Deeper Healing

15| Hold Me Tight

Leilani Edwards

"You never mentioned you were related to the Edwards family," Collin stated quietly, settling into his chair next to mine.

A small sigh of annoyance escaped my lips, my eyes still focused on the article in my hands that had been written by one of the professors that had conducted the final session of the conference. "We are distant relatives, so it's unnecessary going around preaching it."

"They've been acknowledging you as a close family member though," Collin muttered barely audibly, picking on my annoyed tone.

I could peel off my skin right now because of all the unnecessary attention I was getting after Blake Edwards publicly acknowledged me as his niece after he was randomly questioned during an interview regarding the gala.

I didn't understand the sly man's motive behind choosing to finally publicly acknowledge me as a family member, but then again, he was Blake Edwards. He could pull any strings to frustrate the life out of me with the curiosity of his next move, just so that I would appear in front of him and have a conversation as he desired.

This time, he had gone too far and I had quite a mouthful to say to him. He could as well prepare for a fucking storm that he'd brewed himself.

"Being related to an influential family doesn't necessarily make you a nepo baby, you know," Collin continued after the silence between us had prolonged. "You just have a powerful connection to a less problematic career."

I broke my gaze from the paper in my hand and gently placed it on the table in front of me as I leaned my elbows against the table. "Define nepotism," I deadpanned.

Collin gave me tight-lipped smile, his eyes darting to the plain paper he was doodling figures on with a pencil. "It's not bad is all I'm saying."

"I prefer the high road," I quipped, leaning back in my chair, my eyes staring blankly into space. "Yes, I wanna be rich as fuck but not in a way that makes me bow down to someone and be their puppet."

I heard Collin chuckle bitterly, making me snap my eyes at him with a cocked eyebrow. "What?"

"You've already started attracting the attention of filthy rich men since that publicity," he jested. "I wonder if you can still say the same before the year even ends."

I clicked my tongue, shaking my head. I didn't know where these vile accusations were coming from, but I did have a hunch.

One of the CFOs from another company had indirectly made a pass at me the previous day before his colleague asked me on a date which I respectfully declined. Collin had been present in both scenarios, vividly expressing his disapproval.

"I feel like my character is being questioned, no?" The tone of my voice had changed, slowly edging towards anger.

Collin looked up at me, ignoring my statement. "There is a man outside asking for you. He looked-" Collin faltered, taking a controlled sigh, "rather top-tier wealthy if you ask me."

I clenched my jaw and balled my fist, restraining myself from banging my fist on the table. "That iguana-assed son of a gun," I gritted my teeth.

Collin laughed heartily. "Another rich man tailing you, I suppose."

He made it sound wrong, but that was kind of the situation. I had met a rich snob here in Denver when we'd landed at the airport.

He had made his intentions clear from the very first day, but I thought I'd taught him a lesson good enough to stay away after he'd tried to rub his hard-on into my ass. He clearly thought using his noodle stick.