His light brown hair is cut into a neat faux hawk, highlighting the sharp planes and angels of his face. Those light blue eyes watch me with curiosity and a magnetism that makes it difficult for me to look away.
“Nice of you to join us, Jia,” Dad says in his usual authoritative voice. It snaps me out of the trance. “Any chance of you taking a seat so we can get started? I’m a very busy man.”
Usually, I can deal with Dad. I have thick skin. Sometimes I even know how to reach his soft spots and tame the beast. I can’t do it, though, when he chews me out like this in front of Paul.
“Of course,” I answer, taking my seat in the chair next to Paul. We’re in front of Dad. This feels vaguely familiar. It feels like dinner times of the past. The only person missing is Elaine, Paul’s mother.
“Great, now that we’re all here, we can start. I don’t intend for this to take too long,” Dad says with a heavy sigh. He looks from me to Paul, and that’s my first indication that my guess might be right. “I’ve come to a decision on Montrose Place. It’s been difficult trying to figure out what I should do with it because you both have interest in the property.”
I know I’m selfish in thinking this, but I feel entitled to the property just for being his daughter.
Paul isn’t even his stepson anymore. Dad and Elaine have been divorced for the last nine years. Most people would consider that a long enough time to sever ties, but Dad continues to keep Paul under his wing.
Dad grabs a foolscap folder from a stack of documents near his computer, opens it, and pulls out a title deed document.
My breath stills, and Paul glances at me, but I don’t look at him.
“This is the ownership document,” Dad states and glances from me to Paul. “I completed the transfers last night. I’ve decided to give the building to the both of you.”
“What?” I gasp. The word just falls from my lips.
“You heard me, Jia. The property now belongs to the two of you.”
Paul settles back against his chair while I continue to glower at Dad.
This is not good. It may be by his standards, and yes, it’s perhaps a reasonable thing to do. The problem is, I can’t own anything with Paul.
I want nothing to do with him.
I can’t have anything to do with him.
Working in the same building was the limit. I figured I could do that only because our jobs are very different.
I’m in marketing, and he’s the business development manager. Up until a few months ago, I worked at Bradleys with Rachel, one of my best friends. Then Dad decided to set up an inhouse marketing team here at Fortura and wanted me onboard. I joined for the six-figure salary. Except for meetings like this, I was hardly supposed to see Paul.
Dad wouldn’t understand that we aren’t what he thinks we are.
Not the stepsiblings, or former. We might have been that for two years while he was married to Elaine, and even then, it was… well, you don’t lust after your stepbrother and imagine him naked.
I shouldn’t know what this man tastes like—like sex and wild, erotic passion.
Dad wouldn’t understand that I can’t own a building with Paul because at eighteen I lost my virginity to him at The Dark Odyssey, a sex club. A place for the taboo. A place for what we were at the time.
I wrinkle my nose and try to steady my breathing. I’ve just noticed that Paul hasn’t said anything either.
“This is a good thing,” Dad points out, focusing on me.
“Thank you, Ethan,” Paul says, but I’ve zoned out.
“You’re very welcome,” Dad answers.
My debacle over what Paul and I are is just the tip of the shit.
I wanted to restore Montrose Place to what it used to be—a day spa. Dad knew that. My grandmother, who taught me everything about natural remedies and treatments, died six months ago. Before she did, she made me promise I’d do the things I was good at. My goal was to reopen Montrose Place and make it a haven that specialized in everything natural and organic. I have plans for my own natural skin care range in the works. That was supposed to be part and parcel of the place.
Paul won’t want to do that. I know him.
“How can this be a good thing?” I challenge. “You know why I wanted the building. This is very unfair when you knew.”