Page 10 of Grave Kisses
“Marcus is a dick, but he isn’t stupid. Stand your ground, and he won’t do shit. Even Jerry called him on that bullshit. CyberSafe is the largest profit-making company under the Vanderbilt umbrella. There is a reason it is one of the three main owners. The other seven are minuscule in comparison. Losing CyberSafe would hurt Vanderbilt significantly,” Julie says. “Also… can I just point out that he always looks at her like he wants to fuck her?”
“To death, maybe,” I snort.
“Mmmm. No. I know him,” Bellamy laughs. “He’s not used to a woman not falling at his feet.”
“He must have a thing for brats,” Julie says.
“I’m not a brat,” I say with a frown. “I’d tell him if he’d stop being a dick.”
“Just keep pushing back. He will break eventually,” Bellamy says, patting my leg.
“And when he does?” I ask.
“He will apologize and make it up to you,” he tells me.
“With his dick,” Julie giggles.
“No,” I say at the same time that Bellamy says, “Probably.”
“What do you mean, probably?” I ask. “This isn’t some bullshit like he’s mean to you because he likes you, right?”
“No,” Bellamy laughs. “I just know my friend, and he’s pissed because he is attracted to you and annoyed that you aren’t doing what he wants.”
“So he calls me a whore?” I ask.
“Yeah, I told Martin about that.”
“Uh oh,” I laugh.
“Yeah. He will be back in town on Friday. I fully expect him to smack him upside the head now. No matter who it is, Martin doesn’t tolerate him being cruel like that.”
“And then add in that he loves Kendra to death,” Julie says.
I get my phone out, having an idea. I go to Martin’s contact and call him on speaker. He answers on the first ring. “Hey, sweetheart. I was about to call you,” Martin says.
“Your son is a dickhead,” I say, and both Martin and Bellamy cackle. “I kinda melted down. Bellamy knows now. Julie is here too.”
“You are a good secret keeper,” Bellamy says.
“It was important to Alan that it remain a secret until she was ready to say something. Archer did horrific things to her, and even if she won’t admit it, it’s taken her a long time to trust people.”
“I trust you,” I say. “I think I trust Bellamy.”
“Bellamy is a good man. Marcus is too; he’s just got his head up his ass.”
“Julie said I’m a brat, and Bellamy said that’s why Marcus is being a fuckhead.”
“That tracks,” Martin says, making Bellamy grin.
“Mhmm. So I have an idea,” I say. “Usually, I had dinner with you and Alan at his house on Fridays. Why don’t I come to your house?”
“And invite my dear son over,” Martin says, understanding. “Are you sure?”
“Am I sure I want to see you scold your son? Yes,” I say. “Yes, I sure am.”
“Let’s do it,” Martin says. “I’ll let Noel know.”
“He got the board to try and force me to speak up,” I say. “He said if I don’t, he will separate CyberSafe from Vanderbilt.”
