14. Declan
Declan
I shouldn’t have come in today. Adam’s bug-eyed reaction had been enough when he’d brought in my first coffee three hours ago, and I’d ordered him to make sure I was undisturbed. He’d scuttled out of here like his ass was on fire, promising that not a single soul would get past the threshold.
Should’ve known that wouldn’t include fucking Carter.
“I’m busy, Carter,” I tell him firmly, keeping my head down, but I hear the creak of leather as he sits across from me, making himself comfortable, resting one ankle on his knee.
Like I didn’t say a word, he asks conversationally, “Where have you been?” There’s a thread of tension in his tone, but I don’t look up, acting like I’m pouring over the file laid out on my desk. “Since when do you take a week off without notice?”
I grunt. “I’m not even supposed to be here,” I remind him. “I was supposed to be on my honeymoon, but you called me back, remember?”
“When you didn’t pick up the phone, I tried to call Lily—” Unable to help myself, I jerk my head up at her name, and his eyes widen. “Holy shit. What happened?”
I lift a hand, probing at the still-tender skin around my eye. The swelling has gone down, but the bruising has turned a sickly yellow- green. A grim smile pulls at my lips. He definitely didn’t miss his one shot.
I had briefly considered calling Darcy for makeup to hide the evidence, but I’d discarded that idea as fast as it’d come.
My sister was nosey enough that I’d never be able to get a black eye past her without an in-depth explanation, and then every single person in our family would know about it within minutes.
“It’s nothing,” I tell Carter. “What do you want?”
“That’s not nothing,” he argues, planting both feet on the ground and leaning forward, eyes narrowed. “Were you mugged?”
“No.”
“Then what the fuck happened, Dec? You disappear for a week and then come back looking like you’ve joined a fight club.”
I lean my head back against my chair, squeezing my eyes shut as a headache throbs behind my left eye.
Shouldn’t have come in today, but I hadn’t been able to stomach the idea of spending another day in the condo, surrounded by boxes.
It looked exactly the same as it had when I walked in the door last week, except I’d made enough room on the couch for me to sit with my laptop.
I couldn’t stomach the thought of unpacking, unable to shake the feeling that if I did, I was accepting it was truly over between me and Lily.
Carter’s waiting for an answer, the silence expectant, but I shake my head, not looking at him. “I assume you’re here because you need something,” I say tiredly. “And that it can’t wait?”
There’s a beat and then a curse. “Come on, Declan. You can’t just up and disappear, and then rock in with a helluva shiner and not give me anything.”
I tilt my head down just enough to flick an eyebrow up at him. “Last I checked, you weren’t my keeper.”
A muscle flutters in his jaw. “No, but we’re friends,” he retorts shortly. “And I’m the one who’s been holding shit together while you haven’t been here.”
“That’s your job,” I snap, but then wince.
“Shit.” I sigh. “I know. I know, and I appreciate you covering for me. But I don’t want to talk about this, so if you have nothing else to tell me, feel free to let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.
” His mouth presses into a thin line, but resignation flashes through his eyes.
“Fine.” It’s grudging, a reluctant acceptance—for now. “Carl Ledger has been in almost every day this week looking for you.”
“I just spoke to him last week.”
He nods. “I know, but apparently, he’s still concerned and your absence has only exacerbated that.” He waits a beat. “He thinks you’re flaking.”
That has me straightening with a furious curse. “I’ve given this fucking company everything. When have I ever flaked?”
“I don’t know what to tell you, man. Can’t say I haven’t been worried myself this week.”
“I was working from home,” I say simply.
He makes a noise of agreement. “I always get black eyes when I work from home, too.” He pauses. “Or did you leave the toilet seat up?” He bugs his eyes out dramatically with a gasp. “Did Lily do it to you? Blink twice if you need help.”
“Fuck off, Carter.”
He watches me for a moment, any sign of amusement fading as fast as it’d come. “Ledger’s been making noises about nepotism again.”
I scoff out a laugh. “You’re kidding me, right? I’ve been the CEO for three and half years, and I’ve increased the company’s bottom line by thirty-five percent. What the fuck’s he got to complain about?”
“I don’t know for sure, but I think someone’s been in his ear.” His jaw went hard. “As well as in the ears of some of the other board members.”
I watch him closely, hearing what he wasn’t saying. “Interesting,” I murmur. “And unexpected.” My father had also been blowing up my phone, ranting about me marrying Lily and fucking with his plans for Hi-Tech.
“If you aren’t careful, the board members are going to be lining up to shove you down on your own sword.”
“They’ll remember who lines their pockets before that happens.” I twist my expression into a mask of impassivity. “We’re having a family dinner tomorrow night at the Huntington Estate.” Silvia’s family home. “I’ll do some subtle digging while I’m there. ”
There’s nothing in Carter’s expression to give away his inner thoughts when he asks, “Will Lily go with you?”
“No.”
He nods. “Probably a good thing.”
“In the meantime, I need you to play interference with the board. I don’t want Ledger or anyone else to see…” I grimace, gesturing at my eye. “And I need a little time to finish dealing with the shitstorm my father started.”
“I can do that. What’s happening with the Hi-Tech deal?”
I rub a hand over my jaw, unsure what to tell him. I trust Carter. We’ve been friends since college, and he’s always had my back. This is delicate, though, with too many players and too much at stake for me to risk it.
Especially when he doesn’t know the full story…
although I’m not so sure anyone does anymore.
The specific details have long since been lost; distorted by time and emotion.
The only things that seem to be left now are unmitigated rage and bitterness, something that shouldn’t have any place in the present.
And yet, I’d let it right through the front door.
My fists clench and I tuck them under my desk, my anger a raging fire in my bloodstream. It’s not directed at anyone but myself and the control I’ve allowed my father to have over my life.
Realizing Carter’s still waiting for an answer, I settle on saying, “We’re finalizing the deal now.
There’s a few more terms the lawyers are negotiating on, but I’ll keep you posted.
” Guilt trickles in at the lie, but he’ll understand.
Eventually. “Has your contact told you about any more meetings?”
He shakes his head sharply. “Annabeth came into town for a conference and wanted to meet for dinner. When I refused, she told me to go fuck myself and then blocked me.” A grim smile plays on his lips when I lift my brows.
“Probably a good thing,” I murmur, echoing his earlier sentiment.
“I’ll leave you to it, Rocky.” I watch as he stands and heads for the door, pausing to look back at me, genuine concern brightening his eyes. “Declan, you know I have your back, right?” Carter doesn’t seem to need a response, sending one last meaningful look and then he’s gone .
I’ve always kept my personal and professional life separated and compartmentalized, refusing to cloud business with emotions. Everything and everyone had their place, my life so coldly organized I could never be surprised by something unexpected.
Until Lily.
I never intended to take things as far as I did.
I can’t even pinpoint when things changed for me.
Now all I know is that I buried my head in the sand, hoping that when it all blew up in my face, I’d be able to salvage the mess left over.
Now, it feels like I’m stuck in the middle of a rapidly collapsing bridge—my father on one side and Lily on the other.
Whoever I choose, there’s no guarantee I’ll even make it to them before the bridge crumbles away under me.
I run a hand through my hair just as the laptop screensaver comes on, showing me a picture of us on our wedding day.
I’ve got my arms wrapped around Lily’s waist, the dark suit a sharp contrast to the brilliant white of her dress.
My head is tilted down, eyes firmly locked on her, like I can’t see anything else.
Lily’s looking into the camera, her smile wide and cheeks flushed.
Her eyes are so bright, they look like they’re sparkling as she stands there, a bouquet of pink roses and lilies clutched in her hands.
I reach out and touch a finger to her cheek; my chest aching viciously.
I swallow hard as my eyes start up with a suspicious burn.
Our relationship might have started under false pretenses, and she might think that I was playing her the whole time, but she’s going to find out that I’m not playing anymore.
And there’s nothing fake about my feelings for her.