Professionally Perfect

Chapter 4

Robert.

I had only been in Wales a day before I was receiving a phone call from Cole Ramsey. His last name lit up my screen along with a red and a green button. Oh, how the red is so tempting. I was still in bed, Kimberly asleep at my side.

I carefully got up out of bed and walked into the hall. Finally holding the phone to my ear his voice fills my head. "Eli's looking for you." Not even a hello.

My brows furrowed. "What do you mean? Is my twenty-story office building not clear enough for him to see?"

"How do you think I know he's coming for you? He came here, kicked up a fuss and now is looking for you all over. You were voted June's hottest businessman, he really did not like it."

A smirk tugged at my lips. "All your votes I presume?"

"I even signed them with a kiss." I knew the blonde enough to know he was rolling his eyes. "I just wanted to let you know. He's fed up."

"I don't see why," I shrugged. "If he put a comb through his ratty hair, used a good face

wash and a good cologne I'm sure he'd be a contender."

"Robert." He sounded bored.

"Yes?"

"Shut up."

A chuckle escaped my lips. "He couldn't possibly do anything, I have my men with me. Not to mention he's always been a coward."

"He seemed pissed. It isn't about the tabloids, it's the premise. You were partners and now you're not. You're successful and he's... Well, he's doing something." Cole could be a huge pain in my ass but he did have a point. "Just keep an eye out, that's all."

A frustrated sigh left me feeling deflated. "Okay. Thank you."

Eli Gibson. An old friend of mine. He and I set up the business together, actually, but he got too full of himself. It was Eli that got me into things that I wasn't proud of. It was he who pushed me to start side hustles that I now hid from my very own wife.

We stopped speaking after he tried sex trafficking my sister.

*****

It was always very tense whenever Kimberly's Father and I crossed paths. He wasn't an intimidating man, not in the slightest, he was just very... frustrating. He didn't like me, that was no secret. I get it, I'm dating his daughter, but you'd think he'd give over after almost two years of marriage. He stood as stiff as a rock at my side. He barely muttered two words. We were having a small barbecue for Cathy's birthday, so you'd think he'd at least try to pretend he liked me.

Mark was working the barbecue, and Kimberly stood at his side ready to help. Mark was Kim's grandfather, Cathy's husband. Cathy was quiet, while Mark was loud and rather goofy for an old man. And still, I got along with him much better than Dale.

I was never really a fan of Dale either, so I can't say I was gasping to talk to him. He's no Pierce Brosnan.

Kimberly followed after her Father more, looks-wise, while Gracey followed after their late Mother. Lucy Webster died when Kimberly was nine, and Gracey just six. I remember once I tried speaking to Dale about Kimberly's mother. Bad idea. I think he just hated me more after that.

I decided I'd do it. I'd be the bigger man and speak to my Father-In-Law. "Do-"

"Hiya." A feminine voice stopped me from continuing, and I was rather thankful. Kim's Aunt, Ella walked through the garden gate, her Brother Caleb following behind.

"Ella!" Kimberly squealed and ran toward her aunt. She threw herself at the older woman, almost tackling her to the ground. The two had been close when Kimberly was a child. More like Sisters than Auntie and Niece.

"It's not like I wanted a hello," Caleb grumbled.

"I don't like you as much." Kimberly grinned at her uncle, but that was all he got before Kim pulled Ella to take a seat beside her and chat.

I was a confident man, I always had been, but when around Kim's family I felt rather small. They all knew exactly who they were and where they placed. Usually, I did too, but not here. I felt like there wasn't space for me.

I wondered if Dale felt the same way.