Wright Rival

by K. A. Linde

  “Must we discuss business?” Eve asked. She seemed to be the only one at the table who realized how angry I was.

  Mr. Sinclair turned his full attention to Eve with a smile that showed quite clearly why she was here. He was enamored. Oh fuck. Wasn’t he married?

  “Of course. We’re here to celebrate.” He raised his glass, and I followed with Eve clinking her glass against mine. “To our award tomorrow.”

  I saw red all at once. Our award? OUR?

  That was too far.

  It was too damn far.

  He might have gotten us out of financial problems. He might have purchased the winery that was my home. But he hadn’t done shit with the wine.

  I was the one who was there day in and day out. I was the one who worked in the fields and dealt with the on-site problems and who had produced the wine that was currently a finalist for this award. In no way, shape, or form was this award ours. It was only ever mine.

  Before I could open my mouth, a hand smacked down on the table. “Mr. Sinclair,” Hollin said, suddenly at my side.

  I jumped. I’d been so distracted by my increasing fury that I hadn’t even seen him enter or approach us.

  “Hollin,” Mr. Sinclair said with a smile. “Good to see you.”

  He stuck his hand out, and they shook.

  “I was toasting to our success. I hope you don’t mind. Since we have every intention of beating Wright Vineyard tomorrow.”

  “Healthy competition is always appreciated.” He nodded his head at Eve. “Hey, Eve.”

  She smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Hey.”

  “How’d you like The Tacos?”

  Mr. Sinclair faced her. “Tacos?”

  “It’s a soccer team,” she told him. “Hollin asked me to sub the rest of the season because they lost a player.”

  “Yeah, see, we found my sister’s boyfriend making out with someone else,” he said, leaning forward dangerously. “I broke his nose and kicked him off of the team.”

  Mr. Sinclair met Hollin’s eyes square on. The implied threat was bright and vibrant. Even Eve didn’t respond.

  “Eve was nice enough to help us out. She’s good like that.”

  Mr. Sinclair nodded. “How nice of her.”

  Finally, Hollin turned to me. He looked hot in dark jeans and a white button-up, just like the one I’d borrowed from him all those months ago. He’d shaved, and his hair was done. But his blue eyes were storm clouds, dark with intent.

  “Can I borrow you, Piper?”

  I gulped, and despite myself, I nodded. I wanted—needed—the out. “Sure.” I pushed my drink across the table toward Mr. Sinclair and Eve. “Thanks for the drink.”

  Hollin directed me across the bar and back out into the lobby until Mr. Sinclair and Eve were no longer visible. I sagged back against a wall. I crossed my arms over my chest, closed my eyes, and released a deep breath.

  “You looked ready to murder him,” Hollin said. “Thought you could use the out.”

  “Yeah,” I said hollowly. “He kept going on about how the award tomorrow would be our award. Ours. As if he’d had anything to do with it.”

  “Fuck. What an ass.”

  “I thought you were going to hit him.”

  He cracked a smile. “Nah. He’s the kind of douche who would press charges. I said all he needed to know.”

  “You think he and Eve…”

  “Don’t you?”

  I nodded. “Yeah. She’s wearing Louboutins. I doubt she bought those shoes.”

  “Sugar daddy central from Daddy Sinclair.”

  I cracked up at the name. He’d said it before at breakfast, but it fit even better now. When I met his eyes, the ice had melted, and it was just him. Everything felt so…normal. As if we were meant to be here together. Just like this.

  But reality rushed back in.

  He must have seen the moment that I realized that we were standing together alone. Because he took a half-step back, giving me breathing room. We were on precarious ground.

  He’d been there when I needed him against Daddy Sinclair. When he hadn’t been there when I found out about the sale to begin with. It meant something, and I appreciated it. But I needed more time.

  “I should go upstairs and get some rest.”

  His eyes flickered to my lips and then back up. “I could…walk you.”

  My mind reeled with all the things that would happen if I said yes. The elevator doors would slide closed, and he’d push me back against them, kissing me breathless. We’d break long enough to make it to my room. He’d kick the door down, and we’d try to rip each other’s clothes off. He’d get annoyed with how long it was taking and get his hands and his cock under my skirt as fast as possible. Bury himself inside of me.

  I blinked as the daydream popped. I flushed red and backed up a step. It would be so easy. But sex was not our problem. We’d had great sex before we ever had a relationship. Sex would only complicate things more now. We couldn’t go back to who we had been on that tour bus.

  I shook my head. “Good night, Hollin.”

  Then, I walked away.

  And he let me.

  I was still focused on the bullshit that Daddy Sinclair had been spouting to me. My anger, curbed slightly by Hollin’s interruption, rekindled. Our award. Fucker.

  I pressed the button for the elevator, and as I entered, I froze as an idea hit me. It was outrageous. Completely crazy.

  But I was going to do it.

  39

  Hollin

  Watching Piper walk away was one of the hardest things I’d ever done.

  She’d wanted me to come back to her room. I could see that in her eyes. The way she disappeared inside her head. She’d looked as if she were imagining what the night would entail. And I wanted that.

  But I let her go. I could have pushed. She would have let me push. It had been on her face. But if we’d fallen into bed like I wanted to, she’d have hated me in the morning. That was the opposite of what I wanted. Not when she’d dropped her guard enough to let me rescue her from Daddy Sinclair. She’d stayed and talked to me for a few minutes, as if everything was going to be all right.

  It meant I had a chance.

  Any chance was worth it with her.

  I’d had plans to wait in the bar for her all night. Now, I had no plans. She wasn’t going to come back down after that. I didn’t blame her, but I still needed a drink.

  I returned to the bar and ordered a Jack and Coke. I was sipping on it when Eve Houston took the seat next to me.

  “Hey there,” she said, waving the bartender down for another drink.

  “Eve,” I said. “Where’s your sugar daddy?”

  She lifted one perfectly arched eyebrow. “He had to take a call.”

  “Ah, the wife?”

  Eve smiled at me and ordered another Amaretto sour. “I have no idea. I try not to pay that close of attention to that kind of thing.”

  I snorted. “Like whether or not the guy is married.”

  “Are you going to kick me off of the team?”

  I laughed softly. “Did you hurt my sister?”

  “No.”

  “Piper?”

  “No.”

  “Then no. What you’re doing is stupid and dangerous. If his wife found out, he’d lose half of everything. And you’d be fucked since you work for them.”

  “Well, until this moment, no one else knew.” She glanced over at me, and I saw the first hint of fear from her. She didn’t want to lose everything for this guy. She’d gotten caught up in it. Power dynamics and all.

  “But now, I know,” I said.

  She took the drink from the bartender. She had it put on Daddy Sinclair’s tab. Cheeky. “You do. So, I guess I’m trying to figure out what you’re going to do with the information.”

  “Did he send you to ask?”

  She shook her head with a laugh. Eve had always been beautiful in a way that said she knew it. But young. Almost as young as Nora. We�
�d only crossed paths because of soccer. I might have been interested once…if she hadn’t been into Zach. Never a more drastic change in relationship had I seen.

  “No way. He isn’t even thinking about it. But I like contingency plans.”

  “Trying to figure out if it’s time to bail?”

  Eve tapped her glass against mine with a wink. “Maybe.”

  “Don’t worry. I don’t plan to do anything with the information.”

  “Cool,” she said, taking me at my word. “Well, see you tomorrow at the ceremony.”

  I waved her off and downed the rest of my glass. I had a second and third until a buzz hit me in the face. Then, I returned to my room and crashed. All I wanted was to be in bed next to Piper. Instead, I was here. Alone.

  This fucking sucked.

  The award ceremony wasn’t until seven tonight. So, I spent the day wandering the convention center, keeping an eye out for Piper. It was a huge place, so I didn’t see her, but I was still frustrated that it never happened. I tasted a decent amount of wine, made some connections for Wright Vineyard, and played the part that Jordan and Julian had been grooming me to take over.

  With a frustrated sigh, I went back to the Four Seasons, changed into a black suit, and left for the award ceremony. I was offered a glass of champagne as I entered the enormous ballroom. A large stage was at the front of the room. A banner hung behind it with the IWCC logo on it. The logo was also represented on two projection screens on either side of the stage.

  Hundreds of tables filled the space, and as a finalist, I was shown to my table near the front. I took the one seat for Wright Vineyard and was seated next to the three corresponding seats for Sinclair Cellars. Interesting.

  One for Piper, of course.

  And then Daddy Sinclair and Eve appeared at the table, making it clear that they were also representing the winery. Piper was going to throw a fit if she found out. Christ.

  I shot her a quick text, in case she wasn’t aware.

  Heads up. Daddy Sinclair and Eve are seated at the Sinclair Cellars table. Didn’t want you to be blindsided.

  But though my message appeared as Read, she didn’t respond to it.

  I ordered a drink as I waited and tuned out the conversation. I should have brought Julian or something. He’d had plans with Jennifer already and offered to break them, but I hadn’t let him. Now, I was regretting that.

  The lights flickered overhead, and a speaker stepped up to the podium, asking everyone to take their seats, as they were about to begin. Piper’s place was still empty. What the hell? Where was she?

  I sent another text.

  Everything is about to start. Where are you? Did you decide to sit somewhere else?

  Again, straight to Read.

  “What the fuck?” I muttered under my breath.

  Eve leaned across Piper’s empty seat and whispered, “Where’s Piper?”

  I shrugged. “I have no idea. I never in a million years thought that she would miss this.”

  “Maybe she’s late.”

  But I doubted it. Piper was never late. She’d been messed up last night. I’d let her go back to her room. Maybe I should have pushed after all and tried to be there for her more. Had she decided to bail on the entire thing?

  Finally, the lights dimmed, and I had to put my phone away. Piper wasn’t here.

  She wasn’t late.

  She just wasn’t coming.

  “And the winner of the IWCC award for Best in Class goes to…” The commentator opened a sealed envelope. He read the results and broke into a smile. “Wright Vineyard, Abbey Vintage.”

  My jaw dropped as the award was called out. I was struck perfectly still. I couldn’t believe it. Was this real life?

  Eve nudged me. “That’s you! Go up there!”

  After two hours of awards, I’d been essentially numb to the winners. Wines were awarded medals—bronze, silver, gold, and double gold. Each one was a blind taste by a panel of judges. They weren’t judged against one another, but as the quality of the wine as a whole. But at the end of each category, one wine was chosen as Best of Class. And that was essentially the winner of the entire ceremony.

  And that was me.

  I stumbled out of my seat and ascended the stairs to the podium. A trophy was thrust into my hand with a muffled, “Congratulations.”

  I stared out at the audience from under the bright white lights. The crowd applauded my success. Cameras flashed. People were cheering. I’d never experienced this in my life, and I was momentarily dumbstruck.

  I retrieved the acceptance speech I’d written from my suit coat pocket. Julian and Jordan had insisted I have one just in case. I’d thought there was no chance in the world that I’d get here, but now, I was, and thank fuck they’d pressured me into writing something.

  The words came out like I was speaking with marshmallows in my mouth as I thanked my family and friends and the vineyard. It all happened in a flash, and then I was ushered backstage. I took a handful of pictures for the photographers. I downed three large glasses of water all in a row to stop my body from shaking from disbelief and mild stage fright.

  When I got a second to myself, I took out my phone and video-called Julian and Jordan. Their faces filled my small screen, and I held up the award.

  “We fucking did it!” I said.

  “Holy shit!” Julian said.

  “I knew we’d win,” Jordan said.

  “You didn’t know,” Julian said with an eye roll.

  “I suspected.”

  “Well, it happened.”

  “Congratulations. So well deserved,” Jordan said.

  “We’re going to have to find a prominent place to display the trophy,” Julian said.

  I nodded. “Definitely.”

  Julian cleared his throat. “How’d Sinclair Cellars do?”

  “Piper didn’t show.”

  “What?” Jordan asked sharply.

  “That makes no sense,” Julian said.

  “I know. And then they didn’t even medal. I’m so fucking confused. Their wine was as good or, as much as this pains me to say, better than ours. I don’t know what the fuck happened.”

  “Huh,” Jordan said. “That’s confusing.”

  Julian frowned. “Well, if you figure it out, let us know.”

  “Will do. Next year, you fuckers are coming with me.”

  They laughed and agreed. I cut the line and took an offered drink. There was a big gala event after the award ceremony. I was close enough to the end of the thing that they weren’t allowing us to go back to our seats. I thought about calling Piper, but if she hadn’t answered my texts, I doubted she’d answer a phone call.

  Finally, the ceremony ended with a huge round of applause. The lights came back up all the way, and everyone entered the next ballroom for the dance portion. I should go mingle, but I was more confused than anything.

  So, I took my trophy with me as I made my way toward the judging panel. A few people stood around, discussing the different medal placements. I wanted to know where Piper had ended up. And how it was that she hadn’t even placed.

  But Daddy Sinclair beat me to it.

  I interrupted his ranting. “What’s going on?”

  Daddy Sinclair whirled on me. He looked ready to rail at me, too. “They said I withdrew.”

  I blinked. “What?”

  “Sinclair Cellars withdrew from the competition,” the poor stone-faced woman at the judging table said.

  “That’s absurd.”

  “Precisely!” Daddy Sinclair snapped. “I would never withdraw from the competition. I had it under good authority that we were going to place highly in this event.”

  “I’m sorry, sir. As I said before, you can file an appeal, but the judging is done in secret, and a withdrawal is typically considered final.”

  “Oh fuck,” I whispered as it all became clear to me.

  Piper had been raving last night about how terrible Daddy Sinclair had been to her. How he’d cal
led it “our” award and not hers. She’d done all the work, and he was going to take the credit for it. She’d been mad enough and stubborn enough. Even if it meant hurting her place at the winery, even if it meant losing the thing she had been working for all year, she’d do it.

  “How could this have happened?” Daddy Sinclair demanded.

  The woman looked down at her paperwork. “Officially, Sinclair Cellars withdrew from the competition by the organizer of the vineyard entry, Piper Medina, last night, sometime after eight p.m.”

  “Shit, Piper,” I hissed.

  Daddy Sinclair appeared to turn almost purple with rage. “That bitch,” he snarled.

  “Watch your fucking mouth.”

  But he was long past gone. “After all that I did for her family. After I spoke with her last night, assuring her that nothing was going to change. She goes behind my back and pulls this shit. There will be consequences for this deceitful, underhanded behavior. Forget tolerance. The old ways are out, and the new ways are in.” He punched his fist into his other hand. “There will be restructuring after this stunt, and Piper will find herself out of a job.”

  I took a menacing step forward. “You will do no such thing.”

  “Excuse me,” he snapped. “You have no say in the matter.”

  “No, but you haven’t even talked to her. Maybe she was saving you from embarrassment because the winery was going to crash and burn.”

  “No,” he said. “I know a judge, and they informed me that we were placing.”

  “Isn’t that outside of the bounds of the award?” I pushed right back. “Couldn’t you be disqualified for tampering?”

  “Certainly not,” he said, bristling at the implication.

  “Piper must have had a reason for withdrawing.”

  “Insanity. She was mad that I’d purchased the winery and wanted to get back at me. I can’t imagine any other explanation. So, you’ll forgive me if I don’t want to hear about your infatuation with the girl. She might need your defense, but she’ll find only justice from me.”

  “Oh, I don’t think so.”

  He looked half-ready to hit me. “You have no power here.”