Page 97 of Twisted Knight

“One, I have no idea if it’s for him, and two, Holden didn’t ask me. Audrey did,” I say, just to be a pain in the ass.

Rhett snorts. “He’s too important to ask you himself, I take it.”

I stare at my brother and blink. No, he’s not too important. He’s simply respecting my wishes and all but avoiding me today because of what happened this weekend.

In fact, I haven’t even spoken to him or made eye contact with him. When he walked in the office this morning, he called out a general “good morning” as he walked down the hall, cell to his ear, discussion in full swing. Since then, he’s been behind closed doors doing whatever it is that Holden Knight does behind those closed doors.

Disappointed. Pleased. Confused. All three are the emotions that have swirled through me today. He’s doing what I asked, so why does part of me think I deserve a decent greeting?

A greeting that would most likely have my resolve and my insides collapsing like a house of cards.

“Not too important. I’m assuming he’s busy—like you are.”

“So, you’re looking for property you know nothing about for some reason that hasn’t been explained. Got it,” Rhett says sarcastically.

“Not everything has a grand scheme behind it,” I say, but I had many of the same questions my brother does. “There could be a dozen reasons. A location for a new warehouse. A place to bring our outside manufacturing in-house. Who knows.” All things I would do if I were running it. It would increase cost in the short term, but not having to pay the middleman markup would net a significant profit in the long run.

“Maybe he’s doing something shady.”

“Says the man who was going to do the same thing before Holden came into the picture. A new distribution center, was it? A run for city council to grease some palms to ensure it? I mean … c’mon, Rhett. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.”

“Just weird is all.”

“So is this situation on the whole, but I’m doing my best with it.” I lean back in my chair and watch my brother as he shuffles through the maps on the table, taking note of the red circles I’ve placed around the locations of the properties I’ve found that meet the criteria given.

Rhett keeps studying the maps, way more engrossed in them than I expected him to be. If he’s looking for a pattern, rhyme or reason, it’s not there. I know because I’ve already looked.

The upside? Maybe while I’m doing this, I’ll come across a place that’s reasonable to rent or buy for the Sanctuary.

It’s a long shot, but I’m still checking.

“You seem quite chummy with him,” Rhett says.

“So doing my job is being chummy now? You’re the one who made a deal with the devil. Not me,” I say.

He snorts in response and then looks at me, our gazes holding while I do everything I can to seem normal. “Are you still happy with your decision to sell?” I ask.

“Happy isn’t exactly the word I’d use. Resigned is probably a better one. For the company as a whole. For us as partial owners. For our family name.”

I nod. That’s the first time I’ve noted any kind of doubt from my brother. Or is it regret? Is it finally hitting him, finally breaking through that ginormous ego of his that he screwed over our family business somehow?

Or is he just bullshitting me to get sympathy since he’s not getting the attention he’s used to—in the office and in Westmore in general—with Holden now in the picture.

And just as quickly as the thought comes, as the notion of my brother’s humility hits, it flies right out the door when he continues, “I did nothing wrong as the CEO. Chad did nothing wrong as the COO. Things happen sometimes. That’s it and this is the best way to see the company through.”

“Got it.” Good to see the ego is still there.

“You could be a little less hostile.” Hypocritical advice from the man who has no business giving it.

“Yes. I could. Just like you could be less of a prick. Telling people that I’m the reason for the company’s current situation? I mean, really?”

He stutters in motion. Ah, you didn’t think I knew that you were saying that, now, did you?

“For all you know, Holden may be your saving grace here,” he says in response.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Well, once you and Chad married, you were going to have to step down here,” he says, to which I stare at him dumbfounded.