Page 14 of Envy
CHAPTER FIVE
The tension inside the private jet is suffocating—to everyone except Charlie. He suggested we conserve fuel and invite Wyatt to fly back to NYC with us since he was headed there too. While I agree in theory, putting that plan in action asked a little too much of me. Being around Wyatt for extended periods of time was not what I’d planned at all.
“Megan, didn’t you used to live in Savannah? Or close to it?” Charlie asks, simply trying to start a conversation. I’m sure he thinks it helps put Wyatt and me on common ground.
“That was a lifetime ago, Charlie.” I cut my eyes to Wyatt. “Everything has changed since then.”
“Time has a way of doing that. When you live in the same place your whole life, you get used to the changes. But when you’ve been away for a long time then go back, everything is different. Your memory plays tricks on you.” Charlie thought I was referring to the physical changes to the area, but I wasn’t about to correct him.
“I have a pretty good memory, actually. Always have.”
“Yes, Megan, I have to agree with that. You have a photographic memory. I’m sure that was helpful when you graduated summa cum laude from Harvard.” He chuckles and looks at me with fondness.
Charlie is an older man, slightly older than my mother, and has a heart of gold. He has helped my company and me with many legal negotiations, and we always come out on top. He genuinely cares about his work and his work family. His wife passed away before I met him, and I often worry about him living alone. He must be lonely, especially since he gravitates toward being around other people whenever he can. Though he wasn’t at my graduation, he never fails to praise me for it when the occasion calls for it.
“It didn’t hurt, that’s for sure.”
When we reach cruising altitude, Charlie stands and pats my shoulder. “I’m an old man, Megan. I’m going to the couch at the back of the plane to take a nap. Wake me before we crash.”
“If I don’t forget,” I joke.
When Charlie settles on the couch, he’s out like a light within seconds. Now I’m left with only Wyatt to talk to, so I retrieve my laptop and begin working instead. Not that my obvious plan to avoid small talk with my lifelong enemy deters him. He moves to the seat immediately beside me, so I shut the lid to keep him from snooping into my business.
“Is there something you need?” I glare over my shoulder at him, irritated with how intrusive he’s being.
“Oh, I need plenty of things… But you can only give me one of them while Charlie is back there.”
“And that is?”
“I need to know how you’ve been.”
“Never been better.”
“You know, you’ve never been good at lying. Especially to me. I’m glad to see that hasn’t changed.”
“That’s probably true. I never really had a reason to lie to you, though. But you, on the other hand, were very good at lying. Weren’t you, Wyatt?” The anger burns in my eyes, daring him to try to lie to me right now.
The way he studies me—tilting his head, crinkling his eyes, staring deeply into mine—unnerves me. He always could see into my soul, read my innermost thoughts with a tiny amount of effort. I stare back into his eyes, trying to read his thoughts just as he’s reading mine. What I see there, apparent in his gaze, haunts me.
“I wonder, what’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?”
He won’t win this battle of wills. He won’t fool me into thinking he has any feelings about me...or any feelings at all. Letting my insecurities get the best of me is a thing of the past.
That old familiar feeling in my chest squeezes tightly, the pain of ten years ago rushes back with a vengeance. The humiliation of having my most intimate moments blasted across the school was more than I could bear, and not something I’ve ever forgiven him for. With the icy shroud intact around my heart once again, my expression hardens, but I keep my response cool and collected.
“I don’t have a problem expressing my thoughts and opinions, Wyatt. When I have something to say, you won’t have any question about my intentions—you’ll know without a doubt. All I’m thinking about is who will replace the current board of directors, and who the possible candidates will be to replace you.”
“Do you think it’ll be that easy—replacing me?”
There’s a double meaning to his question. I know what he’s trying to do. Good thing I wasn’t born yesterday.
“Absolutely. Replacing you will be the easiest part of the entire process.”
“Interesting theory, but I have a different view. It’s very challenging to replace the original. There are substitutes. There are temporary stand-ins. Eventually, you may even find someone who is a close second. But no one ever fully takes the place of the first.”
“That’s a romantic notion, but not very practical. I’ve found just the opposite is true. Fresh blood brings new ideas. New eyes see things others miss. Innovative thinkers inject more enthusiasm and life into the mix. Change keeps things from becoming stagnant.”
“Sounds like you’ve given this a lot of thought.” By the glint in his eye, he thinks I’m lying, and he’s calling my bluff.
