Chapter 5
AUGUST
Last night feels like a dream. I’m still reeling, unable to wipe this satisfied, loopy grin from my face. Neither can Dominic or Theo, from what I’m seeing as we sit at the breakfast table.
“Phoebe’s honeymoon invite video has blown up even more since it first aired,” Theo says, swiping through his social media feed.
We’re sitting at the table enjoying coffee and a protein-packed breakfast while getting the least favorite part of the day out of the way: checking email and social, then letting our marketing department handle everything else.
This way, we know what they’re talking about whenever the PR execs inevitably reach out for one thing or another.
“Of course, especially after you said yes,” Dominic replies with a cool smile.
I pour more coffee in my mug, savoring the scent of an Ethiopian roast. “Giving this place a ten for their coffee,” I say. “And their room service.”
“I certainly enjoyed coming out on the patio to find this feast waiting for us,” Dominic agrees.
It reminds me of home. Our old home, when Dominic and I were living with our parents. Our mother was still alive. Our father was a happy, joyful man.
Theo’s phone pings. “And the replies keep pouring in,” he mutters as he loads his plate with a little bit of everything. “Of course, Georgina had to pitch in.”
“Naturally,” I chuckle dryly. “And what does Georgina have to say?”
“That she always knew Matthew could do better and he shouldn’t have settled for Phoebe,” Theo replies. “Crystal chimed in with some laughing emojis.”
“Great family, right there,” Dominic scoffs. “No wonder Phoebe is so conflicted, so at odds with herself.”
It damn near breaks my heart.
“Little does she know that she’s the best Baldwin there is,” I say.
“Her father would’ve never allowed this to happen.
I didn’t know him personally, but I’ve read about him.
I’ve seen the interviews,” Theo says, shaking his head in dismay.
“Plus, I’ve spoken to plenty of people who were friends with him.
They all said the same thing. The man was a hard ass in business, but solid as a family man.
Never differentiated between his daughters.
Doted on both, spoiled his wife rotten.”
“Don’t even get me started on Helen,” I scoff. “What she’s doing now, it’s—”
“Reprehensible, I know,” Dominic agrees. “So, what do we do about her?”
“Helen?” Theo asks, looking understandably confused.
“Phoebe,” I correct with a broad smile.
The chemistry between us is undeniable. It’s explosive, in fact. Rarely have we found ourselves so attuned to the same woman, so enthralled and eager for more. And rarely has there been a woman so responsive to the three of us, not just physically but on every other level, as well.
Last night, the conversation ebbed and flowed. She looked so comfortable, so at ease. Smiling and laughter came easy to her. It filled me with a fresh kind of energy to see we have such an effect on her.
“I’ve got a feeling she’ll blossom by our side,” I say, cutting through a piece of turkey sausage. “Phoebe has been told one too many times that she’s not skinny and therefore not beautiful enough to deserve a good man or respect. You hear that enough times growing up, you start to believe it.”
“She’s strong, though,” Dominic replies. “She’s bouncing back surprisingly well from the whole Matthew debacle.”
“It’s a good thing he sold his share in the company prematurely,” Theo says. “Otherwise, we’d still be dealing with him. Our friendship always felt like a bit of a stretch after he bailed.”
“It was a stretch,” I agree. “He kissed the opportunity for success goodbye because he wanted to blow money on trips and white lines on mirrors. The man never possessed the foresight of a good businessman. We stayed friends out of habit and nothing else. Matthew offered nothing of value, if we’re being honest.”
“Yet he asked us to be his groomsmen,” Theo says.
I nod, remembering the morning he came to us. “I was surprised, truth be told. I assumed he’d ask his frat buddies.”
“He asked us because we’re the ones he wanted to be associated with in public.
We’re successful. He’s running on empty from his daddy’s trust fund.
” Dominic chuckles. “I’ll give Matthew credit, he knows how to maintain the public image of a Hamptons’ guy without actually having the money of a Hamptons’ guy,” he adds.
“Phoebe would’ve solved that problem, though.
I don’t understand why he backed out at the last minute. ”
“Good question to consider later, once we’re back in New York,” I reply, trying the Greek yogurt and fresh fruit. “Until then, however, we’ve got a beautiful woman to spoil in paradise.”
“Ah, yes, and I have a few ideas,” Theo laughs.
“She’s something else, isn’t she?” Dominic asks, adding milk to his coffee.
“Phoebe has yet to discover her full potential,” I reply. “In her career, too. They’re keeping her down, stifled in that marketing department. Doesn’t she have a master’s in finance?”
“She does,” Theo confirms. “And her dissertation paper was exceptional. Columbia University published it in one of their journals last year. It was then picked up by the Wall Street Journal, among other publications.”
“Her financial predictions were on point.” Dominic frowns as he goes through his phone. He saved a copy of the article, having read it a few times to us. “The prediction model she put together has helped prevent a few real estate market catastrophes since it was published.”
“Phoebe’s got a brilliant mind,” I say. “Yet she’s wasting away in marketing while her mother, sister, and that clusterfuck spineless board of executives that’s left of Baldwin Enterprises is running the company.” I look at the two. “They’re not doing well. At all.”
Theo nods slowly. “We can’t save her.”
“It’s not our job to save her. But we can remind her of who she is and what she’s capable of,” I reply.
“With her skills and that beautiful mind of hers, she could rebuild her father’s company into something we could work with.
A partnership with a healthy enterprise would push us higher up the Forbes list. It’s a win-win. ”
“And we could build something together personally, too,” Dominic adds.
It’s not going to be smooth sailing. Bringing the best out of Phoebe, helping her come into her own—that’s the easy part.
Her adversaries will rise, though, and they won’t go down without a fight.
Those motherfuckers fight dirty, and Phoebe isn’t ready to face that yet.
It’ll break her heart when she opens her eyes to it and sees them for what they really are.
But we can be there for her, to help her through the hard parts.
“Matthew decided to weigh in,” Theo announces, checking his social media again. “Posted a comment on Phoebe’s Hawaii invite video.”
He shows us the screen.
I expected better from my closest friends. Frankly, I’m disappointed that you picked the wrong side of this, fellas. Someday, you will regret it.
“And if I tell him to go fuck himself, I’m the mean one,” Dominic mutters. “Two-faced prick. Now he’s trying to play the victim.”
“The truth has a tendency to come out eventually,” I tell my brother.
“He won’t stop there,” Dominic says. “He clearly wants to knock Phoebe down. Wants to see her moping and suffering over his sorry ass.”
Theo whips up a cool, devious grin. “Then we give him the opposite. If he wants a social media war, I’m more than happy to oblige. Unlike Matthew, however, I have the tools and the knowledge to push public opinion fully in our favor.”
Phoebe’s footsteps on the patio catches our attention, and we all turn to look at her. She smiles shyly as she approaches, the pale-yellow dress she’s wearing flowing smoothly over her curvy figure. The suntan suits her, bringing out the blue of her eyes and adding more gold to her long, wavy hair.
“Morning,” she says, roses blooming in her cheeks.
“Good morning, beautiful,” I reply and pull up a chair for her.
“You were talking about Matthew,” she says, taking a seat between Dominic and me.
I plant a soft kiss on her cheek while Theo gets up, fixing her a plate with a little bit of everything. “You need to rebuild your strength after all the work you put in last night.”
“It was quite the workout,” she says with a quiet laugh. She looks at me, her humor fading. “I haven’t looked at my phone yet. What’s going on?”
“Nothing we can’t handle, and nothing you should concern yourself with,” I reply and pour her a cup of coffee while she takes a long sip of ice-cold water. “We’re having a good time here, Phoebe. Let’s not let anybody spoil it.”
“Oh, nobody can spoil this,” she says, resting against Dominic’s shoulder. “Nobody. I was just wondering what the rest of the world is doing.”
“They’re loud, as usual. Snakes trying to take the high road, rats trying to bite,” Dominic replies. “It’s the way of social media. Everyone has an opinion and they assume others want to hear it,” he says and kisses her on the lips.
“I like it here better,” Phoebe whispers.
“Good,” I say and pull her into another kiss, tasting the coffee on her plump, soft lips. She smells of vanilla and lotus flowers, courtesy of the resort’s shower gel, and I could easily get drunk on her fragrance. “Let Matthew live online with the rest of his horde.”
“He commented about you being here, didn’t he?”
I give her a worried look, but Phoebe doesn’t seem sad or hurt.
Just resigned. It should be a good thing.
Going through the stages of grief after the sudden and unexpected collapse of a relationship would normally take longer.
But this is day three of the aftermath, and she seems very well put together.
“He did,” Theo replies. “We’re ignoring him.”
“As we should,” she says, then takes a gander at the breakfast table. “Holy smokes, that’s a lot of food.”
“Given the intensive cardio we did last night and earlier this morning, I think we need the fuel,” I tell her with a wink and a wicked smile.
“Won’t argue with you there.” She giggles, and I love the sound of it.
“Shit,” Dominic says as he checks a notification on his phone. At the same time, mine and Theo’s ping, as does Phoebe’s. “He just posted a photo.”
We all open it at the same time. It’s a picture of him smiling, dressed up in one of his Cavallini shirts, his arm around a supermodel with long, brown hair and thin arms. Her face is blurred, but they’re both holding champagne glasses while a view of the Hamptons harbor unravels behind them.
I glance quickly at Phoebe and watch as the joy drains from her face.
“‘Upgraded’ he says in the caption,” Phoebe whispers. “He upgraded.”
“Phoebe—” Theo tries to comfort her, but she shoots up from her chair, shaking like a leaf.
“It’s cool,” she says. “But I think I need a moment alone. Maybe a cold shower this time. I’m not that hungry anyway.” Her stomach growls, giving her away as she gives us an embarrassed look.
Dominic smiles at her gently. “Phoebe, it’s okay. He’s doing it on purpose. He wants to hurt you.”
“I’m not hurt. I’m just… I’m insulted,” she replies. “Excuse me.”
I can see her spiraling, but we have to let her go, for now. She needs to go through the motions, as painful and as uncomfortable as they may be. I make a mental note to smash Matthew’s face the next time I see him. I pray, for his sake, that the anger I’m feeling fades before we meet again.
“Fucking hell,” Dominic mutters.
The patio door to Phoebe’s room closes behind her. It tears me up on the inside, but I have to let her deal with this her way. She’ll come out stronger in the end.
“He’s doing it on purpose,” Theo scoffs. “Hasn’t got more than a C-note to his name yet he’s trying to build a reputation online, drawing clout and controversy until an opportunity drops in his lap.”
“That’s alright,” I say, sounding resigned though I am anything but. “Whatever Matthew tries to build can always come crashing down.”
We have the means and the resources to keep him in the mud. And if he keeps hurting Phoebe, it’s precisely what will happen. If I can’t teach Matthew a lesson about kindness and decency, I can always teach him a lesson about what happens when he tries to fuck over someone I care about.
“Nobody hurts Phoebe and gets away with it,” Dominic agrees.
Theo’s nod confirms that, once again, we’re all on the same page.