“What are you doing here?” I grit my words out. This is not happening.
“Is this how you greet your brother?” He strides forward and comes to stand directly in front of me, invading my space. My brother has never had any qualms about getting in someone’s face.
“There’s a reason I left Orchid,” I tell him. “Or have you forgotten?”
“You have a brother?” Izzie says from behind me. “Wow. You know, I can see the family resemblance, now that you mention it.”
“Gaz hasn’t told you?” Rex flashes his teeth and holds out his hand to Izzie. “It’s a nice to meet you. I’m sorry my big brother has such poor manners.”
“You’re a dick,” Izzie says, and Rex’s smile disappears. Yeah, he wasn’t expecting that reaction from Izzie. Rex is used to charming both women and men. No matter what sort of situation he finds himself in, he uses his charisma to get what he wants.
“Your good looks won’t work here,” I tell him.
“What a shame,” Rex says, looking at Izzie. “You and I could have had some fun, darling.”
“Not likely,” Izzie rolls her eyes and sits back down at her desk, apparently resigning herself to watch the shit show that’s about to unfold. “I don’t have any interest in overzealous jerks who don’t know their place.”
“Oh, I know my place just fine,” Rex turns back to me. “It’s Gazley here who doesn’t know where he belongs.”
“Gaz?”
I close my eyes when I hear Hayden’s voice from behind me because this is so not happening. Not right now. Why is she here right now? And why is Rex here? And what the hell is happening with my day?
Today was supposed to be simple, easy. I was supposed to change my clothes, tell Trevor to find himself a new attorney, and leave work early to spend time with Hayden. I was supposed to be able to lose myself in her.
I wasn’t supposed to have to see my long-lost brother or deal with the problems I left behind on Orchid.
Those are ghosts I don’t want to face.
Not now.
Not ever again.
“You forgot your communications unit,” Hayden says sweetly. She has it in her hand, but before I can take it from her, my brother darts over to her.
“Why hello,” he says. “And who might you be?” He takes her hand and kisses it dramatically. Hayden pulls her hand back.
“Well, I’m-” Izzie makes a motion to Hayden not to give anything away. Hayden looks confused, but luckily, she’s not stupid. She trusts me, and she trusts Izzie, and she handles stress and anxiety better than anyone else I’ve ever met. “I’m one of Gazley’s associates,” she finishes smoothly.
“Is that right?” Rex isn’t buying it. My brother looks from Hayden to me and back again. “Are you sure that you aren’t dating my brother? Because you kind of look like you’re dating my brother.”
“Who is this asshole?” Hayden turns to me, and Rex’s mouth drops open once more. Yeah, he’s really not used to women who stand up for themselves and who don’t like jerks. There’s nothing wrong with people on Orchid, but Orchidians tend to be swept up in Rex’s charms.
“What do you want, Rex?” I ask again. “And please, make it fast. I have a lot of things I need to do today and dealing with you and these guys,” I jerk my head toward the two uniformed police officers. “Isn’t exactly on the schedule.”
“It’s mother,” he says. “She wants you back.”
“No.”
Rex’s eyes narrow, but I shake my head. I promised myself when I left Orchid that I wouldn’t return. Not for Rex. Not for my mother. Not for anyone. The political system on Orchid is corrupt and the corruption is far deeper than anyone could possibly imagine. There needs to be a complete overhaul of how the planet is run and I have no interest in being there for that.
It sounds terrible and mean, but people on Orchid are happy with their planet. They’re happy with their elitist society. They’re happy with their lives. They don’t want someone who is going to mess that up for them and even if I did accept my rightful place on Orchid, I’m not under the impression that anything would be able to change.
“You must return. It is your duty,” Rex tries again.
“I left Orchid, or have you forgotten that I’m essentially an outlaw? Have you forgotten what mother said to me when I turned away from the plan she had for my life?”
“You are the crown prince,” Rex says. “It is your duty.”