Page 77 of Boss Level

“The perfect sausage.” She was almost tomato-colored. “I mean… That sounded… You’re trying to take the focus off you and what has you detached fromthismeeting.”

One hundred percent busted. “I’m not the one talking about sausage. You’ve already taken the focus off me.”

“Which you want me to do because…?”

A knock interrupted our back and forth, thank fuck, and I looked over my shoulder to see Wade in the doorway. “You wanted to talk?” he said. “I’ve got five minutes.”

“You’re welcome to stay in here,” Kandace offered. “I’m not sure I want to see the darker side of this conversation, but I do want to see it play out.”

She’d definitely changed.

Because while my news was good, I had to tell Wade his brother was being an asshole about this, asking for something that was a bad idea for the firm and defied the votes of the other partners. Judith and Elliot reaching an agreement didn’t change Oliver’s opinion that AcesPlayed was a bad investment.

I jerked my thumb at the open seat next to me, but Wade was already sitting down.

He perched on the edge of the chair, one knee bouncing. He’d always been ago go gokind of high energy.

“By the way, I wanted to thank you both for the flowers and notes,” Wade said. “This has been really hard on Paige. She and her father were close, and we didn’t hear from many people in the firm. Not that I expect it, but the consideration was nice.”

“How’s she doing?” Kandace asked.

“It’s been tough on her.” Wade’s laugh was tight, like he knew he was repeating himself.

I felt bad for Wade and his family. “I’m sorry.”

“Yeah. You wanted to talk? You have news?”

Right.Goodnews. At least, I thought so. “Judith has reached an agreement with Elliot. We don’t need to push through with the board’s vote for AcesPlayed.”

Wade’s knee bounced faster. “Vote is still happening. Oliver has raised some good points with me.”

“He’s wrong.” I could be more tactful, but that wasn’t what needed to happen here.

Kandace and Wade both looked surprised.

“You’re talking about m—”

“Our business partner.” I didn’t want to give Wade a chance to play thehe’s my brothercard. “If I was making this kind of mistake, I’d expect one of you to call me on it, regardless of our friendships.”

“We all would,” Kandace said. “This firm works not only because we each bring different insights to the table, but because we can be honest about them, and no one voice holds more weight than any other. If Oliver believes AcesPlayed is a mistake, he’s welcome to pull out, but he doesn’t get to decide that for the rest of us.”

I knew she’d have my back, but unfortunately, this situation ran deeper than that. “This isn’t just about him trying to pull us out of a single solid thing.”

“Isn’t it?” Wade’s fidgeting stopped and he held my gaze. “Speaking of relationships and favoritism. He disagrees with your closest friend, and now he’s wrong? That’s not what’s going on here?”

It was absolutely what was happening in my head. I wanted to hurt him in a way that would probably land me in jail. “This decision might be personal, but that doesn’t mean he’s right. And this isn’t the first time he’s done this recently, it’s just the biggest.”

“Xander’s right. Three of the four investments Oliver’s dumped in the last year have soared in valuation since we pulled out, and the fourth didn’t crash. It’s remained steady.” Kandace was ready with the details. Bless her.

Wade clenched his jaw. “We’ve all made bad calls before. This is a risky business and that’s part of why we play the game—we like the gamble.”

He had me there. I didn’t just love the risk, I all-but got off on the win. “Still doesn’t make me wrong about this. I know family matters. I get that. But sometimes we have to choose—”

“What do you want me to do here?” Wade asked. “Do you think firing Oliver is appropriate? Would you fire your brother?”

“I love Maddox. I’d do anything to shelter him, even now.” No reason to lie about that.

Wade raised his eyebrows. “So… no.”

---