Page 97 of Assistant to the Billionaire CEO

“Hellno. Ace wouldn’t do that,” he said. I could tell he was trying to sound as reassuring as possible.

“Dude. I don’t care if he does, we’re all fucking adults. If they like each other, I can’t and won’t stop them. What I dislike is the shadiness.”

“Look who’s talking. You tried to hide your feelings for Aria from us too.”

“What the hell are you talking about? I wasn’t trying to hide shit. Also, my situation was completely different.”

“Yeah? What was so different about it?”

“For one, I hadn’t just come out of a serious relationship, plus, I hadthreepeople on my ass. Do I need to remind you that you, Oliver, and your father weren’t exactly fans of me being involved with Aria? You all wanted to chew me up for breakfast. I’m one guy here. It pisses me off that he just doesn’t come straight out with it. Makes me think I’m spot on with my hypothesis on him and Ecclestone too.”

“Okay, fair. But keep in mind that you, Oliver, and I learned our lesson the hard way when you started datingourbaby sister. At that time, Ace was still in San Francisco, about to tie the knot.”

“So?”

“He has no idea how all that went down. He has no clue how to act. It’s his first rodeo, so give him a fucking break. I mean, even if there was something between the two—I’m sure there isn’t—you still can’t blame him for thinking you’d go berserk on him. It’s only human. So chill. And again, you’re just seeing things. If I remember correctly, Stella doesn’t even like him.”

“Then explain to me why she suddenly decided that it goes against her moral compass to keep an eye on him when I went to see her just now?”

“Maybe she’s just a better person than we are, bro.” He laughed loudly. “She’s always been fucking nicer than we are, anyway.”

“No, this is more than that,” I replied. “I know her.”

“Perhaps not as well as Ace knows her—if you know what I mean,” he teased and chuckled mischievously. “Just kidding. Relax, I didn’t mean to offend you. You make it way too easy, bro, ha-ha. Anyway, do you think we should involve Harris? I know we talked about this, but I don’t see how else we’re going to get the information we need if Stella isn’t willing to help us anymore.”

“No, it’s too risky. Your dad will find out if we do. You know that. We can’t take that chance. Also, Ace is sending us his paperwork in two weeks.”

“So, what are we going to do until then?”

“I don’t know. Not yet, anyway,” I rumbled.

“I’ve got a great idea. How about a beer? As in, right now.”

“Sure. See you in twenty.”

We ended the call just as I stepped out of the elevator. There was only one place I wanted to be: Talia’s. The best plans were always hatched over a cold lager, or better, a bourbon, and I needed a good one.

41

ACE

Fuck.

As soon as I closed the door, I pulled a black jacket over my shoulders and turned to face my sister, Tilly.

“I’m heading out,” I announced.

She was stirring sizzling onions around a pan. Baby Teddy was sound asleep in his room. Luckily, we hadn’t woken him. His T-rex-themed baby mobile was quietly playing its happy tune. A feeling of warmth filled the apartment. It was the feeling of home.

“Where are you going so late?” she asked, not looking up. “Work? All you do is work, work, work.” She scooped up a piece of onion with the wooden spoon in her hand, blew on it, and popped it into her mouth. With a “yum” face, she turned and looked at me. “And who was just at the door? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

It hadn’t been more than two minutes since Damon had had the audacity to come up to my apartment to accuse me of sleeping with his sister—just like that. He wasn’t wrong, of course, because Iwassleeping with his sister (and quite happily so)—but in no way was I going to pick a fight with him, even though I was still fucking mad at the shit he’d pulled. What the hell was wrong with him, sending her to dig through my stuff? Butdamn, that guy had a hell of a Spidey-sense.

This was my plan: Rush out and inform Stella that Damon was fucking onto us. She needed to know as quickly as possible. Fuck knew what the guy would do when he found out how I felt about her.

Somehow, it was all fucked up.

But I had to tread twice as carefully. I would not put her on the line.

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