Page 70 of Ugly Truths
Jeremy leans back, and his eyes narrow. “Why does it matter?” he asks.
“Like I said, I’m curious.” I meet his stare evenly. “You’ve been working closely, and I want to know how it’s going. What you’ve been focusing on.”
“What I’ve been focusing on,” he echoes, unsure.
“I want to understand what you’re passionate about.”
For a second, he just stares, processing the words. Then, something shifts. His apprehension molts into anger faster than I can blink; muscles coiling under his skin as if he’s braced for an attack.
He scoffs, shaking his head. “I get it.”
I exhale.Shit.“Jeremy—”
“Worried I’m going to embarrass you again with another idea in the future?” he snaps.
I shake my head. “I had to be objective. It’s how I’d be for any member’s proposal.”
Jeremy snorts. “Yeah, well, none of those people are your brother.”
Damn it.I have to salvage this. “You have a strong way of selling an idea. Your enthusiasm, the way you framed it—that takes skill.” I pause. “I think you’d be great in sales.”
He lets out a bitter laugh. “Jesus Christ, there it is.” Lifting his hand to his jaw, he rubs at the tense muscles. “You’re trying to push me into something else because you think I’m too stupid for operations.”
“That’s not true.”
“Yes, it is.” He says through gritted teeth. “Dad said you wouldn’t get the vision.”
The words press against the center of my chest. There’s been no question that William has been pitting us against one another for months, but to hear it confirmed out loud is something else entirely.
I force myself to stay still. “What else does he say?”
Jeremy settles back into his seat, a smug expression settling on his lips. “That we’d make a great team.”
We.
And he isn’t referring to the two of us.
I nod once, carefully schooling my expression. “I’m going to grab another drink,” I say, standing abruptly. The table has service, but I need to step away before I do something I can’t take back. “You want the same?”
Jeremy waves a hand dismissively. “Do whatever you want, Silas. You always do.”
Though I can feel Davey’s eyes on me, I don’t look toward him. I slide out of the booth without a word and make my way down to the VIP bar at the base of the stairs. It’s marginally quieter here, tucked slightly away from the main floor, but not by much. I’m not sure if the vibrating running through me is the music or my own furious pulse at this point.
After a few minutes, the bartender meets my gaze and I order another round, my fingers drumming against the bar top in restless frustration.
I can’t fucking believe him.
Either of them.
What am I supposed to do with any of this? Jeremy has never wanted to hear anything I have to say. We’ve been in some kind of one-sided competition our whole lives, and he’ll only think I’m trying to sabotage him. It’s definitely what my father has convinced him of, anyway, because apparentlythey’rea team now.
And I’ve become the enemy.
“Silas Wells,” a familiar voice says, warm and teasing. “As I liveand breathe.”
I jolt just as Alice Lancaster saddles up beside me, her glass of something-on-the-rocks in hand, gaze bright with amusement.
“Alice,” I say with a practiced smile. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”
