Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
S loan leaned forward, peering at Jasper and me through the computer screen. “Why are you guys acting so weird?”
I ignored her question and kept my focus straight ahead. After Jasper had fled my office, Lily had gone back to the penthouse so she could work on the preparations for les Journées du patrimoine . My brother hadn’t said anything about what he’d walked in on earlier, and neither had I.
“Can we please focus on the agenda for the board meeting?” I asked.
Sloan’s eyes flicked from Jasper to me. “No. Not until we talk about whatever’s going on. We need to present a united front to the board, and you guys are acting so strange.”
The tension built in the silence, so thick it was ready to snap. I huffed. Jasper tapped his fingers on his thigh.
“I walked in on Lily and Graham having sex in his office,” Jasper blurted.
I rolled my eyes. Sloan’s mouth dropped open in shock.
“There!” Jasper threw his hands in the air. “Are you happy now?” He glared at her, still unwilling to look at me.
I groaned, dragging a hand down my face. “Jasper, seriously? Jesus.”
“This is unexpected,” Sloan said, clearly bemused. “But I’m glad.”
“I’m not,” Jasper grumbled. “I did not need to see that.” He shuddered.
“Why are you glad?” I asked my sister.
“Promise not to get upset?” she asked.
“Why would I be upset?”
She glanced at Jasper, and they shared a look. What was that about?
“We thought your relationship with Lily was fake. We worried it was all a stunt to get the shares.”
Well, shit. Had we been that obvious? Or did my siblings just know me that well?
“And now?” I asked, unwilling to give anything away.
They weren’t wrong, but I wasn’t going to admit the truth. There was still so much at stake. And besides, what Lily and I had now was real. It didn’t matter that it had started as a lie.
“Now, we see how wrong we were,” Sloan said.
“So wrong.” Jasper screwed his eyes shut, and I gave him a playful shove.
“Though—” Sloan tapped a finger to her lips. “We should probably keep this to ourselves. We don’t want to fuel the gossip about your ‘inappropriate workplace affair.’ If people find out you were having sex in your office, they may draw the conclusion that it’s happened before.”
“That rumor is bullshit,” I scoffed. “Donahue must be getting desperate.”
“Even so, perception matters. You don’t want to throw away all the goodwill you’ve garnered since your marriage. Stock prices have been on the rise too.”
I pounded my fist on the table. “This shouldn’t even be an issue. I’m married. Legally, those shares, and this company, are ours.”
“I know,” Sloan said in a placating tone. “We just need to play the game a little longer.”
I blew out a harsh breath. “Fine.”
“Jasper?” Sloan asked.
“Yeah. Of course,” he agreed.
“How are you feeling?” I asked Sloan, wanting to leave the matter behind.
“Good. Baby is healthy, and I’m finally having less morning sickness.”
“Good,” I said. “I wanted to check in about my travel schedule. Lily has a big event coming up, and I need to stay in France a little longer.”
“How much longer?” Jasper asked.
“An extra week. This event is important to Lily, but it’s also important for the chateau and the community as a whole.”
“When is it?” Sloan asked.
I gave them the dates and my proposed travel itinerary. Then I said, “Thanks for stepping up in my absence. Especially you, Jasper.” I turned to him.
“It’s fine.” He shrugged it off. “You know I’m happy to help.”
“I know, and you’ve done a good job. I appreciate it.” I held his gaze. “I appreciate you.”
“I…” He blinked a few times. Swallowed. “Yeah. Of course.”
“You have good ideas, and I don’t give you enough credit for all you do for the brand. And Sloan—” I turned to my sister, who quickly swiped away a tear. “Are you crying?”
“I—” She sniffled. “No. Dang pregnancy hormones.”
My expression softened. “You are instrumental to the success of our brand. And you’re going to be such an amazing mom.”
“He’s right,” Jasper chimed in. “I just wish you lived closer. I’m going to hate being an uncle from afar.”
Her lips turned down. “I hate being so far from our families.”
“I thought that’s what you liked about London,” I teased.
“I used to love it. And I still love this city. But when I moved here, I needed to get away. I needed space. And now…”
“And now?” I prompted.
“Now I hate the idea of being so far away from everyone. Jackson’s mom offered to come stay for an extended time after the baby’s born, but what about Greer and her kids. She’s my best friend. Jackson’s sister. Our kids will be cousins. And what about Brooklyn and…” She started crying again, covering her face with her hands. “I’m sorry.”
“Do you want to move back to LA?” I asked, both surprised and not.
“It’s not that I want to live in LA. I just don’t want to be so far away from everyone.”
“I could swap with you,” I said. My brain hadn’t even caught up with my mouth, but I knew this could be a good thing.
“What?” Jasper coughed.
“Actually, that would be perfect. You could be closer to everyone here. And it would make it easier for Lily and me to travel back and forth to the chateau without completely upending our schedules.”
Jasper and Sloan shared another look.
“What?” I asked.
“You’ve never wanted to leave LA before,” Sloan said. “You’ve always believed it was the hub of our operations and that you had to be there.”
I lifted a shoulder. “And now I know that’s not true. Even if it were, you and Jasper can more than handle the company.”
Jasper reached out and placed a hand to my forehead. “Are you feeling okay?”
I batted away his hand. “I’ve never felt better.”
And the more I considered this idea, the more excited I was. About leaving LA and all the board’s bullshit behind. About a shorter commute between my office and the chateau. About less travel for Prince Albert and Queen V, who had been struggling with the long flights. But most of all, what it would mean to Lily.
“You’re sure you want to proceed with this?” Sloan asked.
“I need to run it by Lily, but I don’t see why she wouldn’t be on board.”
“And I’ll have to talk to Jackson and Halle about it,” Sloan said.
“Halle? What does Halle have to do with it?” Jasper asked.
Sloan frowned. “She’s my assistant. I’d need to figure out if she’d want to come with me, which would be ideal. Or maybe we could arrange a swap,” she said to me. “If Carson wants to stay in LA and Halle doesn’t want to leave London.”
“Can she leave London? What about her son?” Jasper asked.
Why was Jasper so concerned about Sloan’s assistant and her ability to relocate? I knew they’d worked together when he’d gone to London to stand in for Sloan during her sailing trip. He cared about our employees; we all did. But he seemed more invested than usual.
“It’s something I’ll have to find out,” Sloan said.
“Do you have any problems with this plan?” I asked Jasper.
“No. None,” he said. “Though it would be weird to be here without you.”
“True, but it could also be a good thing.” I stood and clapped a hand on his shoulder. “You’ve thrived in my absence. And I love seeing you take the lead on new projects.” I gave his shoulder a squeeze before releasing him.
“You’re very complimentary today,” Sloan said.
“Because he got laid,” Jasper said.
I gave him a playful shove. “And here I was going to say that my praise was long overdue. I don’t tell you two enough how much I appreciate and love you. I can’t imagine running this company with anyone else.”
Jasper peered up at me, and Sloan’s smile was soft when she said, “Gran and Pops would be proud.”
I nodded. “If only they could see us now.”
* * *
When Knox opened the door to his house, I held up a bottle of whiskey.
“Welcome,” Knox said, accepting it from me. “Thanks. Jasper’s already here. Nate’s running a little late but should be here soon.”
I followed him into the house. “Can I get either of you a drink?”
“I’ll take a whiskey,” Jasper sighed, sharing a look with me.
The board meeting had started off well enough, all things considered. But then it had turned into a complete shitshow. Many of the board members were pushing back hard—on the validity of the clause in my grandfather’s will. On the way my marriage to my former assistant would reflect on the brand in light of our other recent scandals.
I tried to let it roll over me, but their comments rankled. They weren’t pleased about my new schedule—alternating between France and LA. They questioned my commitment to the company. But when they tried to talk about Lily, I’d drawn the line.
“Graham?” Knox asked, saying my name as if it weren’t the first time.
“Hm?”
“A drink?”
“I’ll have the same, please.” My phone buzzed, and I glanced at the screen. “Pierce is on his way too.”
“Great.” Knox clapped a hand on my shoulder, handing me a glass of whiskey with the other.
I pocketed my phone. “No Jude?”
Knox shook his head. “He’s at a team function for the Leatherbacks.”
“We could’ve rescheduled.”
“It’s fine.” Knox poured Jasper a glass. “It’s a smaller community outreach project, and it’s good practice for him.”
I tilted my head. “Why? Are you thinking of stepping down?”
I was teasing, mostly. Knox was in his late forties, and he was passionate about the pro soccer team he owned. But his priorities had shifted a lot now that he and Kendall were together.
“Not any time soon.”
It wasn’t long before Nate arrived, and Pierce along with him. Though Pierce seemed withdrawn, closed off.
“You good?” I asked.
He gave me a curt nod. “We’ll talk after.”
I frowned, hoping everything was okay.
Drinks were poured and cards were dealt.
Nate leaned over. “Hey. Did you hear about the Hawks?”
The Hollywood Hawks were the local NHL team, and they’d recently hired Emerson’s dad, Declan Cross, as the new head coach. I hoped he’d be able to turn the team around.
“Holden Hansley?” I asked. There’d been rumors of a trade, but it seemed too good to be true.
Nate nodded, confirming my hopes. “Declan’s pretty excited.”
“No shit. I’m excited.” We might have a real chance at the play-offs for the first time in years. But then I frowned. If I moved to London, I wouldn’t be able to attend as many home games. Nor would I get to enjoy poker nights with the guys.
“You okay?” Nate asked.
Before I could answer, Knox jumped in. “All right. Pierce, you’re up first.”
“Easy.” Pierce leaned back in his chair. “I want a night at the new golden key penthouse.”
“Golden key penthouse?” Nate’s curiosity was piqued, as was Knox’s. “What’s that?”
“A new luxury experience that Jasper designed for the Huxley Grand LA.”
“A five-figure-a-night luxury experience,” Pierce piped in.
“Shit,” Knox said. “Then it must be decadent.”
“Like you wouldn’t believe,” Jasper said. He explained it in detail, growing excited, while we played. He was proud of what he’d created, and he should be.
Clients and celebrities were going to love this new offering. It was a huge suite with tons of unique features like a custom-designed Louis Vuitton ping-pong table, Hermès dopp kit, and YSL pajamas. Plus, it had tons of privacy.
Nate won the round, and Pierce seemed disappointed. I wondered who he’d planned to take to the penthouse. He hadn’t dated in a while—at least not seriously. And I wasn’t aware that he was seeing anyone, even casually.
“Nate?” Knox asked. “Name your prize.”
He pursed his lips, considering. “I want to stay at Lily’s chateau.”
I tried to fight back my smile. “You sure about that?”
“When the restoration is finished, yes. Em said that it’s a little rough still.”
“Rough is an understatement.” I sipped my whiskey. “When I first moved in, we didn’t have any hot water.”
Jasper’s jaw dropped. “No hot water? No thanks.”
“There wasn’t a showerhead either, so I had to take cold baths every night. It sucked. I honestly don’t know how Lily lived like that for over a year.”
Pierce made a noise, and I couldn’t get a read off him. What was that about?
“Sounds very rustic,” Knox said.
“Very. But that’s part of the allure. Life there is simpler. More authentic.”
“Is that why you want to move there?” Jasper asked.
“Wait. What?” Knox asked, and everyone stilled.
Jesus. If only my little brother could keep his mouth shut. “We only just started discussing it, but Sloan and I might swap.”
“Because of the chateau?” Nate asked.
I lifted a shoulder and tapped the table to indicate I’d like more cards. “That’s a big part of it.”
When I was there, I felt like my true self. I wasn’t a billionaire or a CEO. I was just…me. Graham. And Lily loved me just as I was.
“And with the baby on the way, Sloan wants to be closer to family,” I added.
“Wow.” Knox arched an eyebrow. “That would be a big change.”
“Brooklyn would be thrilled to have Sloan, Jackson, and the new baby so close by,” Nate said. “But you and Lily would certainly be missed.”
“Thanks. We’d miss everyone too, but we’d visit. And it would make things a lot easier if we only had to commute from London instead of LA.”
I said that, but I’d definitely miss my family. And Pierce, who was practically like family.
I glanced over at my best friend. He’d been silent through all of this. A muscle in his jaw ticked, and I knew him well enough to know he was agitated about something.
“You’re making a lot of sacrifices for Lily.” He gave me a knowing look.
“They’re not sacrifices when you love someone,” I said, laying down my cards. Putting it all on the table.
“Graham’s right,” Knox said. “Loving Kendall never feels like a sacrifice.”
“I’m not saying that love’s a sacrifice,” Pierce said.
“Then what are you saying?” Jasper’s tone was more curious than judgmental.
“I’m just wanting to make sure that Lily is as committed to you and your relationship as you are to her.”
“Lily is committed,” I gritted out. He was walking a fine line.
“Definitely committed.” Jasper kept his eyes on his cards. “No doubt about that.”
“Not a word.” I glared at Jasper out of the corner of my eye. “Not. One. Word.”
Knox and Nate glanced between us. “What’s going on?” Knox asked.
“Yeah. What’d we miss?” Nate asked.
Jasper looked as if he might burst.
“Jasper,” I chided. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what?” He smirked. “Tell them I caught the two of you fucking in your office?”
I growled. “That was a private moment.”
“Then I suggest you don’t share a ‘private moment’ in a public place next time,” Jasper said, raking the chips toward himself.
He’d won the round, and I rolled my eyes. He’d probably done all this to distract me so he could win.
We played a few more rounds, and then I followed Pierce out to his car while Jasper stayed behind to chat with Nate and Knox.
“What was that about?” I asked.
“I’m just trying to look out for you. We’ve been friends for a long time, and I don’t even recognize you anymore.”
I lifted a shoulder. “I’m happy. Why aren’t you happy for me? Our plan is working, even better than we could’ve hoped.”
“I just want to make sure she’s not taking advantage of you.”
“Where is this coming from?” I asked.
“You asked me to transfer the remaining ten million to the trust, and yet you haven’t been married for two years, as required by the contract. Hell, you’ve barely been married two months.”
I lifted a shoulder. “I’m passionate about the project, and I don’t want Lily to stress about the funding. We’re together, and I want her to have the money.”
I also didn’t want her to think our relationship was transactional or that my love was conditional. I wanted to love freely and without restriction, and I wanted her to do the same.
“And the will?” he asked.
I’d emailed Pierce earlier in the week to ask him to revise the terms of my will. He hadn’t commented on it at the time, but I should’ve anticipated this conversation.
“She’s my wife. I know she can take care of herself. But if anything happens to me, I want to make sure she has what she needs.”
“You could give her a million, and she’d be more than taken care of. Yet you want to grant her access to your fortune and your company? How would your family feel about that?”
“I like to think they’d be supportive. Regardless of what they’d think, those are my wishes. I shouldn’t have to justify them to you or anyone.”
He dragged a hand through his hair. “I think you’re making a big mistake.”
“I thought you liked Lily,” I said.
I understood that he was trying to protect me, but did he truly believe that she was going to use me? She had no idea I’d asked him to transfer the remaining ten million. That had been all my idea.
“This isn’t about Lily. You’re my client and my best friend. It’s my job to look out for you. And right now, I’m not sure you’re getting your money’s worth from this deal.”
I clenched my fists at my sides, scarcely resisting the urge to punch him. “That’s my wife you’re talking about.”
“Wife or not, you paid her for a job that isn’t done. You gave her twenty million despite the fact that we still haven’t secured the additional shares or hit the two-year mark.”
“Pierce,” I growled in warning.
“I know you don’t want to hear it. I know you think you’re in love. But if I don’t look out for you, who will?”
“Are you speaking as my friend or my lawyer?”
“Either. Both.”
“I don’t think I’m in love. I am in love with her.” And I’d had enough. I didn’t need a babysitter on top of the board. “If you aren’t willing to revise my will, I’ll find someone else who will.”
He scoffed. “Wow. Okay. I see how it is.”
I reached out for him, regretting the words as soon as they’d left my mouth. “That’s not what I meant.”
“No. I think you said exactly what you meant.” And then he turned and headed for his car.
Fuck.