Billionaires Dollar Series

“I knew you would. Cole, I’d love for you to invest, truly. After I’ve launched-and only if you look through the financials with your advisors and make a decision on the basis of that.”

He’s quiet for a beat. And when he speaks, there’s something in his voice-respect? “I get it.”

“You do?”

“Of course. It’s risky as hell, but yes. Dad and I once had this exact same conversation.” Cole smiles at the memory. “I’ll help you in any way I can-as much as you’ll let me.”

“Thank you.”

“Start by getting an assistant and a centralized storage location,” he says, softly shaking his head. “Two years, and not a word to me. It’ll take me a while to forgive you, you know.”

His voice is teasing, so I make mine light as well. “I’ll do your chores for a whole week.”

It works-he laughs. “Make it two.”

We talk about the puppy, still nameless and too cute for this world. About Skye’s upcoming book and Cole’s trip to New York. So I convince myself it’s casual, when I slip in the question toward the end. “Have you seen Nick around lately? He’s sort of been MIA since the night at the opera.”

“I haven’t. He cancelled tennis yesterday, but that happens all the time. Busy schedules and all. Why?”

Why, indeed? I clear my throat. “Just wondering.”

“He hasn’t been at work?”

No, I haven’t. I should tell him I’ve quit, but then I’d have to explain why, and… I can’t.Content rights belong to NôvelDrama.Org.

“Not really.”

“He’ll be at the party on Saturday, anyway,” Cole says, not the least bit concerned. It’s only been a few days for him, after all, and the two of them haven’t had a massive argument. Nick had obviously been able to text Cole, but not me.

So his phone works.

Good to know.

I file it away under the reasons to get angry column instead of the reasons to get sad one. It’s been a constant battle this past few days between them both. As the ruling judge, I’ve made an executive decision to give him at least a week. But if he’s still avoiding me by Cole and Skye’s party…

All hell will break loose.

So, I have to break hell loose.

It had seemed a lot easier earlier in the week. But standing in front of the floor-length mirror in my bedroom now, getting ready for a party he will most definitely be at, it’s much harder to keep my confidence up.

An entire week where he hasn’t answered my calls.

But tonight he won’t get away.

The dress I’m wearing clings to my form. The colors are appropriate-Skye sent me a picture of the autumnal decorations-in muted tones. I’m wearing my own lingerie underneath. It feels like lace armor, like I’m preparing for battle.

Cole and Skye’s driveway is decorated with pumpkins and flowers and a giant wreath hangs on the door. A member of staff with an orange maple leaf in his breast pocket opens the front door for me.

“Thank you.” The scent of pumpkin spice hits me. Are they burning a legion of candles at once? Baking cookies nonstop? The place smells amazing.

Skye is the first to find me. She threads her arm under mine. “Isn’t this place gorgeous?”

“It’s your place,” I point out, laughing. “But yes. Are you making this an annual tradition?”

“I really want to. Of all of Cole’s damnable networking parties, this one I want to keep. And make it more about family.” Her hand flutters absently to her belly, now really starting to show. No doubt she’s already fielding off questions.

“Next year you’ll be three hosts,” I whisper.

Her gaze warms. “Yes. I’m sure the third will be a huge help.”

“Infants are excellent napkin-folders,” I tease.

Skye laughs, tugging us to a standstill in the center of the living room. Soft music drifts from the built-in speaker system. My eyes pass over the people gathered in this room. Family friends. My cousins. My brother and Ethan Carter, heads bent in close conversation. He’s another one of Cole’s recent friends-a man with a budding tech empire and two cute, tiny daughters. I’ve heard Skye say more than once that she hoped he’d find someone to date amongst the guests at their parties.

I don’t see Nick anywhere.

“Your mom is in the kitchen,” Skye says, misunderstanding my perusal. “She told Cole that she doesn’t trust the new caterers to get the food quite right.”

I smile at that. “Sounds like Mom.”

Skye is polite enough to neither agree nor disagree with that statement, but I can’t imagine that my mom makes for an easy mother-in-law.

“So,” I say, looking down at my nails, “is Nick here?”

“Yes, I saw him just a few minutes ago. He was-oh no.” Her gaze snags on the bar, where her teenage nephew is examining a few bottles. “I’ll be right back…”

I head into the den. More people are here; the double doors open up to the backyard. Space heaters are set up outside and lounge chairs have blankets thrown over the backs.

Nick is standing out there. It might be dimly lit, but I’d know those shoulders anywhere. It’s him-standing alone and apart from the rest of the party. It makes me a tiny bit less angry at him for having ignored me for a week.

I’m nearly by the doors when I’m stopped by a smiling face.

“Blair, it’s good to see you again.”

“You too, Uncle.” I return his hug. So close-I’m so close!

He sees my gaze and follows it out to Nick. “Yes,” my uncle says. “Your brother invited the vulture. He’s always had a penchant for making news, our Cole.”

My teeth grit together. At the reference to Nick’s reputation in business. To the joke about Cole’s public relations skills. To the fact that my uncle expects me to laugh to it.

A year ago, I probably would have.

“They’re good friends,” I say.

“Oh, of course they are.” My uncle’s voice quiets. Big words, but he wouldn’t want to be overheard.

There’s more I could say. About Nick’s business sense, about saving companies rather than destroying them. Perhaps some ridiculous metaphor about how even vultures have a place in nature. That I’ve been working for him. Nick had once said that he didn’t want to harm my reputation, somehow. And here I am wanting to defend his.