Page 44 of How to Undo the Proud Billionaire

Despite knowing that Radd wasn’t interested in a relationship, his this-is-only-sex reminder—so blunt!—had thrown her. Had she been hoping, wondering, dreaming for more?

Maybe. Just very little. Well, no more.

Besides, she had a bigger problem to deal with right now.

Once or twice she’d thought about telling Radd about Kerry, about her feud with Naledi, but the time had never quite seemed right and she’d known it would shift the dynamic between them and, frankly, she hadn’t wanted what they had to end. Not just yet. She’d thought there would be time, at the lodge or back in Cape Town—or never—for the full truth.

It seemed that time was now.

Brin closed her eyes and wondered why Johnathan, not the brightest spark in an electrical storm, remembered her—the younger sister of a woman he’d slept with—when they’d so very briefly met all those years ago.

Brin opened her mouth to say hello, but Naledi’s loud screech made her take a step back. And then another.

“She’s Kerry’s sister? Are you freakin’ kidding me?”

“Actually, she’s her half sister,” Johnathan replied. “She’s Kerry’s personal assistant.”

“Iwasher assistant,” Brin corrected him, only to realize that nobody was listening to her. Brin looked past Naledi’s furious face to see that the rest of the wedding party had moved closer, curiosity on their faces.

“What is she doing here? Did she take photos? She’s only here to ruin my wedding!” Naledi’s yell was accompanied by the stamping of her feet.

Brin turned her attention to Radd. His expression, as always, was impassive, but his eyes reflected worried confusion, like he was trying to find his balance in a suddenly rough sea.

Brin expected him to try and placate Naledi, to do or say anything to calm the drama queen down because, sure, keeping Naledi calm was imperative. But she never, not in her craziest dreams, expected his next question.

And it rocked her off her feet. “What have you done to upset Naledi?” Radd demanded, his question whipping her skin.

Of course, it follows that this would be my fault, Brin thought, when her shock receded. She was the easiest person to blame: it didn’t matter that he’d needed a florist at the last minute, that she’d begged him to take her back to Cape Town, that she’d done everything she could to avoid the Radebes.

Blame had to be assigned, and she was a convenient target. It was unfair but it wasn’t, knowing the world he operated in, an uncommon practice.

“She’s Kerry’s sister, probably sent here to infiltrate my celebrations, to take photographs of me in wretched and compromising situations. Or when I’m looking awful,” Naledi shouted.

Oh, seriously? Get over yourself!

“She came here to do the flowers, Naledi. She’s a florist,” Radd said, sounding annoyed.

“She did my flowers? Are you freaking kidding me? She’s a nobody! I knew I hated them, didn’t I tell you that I hated them?” Naledi demanded, looking around at her entourage. A couple of the bridesmaids nodded, as did her father. Her mother averted her head and said nothing.

Brin looked at Radd, waiting for him to defend her work. He’d told her numerous times that Naledi loved the flowers and would like to use her again. She held her breath, waiting for him to say something, anything.

When Radd remained quiet, Brin felt like he’d yanked her heart out of her chest and shoved it into a blast chiller.Come on, Radd, say something…Did our fight yesterday morning teach you nothing? Did you hear me when I told you about being in the line of fire for things I had no control over? Did anything resonate with you?

Obviously not, because Radd, damn him, remained quiet. But Naledi did not. “I demand you search her phone! I want to see if she has any unauthorized photographs of me, and if she does I will sue her for invading my privacy.”

Good luck with that, Brin thought. She didn’t have any money anyway. As far as she knew, Radd still hadn’t paid her and, judging by his cold, hard, icy fury, he might not.

I abhor secrets and surprises…

“Naledi wants her phone inspected,” Vincent stated, stepping forward and placing his hand on his daughter’s shoulder.

But this was where Radd would draw the line, he knew she would never do anything to jeopardize his deal. He knew—he had to!—that she’d never do anything so underhand, that she didn’t care enough about Naledi or her wedding to ruin it. He’d say no, because he knew her and he’d stand up for her.

Naledi’s fist rested on her curvy hips. “I have an exclusive deal with a magazine and if a single image hits the internet before they get the package of photos, I will lose the deal and a huge paycheck.”

Brin ignored her, keeping her eyes on Radd’s face.C’mon, Radd, any time now.

His eyes, as cold as a dark, Arctic night, met hers. Brin held her breath and when he lifted his hand, she thought, for one brief, beautiful moment, that he was offering his protection, a silent but powerful gesture to show she had his support. She started to put her hand in his and gasped when he jerked his back, quick enough to avoid a snake bite.

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