the one asking why you’re here.”

Britta’s hair is up in a high, sleek ponytail that sends her hair whipping around with a swish when she turns back to Reid. “Send her away. I’m not talking with your sidepiece here.”

“She is not a fucking sidepiece,” Reid says, his voice going dangerously low. “You mean absolutely nothing to me and you haven’t for a long time. I’ve had nothing but disdain for you since the first time you blackmailed me for a million dollars in exchange for your silence. Harper isn’t here for my money.”

“Well, apparently she shouldn’t be if you’re running out,” Britta says with a wave of her hand. “Letting the show go was a mistake.”

“One I didn’t have a lot of choice in. I couldn’t work,” he pointed out.

“Well, you’ll find a way. This new show might have gotten you another. I’ve heard from some people on the inside that it is wholesome and sweet. I guess this sex scandal will derail it,” she says with a shake of her head.

Damn it. I did not think of that. I thought about Anika and how it would affect production, but I didn’t think about the fact that Reid and Jeremiah were trying to get someone to back their family-based restoration and rehab show. “We should talk to CeCe about getting a crisis publicity firm. I can call her, and she’ll have some shark in the water by this afternoon.”

“He can’t afford someone like that,” Britta huffs. “I do keep up with him. I know he’s bleeding money and he’s going to have to sell this place soon if he can’t get another gig. That’s what happens when your brother…”

“Don’t you say another fucking word or I won’t care,” Reid warns. He’s flush with anger, but there’s softness in there, too, as he reaches me and takes my hand. “Baby, it’s not…”

I shake my head and hug him. “Not your story to tell. I don’t need to hear it. I’m here. I’m right here without reservations or questions.”

He holds me so tight and takes a long breath before letting me go. His hand is in mine when he turns back to her. “What do you want? You don’t have the tape or you would have released it. By the way, your guy on the inside has been fired, and you’re lucky we’re not prosecuting.”

I squeeze his hand to let him know I’m with him. Lawyer would love to. Damn it. I need to figure out that man’s name.

“I’m not sure how you managed that, but it makes no difference,” she says, regarding us with a cool smile. “The tape was merely to humiliate you. I can certainly get out the word that it exists and I’m far too much of a lady to ever put such a thing out there. The fact that you’re cheating on me is enough. I have an excellent reputation among my fans. They’re women, by the way. Women who watch home and garden shows. Women who like to boycott men who cheat.”

“Except it’s not cheating.” I do feel the need to point that out.

She ignores me. “So you can move ahead with this…worker person.”

“Contractor,” I correct.

“Fine. You can move on with this contractor and you’ll lose your chance at the show. You’ll be vilified, and no one will work with you or your brother. Especially after I put out the truth about him. You can sell this place and move to Arizona or wherever poor Americans go.”

“Hey, the Phoenix real estate market would like a word.” Because those prices are soaring. I should know. I tried to convince my mother she needed some sun. Then she told me I need some sons, and I went back to drinking heavily.

He sighs and frowns down at me. “You can’t help it, can you?”

“Sarcasm is how I deal with stress,” I admit. I am feeling stressed because I know whatever Britta says next is going to be terrible.

“Or we can change this narrative entirely,” Britta offers. “I think you’ll find I sat down with a couple of journalists to talk about my epic love story and how many times I’ve forgiven you since you’re the love of my life.”

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