Page 50 of Twisted Knight

Is that what Rhett was expecting—maybe even Chad? That I’ll remain silent and not rock the boat? That I’ll be so angry with him for this mess that I riot against Holden while my brother maneuvers me out of a job? God knows he’d have the support of my mom to do this too.

The thought sickens me, but it’s not one I can afford to overlook. And the more I think about it, dwell on it, obsess over it, the more it makes sense.

A cough down the hall brings me back to the present. I sink back in my chair, close my eyes, and sigh.

A bottle of wine. Watching the sun set from my back porch. My dog, Winnie, chasing bugs around the backyard.

That’s what I need right now—to decompress. To get away from this place after a long, hellish week. Besides, it’s not like I’m getting any work done anyway.

I gather my things and start to leave but make the mistake of glancing down the hallway. The floor is quiet, office lights are out, and doors are shut. All except for one.

Of course he’s still here.

I don’t know why, but I head toward his office. It’s almost as if I can’t figure where my own loyalties lie, and frankly, I’m so sick of thinking about it.

I’m supposed to hate the man out of principle. He’s made it more than easy with how much of a dick he’s been, and yet there have been glimpses of him—the night at the auction, the parking lot in Fairmont—that make me believe if the buyout weren’t involved and I’d met him somewhere random, let’s say, I’d be drawn to him.

Not because of his wealth, but more because of his confidence. His defiance. His lack of giving a fuck about who and what he is.

“Yes?” Holden says through the open doorway as I stand there.

I want to be annoyed that he knows I’m here, to tell him to go to hell, but I find myself walking through the doorway. He’s sitting with his feet propped up and crossed at the ankles, resting on the corner of his desk. His fingers are laced behind his head. His shirt is rolled up to the elbows showcasing his sculpted forearms and expensive watch. He’s ditched the tie he had on earlier and the top two buttons of his dress shirt are undone.

He looks tired.

It’s the first time I’ve seen Holden Knight look anything but perfect, and I hate that it humanizes him. Probably because he looks exactly how I feel right now.

He lifts his eyebrows in response to me standing there and staring at him.

“You came to say you know I’m right. That keeping suppliers in the family, so to speak, isn’t good business.”

“How did you know all that? About Rhett and the kickbacks?”

He studies me, his lips pursed, his eyes intense. “I know everything, Rowan.”

I’m not certain if that’s meant as a statement or a warning but I sure as hell don’t like the chuckle he emits after saying it. Chills chase up and down my spine and they’re only running because there is more going on here. That much I know is true.

“Your game is already getting old,” I say.

“You mean the one where I’m trying to pit everyone against each other so I can see who has real integrity?”

I open my mouth and close it, surprised that he just admitted that so blatantly.

“What? You don’t expect honesty, Rowan? I do. At all times.”

“You love this, don’t you? Sowing chaos. Creating confusion. Making us all doubt each other.”

He nods unapologetically. “Very much, in fact.”

“But why?” I step farther into the room and lean my back against the doorjamb. “You’re not making any friends here with your little chest-thumping competitions against Rhett.”

He grins. “You say that like you think I care.”

“You should. The people standing on the sidelines watching are the ones who are going to implement whatever changes you make. They have to trust you. Look up to you. Respect you.”

“And they respect Rhett?” he asks, alert and astute. It’s a simple question and yet I find myself hesitating because he knows as well as I do that they most likely don’t. Whereas this company is my legacy, for most of them it’s simply a paycheck that supports their families. “Employees respect the person who keeps the doors open and the paychecks coming. Every single person in that room knew I was right, and not a single person said so. Including you. That gives me pause.”

“Meaning?”