by Kira Graham
That must be the last nail in the coffin of Paris’s tolerance, because the hurt leaves his face, along with the mirth, and in its place, I see a look that I have never seen on him before. Acceptance plus a little…I wouldn’t call it hatred, or even dislike; more like he’s boxed up whatever he felt and shoved it away in some dark corner, replacing those emotions with an apathy that isn’t in his character.
“Fine. You want me gone, Sin? I’m gone,” he says softly before turning on his heel to walk out.
“Sin!” I breathe, my tone horrified and accusatory when I meet her eyes, feeling my own eyes filling with disgust and anger. “Was that necessary? The man was joking around with you, Sinai! Not hurting anyone.”
“He needed to see reality! Don’t you see? He can’t keep carrying that stupid torch for me. He is always around and underfoot, messing up my life. I spend more time on trying to avoid him than I do on things that I need to be focused on. I don’t have time to deal with his infantile infatuation, and I can’t have the bigger players in the industry thinking that we’re together after the immature shit he’s done. I have a career to build, Rosetta—you, of all people, should know that!” she defends herself, looking around to find some support and coming up short.
“My career was built on hard work, sweat, and the smarts that I grew in order to get me there, Sinai, not on the approval of others. You want a place of your own one day? I suggest that you start planning exactly how you’re going to get it without friends around you to support you, because as I see it, you won’t have many left if this is the way you’re treating people lately,” I hiss, my mouth pulling tight with anger when I feel Z step away.
“I work hard!”
“To suck up to your boss, not to make anything of yourself. You’ve been stuck in that same kitchen for the last four years, no matter how many times we’ve told you that Angel won’t promote you. You’re too easy, Sinai, and so eager to please that you slave yourself away to that bitch. And for what, huh? To get head chef? To make it to the pinnacle of your career?”
“If I can make head chef, I’ll get the chance at a Michelin star!”
“Yeah? Well, who’s gonna be there to applaud you?” I snarl, shaking away Ares’ arms when he tries to get me to calm down. “That man would have been right there, clapping the loudest.”
“That man told my boss that he ate a gnocchi dish down at Cumberlands Diner that far outshone what we were serving. He has no idea of how to talk to people, and—you know what? I don’t have to make excuses for myself here. I tried to tell him, nicely, to back off. I tried to let him down easy and make him see that I just don’t have room in my life for anyone right now.”
Zeus is gone, probably having gone after his brother, and I see Adonis clenching his jaw and looking away, while Cleo glares at Sin, and Tee just shakes her head, sharing a look with Ares.
“Well, congratulations, then, Sinai, because I would say with definite certainty that anything that the guy felt is officially dead,” I confirm, my mouth tight with the need to cry.
“I would also say that you are going to regret it,” Cleo pipes up, her head shaking back and forth when Sin opens her mouth to argue. “That was the meanest thing that I have ever seen you do to a person, Sinai Sweet, and that’s saying something because I’ve seen you steal change out of the collection plate at church that was meant for old Herb, who lives in a box at the cemetery. You should be ashamed of yourself right now, though God knows that I am under no illusion that you’ll feel anything but righteous indignation. It’s one thing to be quirky, Sin—to be hard to pin down or even phobic about relationships, but it’s another to be so sour about life that you purposely hurt someone, especially someone who loves you.”
I agree, and if I weren’t fighting a lump in my throat and the sympathetic tears that I feel building behind my eyes, I would tell them all. As it is, I see Sin’s eyes fire with realization as everyone turns away to leave. I can’t talk to her right now, not unless she wants to hear how ashamed I am of her. Yes, Cleo and I haven’t given our men an easy time of it, but there is always one golden rule that we’ve both followed on this path to love. You keep it kind, no matter what. I’ve dated men with sweating issues, men with balding heads, and men who may have been a little heavier in the waist, and while none of those was really my thing, I never once made them feel less than.
And here’s Paris, a guy who not only isn’t anything to scoff at in the looks department, but is also kind and good at heart. And someone just rejected him so thoroughly that I don’t know how he’ll ever recover from it. The saddest part? I think he really did love Sinai, and what’s even sadder is that she’s going to regret losing that love when she finally wakes up and realizes that she loves him right back.
“I’ll apologize, then! I’ll find him and apologize and explain that I’m having a bad day and that I just lost my temper,” she huffs, her eyes going wide when I stop in the doorway to the veranda and give her a look meant to convey scorn.
“For what? The restraining order that you must have taken out just before we flew to an island that he can’t escape from until the boat arrives tomorrow? Or maybe for the things you said that basically branded him an immature loser? Of course, it could be the fact that you looked at him the way that most people look at a pile of dog shit,” I say tersely, my teeth grinding with the need to scream at her. “Do me a favor, Sinai, and go home. It seems like you need some time alone to remember that family always treats family right. Maybe if you’re super lucky, you can call up Mindy and let her lick your asshole. I bet she’s about the only person around who won’t mind listening to your nasty whining, and who may even agree with you.”
As insults go, that is the lowest that I can go in our clique, and you know what? I don’t care. I’ve been through hell over the past few weeks, had my life nearly ripped apart, and then had it all given back to me on a silver platter. Through it all, the Harts have been there to lift me back up whenever I stumbled, with Paris himself making me smile when I was feeling down.
He deserves more than what she just gave him, and she knows it. I think that Chilli says it best when he pauses beside me and gives Sin a sad look.
“There’s a difference between the hard truth and honesty, Sinai, and that happens to be a little thing called kindness. We are always kind to each other. Always. What you just did wasn’t honesty; it was an unprovoked and unnecessary attack that made you feel good. I’m sorry if Paris was too much of a pest, and I’m really sorry that you’re having such a hard time of it that you felt you had to lash out. Mostly, though, I’m sorry that you just took out a restraining order against the man who not only bought that restaurant for you, but is paying for the upgrades you requested as well. I bet it’s going to be really hard finding a new job after you almost had everything you ever wanted.”
I shouldn’t feel any sort of spiteful glee when Sin’s eyes widen and fill with tears, but hey, I never said that I was perfect, and right now, I am so far from it that I can’t dredge up one iota of compassion when it hits her that she’s made a huge mistake.
Tee stays behind to talk to her, while I turn away and go in search of Zeus. I need a hug right now—and for him to remind me that romance and love are still alive in this world.
Chapter Fourteen
Rosetta
One week’s worth of Greek bliss wasn’t nearly enough, but hey, work is fun, too, and I find myself smiling as I walk into Hart Inc. beside Zeus, who is still grinning that Cheshire Cat smile after the quickie we had in the limo. Yeah, we use the limo almost daily, but only because I feel like I owe it to Joe to keep him busy after what he and his wife did for me.
If not for those two, I wouldn’t have made bail at all, and if not for Zeus—well, we won’t go there again because I only just stopped having nightmares of plastic fork shanks and a lesbian that my subconscious mind somehow named Freda. I don’t know, either, but let me tell ya, that orange jumpsuit did nothing for her muscular thighs and large sto
mach.
As I was saying, it’s back to work after a vacation that turned into a honeymoon when everyone else left on the second day. Paris somehow called a friend of his, who came out on his boat the very same day and found him a lift to Athens, where he caught a flight out, but everyone else left on the jet, apparently no longer in the mood for a Greek vacay. Not that I blame them, as the mood in the house was tense, with everyone but Tee ignoring Sin.
I tried all week—when I wasn’t involved in risqué sex, pool lounging, and talking with Z—to forgive her and make amends, but I just couldn’t bring myself to talk to her, never mind look at her. I’m pissed, and not just because she hurt Paris, but because she did it in a way that is guaranteed to make things hard for the guy. We’re from Georgia, where families get together regularly, and loyalty isn’t just a word—it’s a law that we all abide by. As I see it, Sin broke a cardinal law by purposely hurting Paris and forcing him into a situation where either he leaves, or she does.
This time, they both did, but only because I told her to leave—a bone of contention that cropped up between Tee and me, and sort of split us all down the middle, with the exception of Alex, who doesn’t answer calls or texts, and who isn’t coming around to family dinners, according to Cleo.
Now back in the office and stepping onto the elevator, Zeus and I both put our game faces on, a trait of his that I appreciate because, while I like his PDA and grab-assery, at work, that’s not who I am. Not unless I want to be.
“Adonis is raring to go on the Waters closing. You ready to take the reins there and get it done? If you need more time to settle, I can do it before I move over to charity and taxes.”
I shake my head, still slightly sickened by the understanding that Z likes taxes and the whole money side of things. At first, I thought it was weird that he basically runs legal and also handles all the CFO duties, since that’s not the norm, but he explained that he wasn’t really head of legal, just the last checkpoint before things went live.
“I’m good. Where are we on the civil suit? I don’t want to get all wrapped up in it if I don’t have to. It’s one thing to do this to tie off loose ends, but I don’t want or need the money,” I say softly, smiling when he chuckles and shakes his head.
“You’re the only woman that I have ever met who doesn’t like money, Rosetta Hart. It’s both endearing and weird. I thought that all women liked shiny things and pretty clothes,” he teases.
“Yeah, well, except Cleo, but we’ve all basically come to the conclusion that she’s an alien plant. I like jewelry, and my heart is greedy enough to rule my head, so I give in to it shamelessly. I also like great clothes, as you can see,” I say, indicating my Chanel pantsuit and sky-high Loubs. “I just prefer to buy them with money that I’ve earned, not with blood money, and most certainly not with Dad’s money.”
At this, I roll my eyes, because after I got hitched, the old bastard cried, handed me an envelope, and informed me that he’d transferred five million into my account as a wedding gift. At this rate, I’ll be outpacing the freaking Kardashians in unearned money. I shudder to think what he’ll give as a push gift when we finally have a baby.
My period’s due soon, and I’m already cramping, crabby, and preparing Z for another round of what we’ve laughingly nicknamed “blood dick.”
“Well, you’re going to have to get used to my money, woman, because me man; me take care of woman,” he grunts in a caveman voice that makes me giggle.
“You’re giving me free rein on your bank account? Without checking my spending?”
“Of course. Here’s your card,” he tells me, handing me a black card that makes my eyes bug out.
I have a lot of money, but my personal account isn’t black-card-worthy, and while I should be a feminist here and say something about being independent…it’s so pretty! And powerful. And it makes me feel like I can go out and conquer the world. This man knows me so well.
“Oh, my God. I feel like Julia Roberts!” I gush, throwing myself at my husband just as the elevator doors spring open.
Of course there’s a crowd hanging around, and of course Zeus’s hand goes straight down to my ass the moment we collide, so that’s basically what people see when I turn and gulp, frozen by the smiles and applause that greet me.
“Welcome back, Mrs. Hart!”
“Hi, Rosetta!”
It’s a little unnerving, let me tell ya, to walk out beside Zeus while people who have been staring and gossiping about me for weeks all gush over me and just barely stop short of tongue-reaming my asshole. It’s also not easy to smile the whole time and refrain from telling them all to go to hell, but, as always, he’s right about this, too. Alienating my entire staff, and all the other people whom I need to work hard for me, isn’t going to work in my favor.
“Hi,” I mutter, practically running for Dana, who stands guard at what is now my office, a coffee and donut combo already in her hands.
This is going to be a long day.
Zeus
“Don’t pay one bit of attention to them. Just get your ass in there before someone actually tries to kiss your ass. Hey, boss, your brother wants a call before you sit down to it, and Damon Renner has already called your office. I’ll transfer your lines up to your department as soon as that idiot you hired figures out how not to drop a call.”
Rosetta giggles and rolls her eyes, completely ignoring her part in all of this. Rule number one, as she put it, is don’t mess with Dana, and by that she meant that if I dared to take my assistant with me, she’d slit my throat while I slept. I get it, Rose and Dana have developed a great friendship and work together well. Rule number two is a little more to my liking, and one whose pronouncement ended up with us fucking in the supply closet beside the boardroom, because her jealousy made me so hot that I couldn’t control myself. No female assistant shall ever grace my office. Or Rose gets physical. Seeing as how I know that Rosetta will indeed get very physical if I hire anyone with ovaries, I’ve opted for a man. But let me make something clear: I don’t know how this is going to work. The guy is as annoying as hell, and by that I mostly mean that if he checks out my wife’s ass the way he did when I interviewed him, I may just be facing a murder trial of my own. Who knows? Maybe it’ll become a tradition to get the spooks to clear us of all charges.
Or not, since I really would be guilty.
“Call me after your first meeting,” I tell her as I leave her by her desk with a kiss and a soft pat on the ass.
God, I love her in skirts, but the pants do great things for that bubble butt, too.
“If I get the time. Don’t forget to call Hector. I would, but the guy kinda scares me when his eyes meet mine. If he didn’t have a wife who adores him and three kids, I’d be terrified,” she mutters, her brows creasing for a split second.
“Call her,” I whisper, shaking my head when she whips hers up and shakes it.
“Z—”
“Rosie-mine, call that cousin of yours and make peace. Family is family, baby, and whether we like it or not, people are not always going to do what we consider right or good. Sin did something that not many of us like, and, as Paris’s brother, I’m not happy with her, but that doesn’t mean that she isn’t still family. Or loved. Call her, talk to her, and then let it go,” I urge, smiling a little when she sighs and deflates with relief.
“But Paris—”
“Loves Sin and wouldn’t want to see everyone abandon her, sweetheart. He’d be pissed if he knew that hardly anyone’s talking to her.”
“He should be flattered. I love Sin like a sister, and yet I’m not willing to take sides here—”
Clearing my throat, I cut her off and give her a knowing grin that makes her blush and fiddle with the onyx paperweight she gave me.
“I didn’t take sides! I just lost my temper a little.”
“From what Adonis told me, you went nuclear on her, and while I appreciate your love for my brother, I don’t think that it’s a good idea to take sides o
n this. Sin and Paris are grownups who can muddle through this bullshit all on their own. It’s up to us, as their family, to be there as a support, not as the engine that drives their decisions. Call Sin, and talk to her. I won’t feel slighted, and I guarantee that Paris won’t, either.”
“Fiiine! But if she gives me that ‘oh, woe is me’ line again, I won’t be responsible for my actions—or my words. I still can’t believe that Paris bought that restaurant for her,” she mumbles, heaving another sigh. “What an asshole.”
I could tell her that he bought it as what his crazy mind considered a pre-engagement gift, and I could speculate all day about just how nuts my brother is. But none of that is our business, and, right now, none of it is important. Rosetta misses her friend, her cousin, and the woman who is more like a sister to her than anything else, and she needs to call her. I don’t like seeing my Rose sad, and she definitely is. I know this because instead of devouring her donut in one bite, she keeps picking at it and has hardly gotten any frosting on her face.
“Call her, Rosetta.”
“I said I would. Jeezus, go away.”
I leave with a chuckle and a kiss that has my wife melting into her seat and sighing. It’s the way that I always want to leave her, glassy-eyed and needing more. Of me.
“Yo!” Chilli yells, once I’ve travelled up a floor and stepped onto what was once Adonis-only territory. Ever since the bad press we received, however, he has us all stationed closer so that communication is faster and face-to-face.
His office sits in the middle of the floor, like a great big opulent sun—around which we all orbit. Beside it to the left is my own office, which is hemmed in by Paris’s. On the other side is Chilli, and on the far right is Ares, who hardly ever comes out unless he smells food. Or hears females.
“Morning.”
“Good vacation?” Chilli asks, falling into step beside me just as Adonis rips his door open and stands there glaring at us all.