Page 74 of Bossy Trouble

Love turns men into saps, my father always said. And it proved true. I’d observed it myself with countless friends and associates. And then, I realized how true it was when the cops were dragging me off Lupin, who by then had a black eye and a bleeding grin. Of course, the bastard ended up getting in a few more lucky shots to my face, but all in all, I’d thoroughly messed him up.

After we were separated by the cops, we both sat on the previously upended chairs in Lupin’s office. One of the officers had gone to submit our statement while the other eyed us watchfully as if to make sure we wouldn’t get into any trouble again.

I could have told him that we wouldn’t. Seeing Lupin’s messed-up face brought me enough satisfaction.

Of course, he ruined it the moment he started talking.

“I couldn’t believe it when I heard that you were dating Sasha,” he said after what felt like hours of silence. He wasn’t looking at me as he talked. Instead, he was staring straight ahead, appearing lost in thought. “I thought, ‘No, someone must be pulling my leg.’ You were my friend. You knew how I felt about her. You wouldn’t betray me like that.”

“You’re an idiot,” I responded. “The only reason I took an interest in Sasha was to prove a point to you. I never even slept with her in the beginning. The girl kept you on her purse string for years. I saw you turn away other women—great beautiful girls who wanted you—because you were too hung up on some girl you knew in high school. And no matter how much I tried to convince you to let her go, you didn’t believe me.”

“You don’t understand.”

“But I do understand.” I turned to him. “She was a bright spot in the darkness that was your life. She was your savior at that cruel academy your parents sent you to, and you’ve been hanging on to that sunshine feeling she gave you since then. Believe me; I understand those sentiments very well.”

And the reason I understood Lupin’s preoccupation was because I felt some of the same things when it came to Georgia.

“But I also understood that she did not see you that way,” I continued. “She actively tried to dissuade you at every turn, but during weaker moments, she would give you enough crumbs to keep you hoping that one day, she would change her mind. You were becoming a slave for her, and it was making you stupid. I figured that out the day you nearly killed yourself trying to get her that diamond necklace. You were ready to sell everything, our entire future, for her. That was fucking unhealthy. That was why I did what I did. I went after her so you would see that it was never anything wrongwithyou. She just didn’t love you, and she will never love you.”

Lupin was quiet for a few minutes. I didn’t know if my words finally sank in. Apparently, it didn’t because he shook his head. “You shouldn’t trust Georgia either. She may be keeping more secrets from you.”

“You fucking leave Georgia out of it.”

“Fine.” Lupin turned on his seat and looked me right in the eye. “Then tell me what’s going on with Dresden Inc.”

“This again.” Frustration ran through every point in my body. “Why the fuck do you care?”

“I don’t want Sasha or her family getting caught up in your bullshit.”

“Oh, then you can rest assured because neither Sasha nor her family is involved with me anymore.” His eyes widened, and I continued, “Yeah, we broke up, and the sheikh has pulled his backing. So now I have to find a new investor.”

“Why?”

I sighed. “What do you need that information for?”

He was quiet for some time. “I helped grow Dresden Inc. into what it is. I gave you some of the initial investment.”

“Which I’ve paid back twofold. You have no say in my business anymore.”

“I know, I know, I just….” He sighed. “I just want to know.”

I eyed him. Was this the bastard’s way of saying that he was worried about my business? Or that he was worried about me? What kind of sick bullshit was he trying to pull?

Then again, Lupin had always been mercurial and difficult to read. His awkwardness lent itself to some pretty hilarious misunderstandings when we were younger, but now it was just annoying.

“You know what I want, buddy?” I said. “I want you to forget about me. Forget I even exist. Stop stalking me and showing up at places where I might be. And keep your nosy ass out of my business.”

And then I got up and left, ignoring the cop shouting after me. I knew Lupin wouldn’t press charges, and even if he did, they would soon be dropped.

I was the shark of Boston, after all.

A shark that shouldn’t have his heart bouncing in his chest at the sight of Georgia defying an executive in a room full of people.

Somehow, even knowing that she’d been working with Lupin to betray me did not dull my feelings for her. Oddly enough, it made me respect her more. It made sense. I’d never understood why she took my bullshit so easily, and the thought made me angry. Made me feel like she wasn’t still my feisty Georgia.

But knowing that she’d been involved in a devious plan to get back at me and get her company back in one fell swoop? Yeah, that was fighting back.

And it was clever as well. I never even suspected.

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