Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 144908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 483(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 483(@300wpm)
“You’re talking about Rashad Perry, the singer for the Troubled Sons.”
“That would be my Rashad,” Adam confirmed, taking a drink of his scotch. He did so not taking his eyes off her, waiting for her reaction.
“And you haven’t told Amanda because . . . ?” she prompted.
“I’ve tried to tell Amanda, but she doesn’t want to hear me. There’s a clause our father put in our trust fund. He knew I was gay, although he despised that I was. If I didn’t live with another man, the money in the trust fund was shared. The moment I moved in with a man, I forfeited my share to Amanda and didn’t receive any further benefits. I turned over the money to her a long time ago. I act like it’s shared because she would never have it any other way, but that money is hers. When it came to running his company, Dad knew Amanda wasn’t going to do it, so he put me in charge with no provisions. We both own the lion’s share of the stock, so there is no way I can be ousted as president, even if the news comes out and some of the stockholders take exception in the same way my father did.”
“Your father knew Amanda would never sell her share of stock in the company to anyone else,” Ambrie confirmed. “She’s completely loyal to you.”
Adam nodded. “And she’d be royally pissed if she knew I wasn’t getting money from the trust. She’s like that. She’d just turn around and sign over the shares back to me. That’s how she is. She doesn’t like that side of things. I was surprised when she took business in college. She’s got the head for it, but she doesn’t like it. It isn’t her dream.”
“She did it to be able to stay close to you, Adam,” Ambrie said. “She looks up to you and would do just about anything for you.”
He sighed. “Then why won’t she let me tell her about the one other really important person in my life?”
“Because it will change everything between you,” Ambrielle said as gently as she could. “She knows when you find someone, she isn’t going to be number one anymore. That’s just the way it works. And right now, when she feels shredded, she needs to feel like she’s your number one priority. She’s getting stronger. She’ll come around. She knew you weren’t going to sweep me off my feet. She just wanted you to check out Marcus, and she wanted me here in case he didn’t take the bait. She’s been trying to get his attention for a little while.”
“Are you kidding me? He didn’t notice her?” Adam was annoyed on his sister’s behalf. “He’s not nearly as bright as I thought he’d be.”
“He noticed her. They’re both doing some kind of silly dance, circling around, making certain the other one is really interested.” Ambrielle shook her head and flashed Adam a little smirk. “That’s why I steer clear of such foolishness. By the way, did you do a background check on Rashad?”
Adam nodded. “Of course I did. I told him I was going to do it. He didn’t like it, but I told him I’d be giving up a great deal of money for him. It didn’t matter to me, but he didn’t need to know that. The bottom line is, we both have something to lose. We’re taking it slow, one day at a time. I want Amanda to meet him, to come to dinner. I was hoping you could get her to do that soon.”
“She loves dinners with you.” Her cell phone vibrated for the third time, making it impossible to ignore. With a sigh, Ambrie palmed it.
“She always makes certain we meet at a restaurant. We have to eat in.”
Ambrie glanced down at the text message from Charles Dobbs, her father’s best friend and the family lawyer. He wondered if it was possible for her to come by her parents’ house even though it was so late. They were putting together some papers and were anxious to get them signed. It wasn’t unusual for Dobbs to be drawing up papers at all hours of the night for her parents because her mother, Marcy Moore, sold her patents on a regular basis, making far too much money. She invented interesting little tools that made a mint. Her parents kept odd hours, and she had no problem keeping those odd hours with them. She texted that she’d be dropping by in the next half hour.
“I have to go, Adam.”
“Wait. Haven’t you noticed my sister didn’t come back? She’s with Phillips at a private table. I’ve been keeping my eye on them. You have to stay. You can’t leave me here alone; it’ll look like I’m spying on them.”
“This gives me the excuse to drag Amanda to dinner at your house. You set it up and I’ll get her there.” She called for a cab, and they both made their way to Amanda and Marcus’ table.