Page 69 of My Boss's Sons

Milo gasped. “No! They commissioned it! How can they reject it?”

“They said they overestimated their budget and would only pay me if I would agree to half of the original amount.” Tears filled Ava’s eyes. “I was too embarrassed to say anything. That money would’ve been so good right now and I poured so much time and effort into that painting.”

I cracked my knuckles and nodded. “What’s the name of your contact there?”

“Jeremy May.” Ava grabbed my hand and squeezed. “I’m sorry. I thought I was going to be able to help for a change.”

“Ava! You make my life possible! You take care of Lily when I can’t. You cook and clean! You take care of Milo!” I pulled her close and pressed my forehead to hers. “I’m sorry I’m yelling, but you need to know that without you, I would probably stillbe stuck with Davis because I couldn’t afford to escape that marriage. I wouldn’t have been able to afford childcare on my own. You’ve saved me a hundred times in a hundred different ways. Don’t you ever doubt that!”

Her tears escaped as she hugged me tight. “I love you, Sophia.”

“I love you, too, but I’m focused on rage right now so stop being sweet to me. Let’s go find this Jeremy May guy so I can tell him what a dipshit he is. Bring the painting. When I’m done with him, he’ll cut you the check for the original amount.”

A few hours later we walked out of The Rickford without her painting and with a hefty check. I’d almost gone to jail in the process of getting that check, but I had my power back.

55

***Ethan***

Noah knocked my feet off the coffee table as he walked past me to sit on the couch. Lately, all of our interactions were laced with anger so it wasn’t a surprise. I was trying my best to be the mediator but it wasn’t easy when all I wanted to do was punch something.

“Watch it.” I put my feet back up and went back to staring at whatever sport was on. I wasn’t actually watching anything, but it helped with Mom obsessing over us if she thought we weren’t just staring into space for hours at a time.

“You fucking watch it.” Noah sank heavily next to me and ripped off his tie. “Randal quit today. He made sure to do it in front of everyone, all while threatening to sic his wife on us.”

I grunted. “The women’s rights attorney?”

“The very one. When I pointed out that we kept things above board at Anderson, he literally laughed in my fucking face. It took everything in me not to punch him.” Growling, Noah pulled his phone out of his pocket and tossed it on the coffee tablewhere it sat vibrating. “Dad’s been extra needy. I can’t take a piss without him calling me.”

I shrugged. “He doesn’t call me.”

“Is that supposed to be helpful?”

I rubbed my face. “No. Sorry. I’m just… I don’t want to talk about Dad.”

“You’re still having doubts.” Noah stood up and turned a fierce flare at me. “How much more evidence do you two idiots need? What the fuck has our dad ever done to us to deserve you and Alex thinking of him like that?”

Alex came out of his room at the sound of Noah’s shouting. He was more than ready for a fight at any time those days. “You want to know what he’s done?”

Before another war could break out in our apartment, the intercom buzzed. “There are two visitors here hoping to be let in.”

Alex was closest to the screen that connected our apartment to the security desk downstairs. “Who is it?”

“It’s Jack, asshole.”

“Excuse me, sir! Stay on your side of the counter. I’m more than capable of relaying your name.” Whichever security guard was working was in over his head with Jack.

“Let them up.” Alex strode to the elevator and waited for it to come up. I could read him too well and I felt like he was almost hoping Sophia was with Jack. Who else would he come with?

I felt myself growing anxious at the possibility of seeing her. I stood up and wiped my sweaty palms on my thighs.

When the elevator opened and it wasn’t Sophia, the amount of disappointment in the air should’ve told us something. We were all hoping to see her, no matter how we felt about her and what she’d done.

Jack and Ava came out of the elevator like two wild animals. Ava pulled back her fist and decked Alex before he ever saw itcoming and Jack went for Noah. He shoved Noah back until his knees hit the couch and he fell back on it.

“What the fuck?” Noah stood up and shoved Jack back. “Who the fuck are you to come intoourhome acting like this?”

Ava pushed Jack out of the way and tried to punch Noah but after watching her punch Alex, he knew it was coming and dodged her. She swung around to me and whatever she saw on my face took the wind out of her sails. For punching, anyway. She still had plenty of wind for shouting at us.

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