Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
GATSBY
T hree hours.
The meeting lasts three long fucking hours, and all I can think of during that time is how I’ll teach Maia not to fuck with my family.
Did I fantasize about punishing her? Maybe a little. I’m not into that kind of kink, but for the first time, I want to place the woman on my lap and spank her for being so fucking aggravating.
Did my fantasy go further than the spanking?
Maybe.
I want to drive my cock inside her tight pussy.
Deep.
As deep as her soul.
If I could, I’d make her body my feast. I’d take my time licking, nibbling, and appreciating every inch of her. All so I can remind her who we were and how much I’ve missed her.
I miss her so fucking much.
I can’t even remember the last time I touched her—even when I try to recall that awful Thursday of April fourteen years ago every night since I had to leave her.
But everything is a blur.
It was in another life. It was before I became responsible for five children and my mother.
A life where Maia was the center of the universe.
My star.
My sun.
My everything.
But she’s not that girl anymore. I stopped being that boy fourteen years ago.
Now…well, now, she’s putting me in a fucked-up position.
If she wants my entire fortune, I will give it to her.
She just has to ask nicely. Everything that I am and everything that matters belongs to her—I haven’t claimed anything back.
She can also have my wealth if that’ll make her happy.
Messing with my family…well, that’s completely different, and I can’t have that.
“Ask Lulu to send the recording to Caspian,” Aslan says, dragging my mind back to the present.
I turn around to find Keaton rising from her seat and nodding.
“Keat, I can do it right now,” I say, grabbing the wireless keyboard and switching the screen view from the ninety-inch monitor mounted on the wall to the one in front of me.
Sending a recording doesn’t take me long, and I use my email address to have a copy of it.
I have to watch it before Aslan brings the issues up during a conversation, and I have to confess that my mind wandered during the entire meeting.
I’m sure he and Lysander know I wasn’t paying much attention and that I’m a fucking mess.
That’s the curse and the blessing of being a triplet. They can sense my distress and my joy—just as I can feel theirs.
Once I finish downloading the recording to the cloud, I email the link to Caspian.
Then, I offer to walk Huxley and Cory to the parking lot.
I want to discuss their deal with MarkTech.
Later today, I’ll call Jason. He has to be aware that there might be more behind these negotiations.
This isn’t just a company trying to cater mocktails to the world—she’s planning to snatch the business away from my siblings. I won’t allow that.
As we step into the elevator, I ask, “Can you tell me more about Market Express carrying your products?”
“It’s just an idea,” Hux says. “We’re still weighing the pros and cons.
Jason and our lawyer are looking at the contract.
We have a couple of meetings with their team in a few weeks.
We need to learn the logistics before giving them the green light.
All we know is that they want to test it in San Francisco.
If everything goes well”—he shrugs— “who knows?”
He sounds vague. Maybe I’m being paranoid, or maybe they don’t want to tell me much about what’s happening, afraid that I might give them advice.
They have this stupid idea that they want to make it on their own.
They haven’t let us invest in their product or the bar.
In a way, I understand them better than they think.
When I launched Rencontrer and Findzy, I did it without using my trust, Spearman LP, or my father’s connections.
I wanted it to succeed because it was an extraordinary idea and the fruit of Maia’s and my hard work. My only investment was the little time I had to escape from reality.
Raising teenagers is fucking hard. Too hard. Working on Rencontrer and then Findzy was a getaway to another dimension where I pretended Maia and I were still together and working hard to conquer the world—just the way she dreamt.
Remembering Maia brings back my biggest concern. “Are you selling any shares of the company to MarkTech? If you need money for your cash flow, I’ll invest. You don’t need to bring a third party to your company.”
Cory shakes her head as we step out of the elevator.
“Not at all. We’ll only let them carry our products—and only if it’s convenient for us.
That company is in good standing, and I think the owner is brilliant.
I mean, who doesn’t use the app to order food.
Even I do, and we have a bar where we prepare food all evening. ”
I frown. “Are you using them to deliver the bar’s food?”
Cory rolls her eyes, picking up the pace and heading to her bright green SUV. “Paradise Bay is so small. It’d be ridiculous to have a delivery service. Everyone lives within walking distance. I mean when I come to San Fran to visit Fern or…never mind…”
I want her to finish the sentence. Is she dating again?
Since her voice sounds annoyed and angry, I don’t ask.
Getting on her bad side will be counterproductive.
Cory and I used to bump heads a lot. From the moment she turned thirteen until she graduated from college, I was an overbearing asshole, and she was a brat.
I think we have a better relationship now, but there are times when she regresses.
I’m aware that she’s going to hate me a little when I say, “I’ll still look into that company.”
The technology industry is filled with gossip, just like the entertainment industry.
It’s just different. Everyone wants to sell the story, and their headlines can be deceiving.
I’m guessing someone got wind of the deal and twisted it—clickbait is annoying.
Still, I need to figure out why Maia is doing business with my siblings.
Is she trying to fuck with them?
“I shouldn’t have asked,” she growls.
I raise my hands in surrender. “What did I do? I’m just trying to look after you.”
“Don’t be so harsh on him,” Hux mumbles, bobbing his head. “Thanks, dude. We appreciate you.”
Cory hugs me. “You’re the best brother. I do love you, but let things be, okay?”
“Hey, what am I, chopped liver?” Hux complains.
“You’re a twin. That’s different. Let’s go. I’m driving.”
He rolls his eyes. “Someone take her away from me.”
When I turn around to head to my car, I finally notice that Lysander and Aslan are behind us.
Lysander glances at me. “Are you coming to the vineyard today?”
And this is exactly why Caspian avoids San Fran and Paradise Bay. He likes to put everyone to work. I usually don’t mind, but I have more pressing things today.
“Nope, I have shit to do in San Jose, but I’ll see you tonight on the roof.”
He salutes me. “Okay.”
“We’re going to the roof?” Aslan asks.
“If your bride-to-be doesn’t mind leaving you alone for a couple of hours.”
He shrugs one shoulder. “It’s not like the roof is far from home. By the way, we began searching for a house. When we move out, you can have the penthouse—and be responsible for the roof.”
My brows knit into a frown. “Are you seriously leaving the building? I mean, it’s yours.”
“Things change. The purpose of life is to evolve and adapt. I’m engaged.
We plan on starting a family in a few years.
It’s time to move to greener pastures. If you still want the penthouse, it can be yours.
Or I can leave it to Heath because maybe one day you’ll decide to stay in New York and not come back. ”
I narrow my gaze, trying to figure out his angle. “Why would I do that?”
“You’re building a life there.”
“I am?” My voice comes out sounding as confused as I feel. “Why, when?”
“Either that, or you’re avoiding San Francisco. Which one is it?”
It hits me like lightning. He’s right. I’ve been visiting San Fran less and less for the past three years. My main offices are in San Jose, and yet, I barely set foot in that place. But why?