An Engagement Of PARALLELS

3. MAVERICK

Now that Josh is out I can focus on the work better. His behavior with Reyna gets under my skin more than I care to admit.

Honestly, if Josh's dad wasn't one of our prime investors, I would have thrown his ass out of this building from sheer annoyance. Thankfully, he threw himself out otherwise God knows how long I would have to sit there with fire in my eyes, grinding my teeth.

When he sees himself out, I fall back into my chair with a groan.

Charlotte enters with Beckham on her tail.

"The design is ready sir and its immaculate," she coos. "Beck has worked day and night this time."

I take the file from her hand and flip through the pages. One look at them and I know she is lying through her teeth. Day and night my ass! The designs for the tech model looks like a newbie made it in her sleep. Maybe Beckham did hire a newbie to do his job. I pass the file in Reyna's direction while I have a battle of willpower with myself to not yell at both these idiots.

"I'll see to it," Reyna rasps, focusing her eyes on the pages. She tries to keep her voice steady despite the clear disappointment in it. I know she would never outrightly reject these; she is just too kind for that.

"That'll be all Charlotte," I say and dismiss them both.

Dad taps his knuckles against the table and our attention switches to him. My eyebrows pinch together on my forehead in confusion.

He clears his throat, uneasiness seeping over his features. "There's something else you need to know."

I nod my head and hum a response.

"Your grandfather has decided to name major portions of his belongings to you." He studies my face for a beat then adds. " Effective immediately."

It was Dave who spoke. "How much?"

Marshall looks away from my dad and pin his angry stare on Dave who coughs choking on his own spit in embarrassment.

My dad lets out a resigned sigh. "Ninety percent."

"What's his conditions?" I ask. "Don't look so shocked. I'm an Astor too."

Reyna gives me a look that tells me that she might chastise me for taking that tone alone. This primal, protective side of her that I witness at times when I'm being a dick to my family has me feeling a range of mixed emotions.

"I mean surely he must have some plans," I hurriedly get out.

Dad looks at Reyna and Dave and I know what he is going to say next.

"Perhaps we should talk a bit more privately." He confirms what I was thinking.

I spin the pen in my hand between my knuckles. "Reyna can stay. Dave can leave."

"I am your manager," Dave says through clenched teeth.

Reyna gets up to avoid creating a scene and maybe give incentive to Dave to get the fuck out of here but for some reason I don't feel like her leaving would do any good to the conversation I'm about to have with dad.

My hand snakes up the desk and I place it on top of hers. She gets startled for a beat but her eyes softens as she stares into my eyes.

Dave doesn't move an inch.

Giving up on all three of us, dad search for something from the pile of files placed on the side of his table. He pulls out a black one and starts flipping through the pages. The look he is wearing is way too easy going for the conversation he had begun minutes ago.

Beside me Reyna tries to free her hand from where mine are still holding it captive. The awareness shocks me because I don't remember the last time touching someone has come that naturally to me. So much that its more of a tease of touch than an actual touch.