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20. She Had a Visitor

She Had a Visitor

Gwen

“Wait.” Marnie’s jaw dropped. “Toby fired Kayleigh?”

I nodded but focused on chopping the kale for our post-workout smoothies. Well, for me, it was post-workout. Marnie had waited outside the yoga studio. But if anyone saw her dramatic collapse onto the kitchen stool after walking up the hill to my place, they’d think she’d done the workout too.

“Gwen.” She slapped the counter next to the chopping board to get my attention. “You cannot leave me hanging like that. When did this happen?”

“Tuesday.”

“But that’s”—she counted on her fingers—“four whole days ago!” When I didn’t add more, she circled her hand, prompting me to keep spilling the gossip Judy had told me at the coffee shop. “And?”

“She said the day was an absolute shitshow. Toby came flying into her office ranting about Kayleigh sneaking into the changing room, refusing to take no for an answer—”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Marnie hung off the edge of the stool with excitement. “What!”

I nodded. “Apparently, Kayleigh caused a huge scene. Judy didn’t know how to handle it.

You know what she’s like—tough as nails but not exactly the empathetic type.

The girls on reception helped put Kayleigh in a taxi because she wasn’t in any state to drive home.

Judy’s been keeping in touch and doing a daily welfare check.

” I puffed out a breath. “She thinks Kayleigh’s okay, but… ”

Marnie’s hand reached for mine across the countertop. She was expecting the worst. “Did Kayleigh accuse Toby of…you know… doing something?”

I shook my head. “Judy said Kayleigh kept asking what she did wrong. She didn’t understand why Toby didn’t want her anymore…” I swallowed. I hated repeating the words. “She was confused why Toby didn’t love her anymore.”

Marnie scoffed. “It’s not confusing if he never loved her in the first place.” She shook her head, but her eyes still bulged from the news. “And he seriously hasn’t mentioned it?”

“Not one word.”

Marnie’s eyebrows knitted. “Okay, that’s a weird development.

That man can’t keep a secret. He’s ruined not one but two surprise parties.

” She sat back, pausing to think. “Maybe Toby didn’t want you worrying?

He’s sorted it out, and he’s probably still feeling guilty about unleashing hell in your life. ”

“Yeah. Maybe. Or…” I sucked in a breath. I struggled to admit one of my deepest, darkest fears even to Marnie. “Maybe something was going on between them. All her posts…and now this… Having a complete breakdown isn’t a normal reaction.”

“Babe.” Marnie’s expression was dubious. She wasn’t buying it. “That’s the completely expected reaction of a crazy person.”

“Everyone’s so quick to write off a woman as crazy.

” How often had I heard that at my old job if I’d dared to show emotion or question my boss?

“Kayleigh’s from a good family. She’s got one of those bubbly personalities that lights up a room full of boring dentists.

” My sigh was heavy. “I don’t know. Maybe she’s a better match for Toby… ”

“Don’t think like that. I don’t want to play armchair psychologist, and I know Toby hurt you, but the two of you were always great together.

He appreciates your intelligence, and I think he secretly loves that he’s the only one who gets you to loosen up.

Do you really think something more went on between them? ”

“I just don’t know . They spent so much time together. Toby insists it was only one kiss on the night of the party. Part of me believes him…”

“But the doubt’s always there now?”

“He didn’t come home, Mar.”

“It’s not wrong to have doubts. But he’s done the right thing, and she’s out of your lives now. That’s a positive step. One point to Toby.” Marnie grinned. “He’s still minus six thousand points on my scoreboard, but I’ve always cheered for the underdog.”

“You’re seriously on his side?”

She patted my hand. “I want you to be happy. If you want Toby out of the picture, my original offer is always on the table. In fact, I’ll go murder him right now.

” Her eyes slid to the ingredients I dumped into the blender.

“Twenty years to life is better than drinking the green sludge you’re whipping up. ”

“It’s not sludge. It’s a green smoothie. It’s good for you.”

She didn’t look convinced. “If you say so.”

My phone buzzed. I peered over the pile of fruit on the chopping board to read the message.

Liam

I’m at your front door.

I sighed.

Liam had always struggled with boundaries.

But flexible working arrangements and whatever family ties he was comfortable claiming now didn’t mean he could show up unannounced.

My gaze darted down. Cropped tee. Yoga pants.

Bare feet with freshly painted toenails.

Sweaty Yoga Chic wasn’t exactly the look I’d choose to see my brother in.

He’d always been stitched up too tight, impeccably in order, and never had a hair out of place.

My hair, however, was stuffed under an oversized headband because I hadn’t wanted to deal with the mess.

But if Liam rocked up to my house unannounced on a Saturday morning to play happy families, this was what he should expect.

Marnie cocked her head. “Babe, what’s going on?”

“My, er…boss is here.”

“You finally going to spill and tell me who it is?”

If he sticks around, sure … “I’ll get rid of him…and then…” I sighed. “I’ll explain the insane situation I’ve landed myself in. If you thought the Kayleigh thing was crazy….”

Shaking my head, I padded down the hallway—this was officially bananas—and hauled open the front door.

I instantly regretted not changing my outfit.

Liam lounged against the veranda railing, the only casual thing about the imposing way he crowded the space.

It was eight in the morning, and he was immaculately dressed in a navy suit, clean-shaven, his hair slicked back, and cologne wafting up my nostrils.

He clutched a large white envelope in his hand.

“Good…morning…?” I said.

Liam’s chin dipped. That was the closest I was getting to a greeting.

“You know, I have a doorbell.” I pointed at the brass button that was impossible to miss. “See? It’s right there.”

“I prefer not to announce my presence with the dulcet tones of Greensleeves.”

“You think I’m the type of person who has a cheesy doorbell ring?”

“No.” The corner of his lip twitched. “But I’m not prepared to risk it.”

Fighting back a smile, I stepped aside. “Do you want to—”

The invitation to come in died on my lips.

My gaze was searching over Liam’s shoulder.

Another man leaned against the white pickets of my front gate.

He looked as out of place as my brother in a similar dark suit, his tangle of black curls falling over his eyes as he tapped on his phone.

My grin was instant. How was it possible that the scrawny kid who used to stumble close on Liam’s heels looked almost exactly the same?

I was already waving. “Hey!” I called out. The dumb grin spread even wider on my face. This was too surreal. “Elias!”

The man’s head jerked up, his coal-dark eyes widening, slightly startled. His palm rose, and a shaky smile followed but quickly disappeared. His attention dropped back to his phone.

Ouch. He was socially awkward. Nothing had changed. “Elias is welcome to come inside.”

“He’s busy.”

“I have coffee.”

“He’d be reluctant to accept your invitation.”

“It’s nice coffee,” I responded a little too defensively.

“I’m afraid he’d still decline. Elias hasn’t forgotten my warning from when we were younger.”

“Which was…?”

“That if he even dares to look at you, I’ll ensure he never procreates with one neat slice.

” Liam’s lips pressed into a grim line. “Will we waste all morning sharing pleasantries about the good old days on your front veranda?” He ran his fingertip along the railing, checking for dust. He wouldn’t find any.

Toby was meticulous with the house. “As delightful as it is out here, I have a contract I need you to look over.”

My smile was sweet but forced. “Will you be popping over regularly on Saturday mornings with contracts for me to look over?”

“That depends.”

“On what? The time on one of your many clocks? Are the markets still open somewhere in the world?”

“New York just closed. Eli’s busy with after-market transactions. He plays too much on the NASDAQ. It’s a problem.” Liam held up the envelope. “But not all of our business is done on the markets.”

“I see.” I lifted my chin, my eyes narrowed on his envelope. “Where is that type of business done?”

Liam’s shoulder lifted. “The investor dictates the location more often than not. Restaurants. Bars. Casinos.” His eyes rolled with apparent boredom. “Strip clubs.”

“So, you’re still getting yourself into trouble?”

“Hardly. Those men are fools. No one’s ever made a sensible business decision with a woman’s finer features shoved in their face. But…” His blue eyes sparked with interest. “I suppose it’s to my advantage. I can bleed them dry on more than one front.”

“How so?”

“I own them.”

“The, uh… locations ?” I arched my eyebrow. “Or the men who choose them?”

“Both.” His amusement vanished almost as quickly as it appeared. “You ask too many questions you won’t want to know the answer to. Come. Elias will lose more of my money if you delight me too long with your cynicism.” His lips curved ever so slightly. “I’ve missed it.”

His tone was almost sincere, his strange praise making my stomach flutter. “Well, we can’t have that. Come on in.” I stepped inside, my palm spreading across the door to keep it open so he could follow. “I’ll take a look at your shady late-night contract. My friend shouldn’t bother us.”

Liam’s footsteps slowed. “You…have a friend… here ?”

“Yes?”

His face gave nothing away, but the tight pull of his shoulders hinted at his unease.

“My best friend, Marnie. She’s just through there.” I pointed to the kitchen, only a few steps away. “Is that okay, boss?”

I meant it as a joke, but Liam’s head tilted to the side, thinking it over. Eventually, he must have decided it was fine because he jerked a nod. I stared open-mouthed as he shrugged off his suit jacket, hung it on the coatrack by the front door, and then started undoing his gold cufflinks.

My eyes bulged. “Wha–what are you doing?”

“Taking off my cufflinks.”

“But—” I cleared the awkward lump in my throat with a quick cough. “Why?”

“Optics.”

That explained literally nothing.

Once each cufflink was off and tucked safely in his pocket, his gaze fell on mine as he started folding the cuffs of his shirt to his elbows, stopping short of where the scars started to mottle his skin.

“And all this”—I waved my finger over the front of his shirt—“is for… optics… too?”

His face was grim. “Yes.” He tugged off his tie and hooked it on the coatrack.

“Appearances and reputations matter.” He slowly plucked off the top two buttons of his shirt.

“Your friend will have a certain expectation of me thanks to the online gossips. I don’t intend to disappoint her with reality.

Only you have an inkling of that vile little hellspawn. ”

“Don’t call yourself that,” I insisted, my voice only a whisper.

“Ah, but our mother’s favorite name for me rolls so easily off the tongue, don’t you think?”

I almost breathed a sigh of relief when Liam closed his eyes. Somehow, the narrow hallway had become claustrophobic, and my heart thumped too fast. I preferred not to remember those nights…of my mother…or him…or the relentless thud of her fists while he didn’t whimper a single sound.

Liam rolled his neck and shoulders before exhaling a long, slow breath. He reminded me of how Toby had psyched himself up before running on the field for a big game.

When Liam’s eyes snapped open again, a switch had flipped.

His cold exterior melted away. His shoulders relaxed, his lips parted, and his hand went into his pocket like he was taking a casual stroll. Pale lashes dropped slowly before he flashed me a lazy smile that was white and dazzling…and so very, very scary.

I stumbled back a step.

“Go.” His low voice was a command. A shiver zipped down my spine. “Let’s get this part over with quickly. I want your clever mind focused only on me, clever Gwen.”

There was definitely something not quite right about my brother.