Page 42 of Darling Obsession

“It’s a fact.”

“It might be nice to hear the truth.”

“About what?”

“About what you’re feeling.”

“About what?” I repeat.

“About Darla, for example. Quinn. Whatever you want to call her.”

“If there was something to tell you, I would.”

“Hmm,” is all she says.

I don’t think she could pay me enough to tell her about my love life, and maybe she knows it. I have more than enough money, for one. No one on earth has that kind of leverage over me. Or her.

I don’t need to tell anyone anything. None of us really do.

It’s better that way.

Black.

White.

“Isn’t it interesting that she lost her father as a child, too?” she says.

“We don’t really know each other very well,” I say disinterestedly. I don’t want to discuss Quinn. Everything I say about her is just another lie to my sister.

But I’ve been thinking about the things she said about herself at dinner, too.

I didn’t have Manus dig that much into her past.

I wanted to know her present.

If I saw Quinn Monroe without knowing a thing about her, I wouldn’t have guessed that the two of us had a thing in common.

Turns out we have one of the most formative events in our lives in common.

“Well, maybe you could’ve known her,” Savi says. I’m not sure how to read that tone. Wistful? It’s like she feels sorry for me.

“Meaning?”

Her shoulders drop. “Look, Harlan, I’m actually sorry you have to give her up. But you do know you can’t continue a relationship with her, don’t you? It goes against company policy.”

I do know. But it’s actually kind of a relief to hear it from my sister.

I’ve been flailing around in this gray bog ofwhat ifand uncertainty for the last five days, trying to come up with reasons to see her again and knowing that I can’t.

“I’m aware,” I force out. “And I’m sure Graysen would fire me if he could.”

“It’s not a joke, Harlan. Graysen is fuckingpissed.”

“So this is you being his messenger, saving me from a confrontation with Graysen?”

“This is me trying to save Graysen from a heart attack. The opening of the resort wouldn’t survive our CEO dropping dead,” she says smartly. “You don’t seem to understand how much pressure he’s under, and how seriously he bears it all.”

She’s right. I don’t really want to see it. I have enough of my own issues to deal with.

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