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“Like a spent cock from a condom,” he agrees. “You aren’t going to be all uptight about this, right? It was for a good cause. Some variety keeps things interesting—and me young.”

I resist the urge to tear my hair out. “Didn’t it bother you when she called you by my name?”

Dad looks puzzled. “No. Why would it?”

“Your father would never let such a minor detail get in the way,” Mom says proudly. “Besides, it probably isn’t even his kid.”

“Exactly. The other guy was young and kind of clumsy. Didn’t look like he knew how to wear a condom properly, but you know, it isn’t my job to conduct sex ed in the middle of some action.”

Mom nods with a look that says,Totally not.

As I study the two in horrified stupefaction, I can sort of see why they’re drawn to each other. The public perception is that they don’t really care for each other due to their “open marriage” and numerous affairs. But they’re so in tune with each other’s needs—and couldn’t care less about convention or what anybody says. They want to do what they want, whenever they want. And a partner who can cover for them, not judge them, must seem like a godsend.

Grandmother, of course, is the Big Bad they’re united against because she disapproves of their behavior. Although the Kingswoods aren’t European nobility, she wants us to be. Two parts resentment and one part admiration beat in my chest that my parents were able to find each other and create a lifestyle that suits them in spite of all the societal and familial pressure. Meanwhile, I can’t even make a straightforward committed relationship work.

Why me,God? Why? Why did I end up with parents like this?

I’m beginning to sympathize with Max’s screaming into her pillow in Tokyo. A need to do the same shoots all the way to my skull. It’s that or flip the desk over and strangle my parents.

“We aren’t asking for the moon, Rhys. We’ll even help. Just take one for the family, okay?”

The determination glinting in Mom’s eyes sends chills down my spine. Nothing good comes from her efforts. She excels at looking pretty, spending money and banging men half her age. But other matters? “Leave. Now.”

“But—”

“Don’t push me. Remember, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.”

My parents stare blankly. “There is?” Dad finally says.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Max

Once Auric and Elita are gone, the rest of the day is spent in a whirlwind of meetings. Typical after Rhys has been out of the office for so long. Although a lot can be done online, some things require face-to-face interaction. And some people just want to come by for reasons—not all of them legit—hoping to be noticed.

I sort all the notes from the Beissen Group meetings that I missed. Rhys hates taking minutes or only relying on the other party’s.

–Unknown: Hi, this is Don Wellington. The shock of hearing that you’re an heiress to a two-billion-dollar fortune must’ve been too much to digest this morning. I understand. But you should give it some serious thought. Your father would like to do the right thing and meet you in person.

I narrow my eyes. Don sounds sincere, but then, he’s a lawyer willing to do anything for his client.

But the more I think about it, the more this feels like some kind of prank. Trevor acted so high and mighty. Even mocked me for having a job because I should’ve just accepted his money and lived happily ever after. Made that jab about my being a girl, and therefore unworthy of his legacy. Although Don basically said that the son Trevor had with Lily isn’t his, is that reason enough for me to let that smarmy sperm donor crawl back into my life? It isn’t my problem that the only child Trevormanaged to father was me, or that he wants me back—probably begrudgingly.

Oh well. He’ll just have to die without an heir, penis-swinging or not. I block the number, not interested in engaging with anyone doing Trevor’s work.

“Hey, is Rhys free for the next five minutes?”

I lift my head, look into a pair of soft, hopeful brown eyes. “Can youfinishin five?” I ask Bob Sacker, glancing at the clock on my laptop—5:56 p.m. Although Rhys rarely leaves by six, I don’t want to give Sacker more time than necessary. He’s excellent at his job, but he doesn’t know how to keep things concise, going on and on about every little thing he’s learned over the course of completing each assignment.

“Of course.” He grins confidently.

“Let me check,” I say, scrolling slowly through Rhys’s calendar. Must be great to be so delusional. Everyone knows Sacker can’t finish any conversation in less than five minutes.Definitely need to buy that uncomfortable,fancy Japanese-style chair for Rhys’s office. That should redeem me in the bossman’s eyes.

Although Rhys had to jump into meetings right after his parents left, I’m painfully aware that we haven’t finished our discussion. The yellow sticky note with its bright red YOU ARE WELCOME still glares at me. After the fiasco with Auric and Elita, I realize I acted immaturely in Tokyo…sort of like his parents. I don’t really regret the sex—it was amazing. But running was a coward’s way out. I should just tell Rhys I’m sorry and accept the consequences for ditching him.

I look up at Sacker. “Yeah, I think it’s okayifyou can really finish in five. Rhys has a Zoom at six, but he can probably be a little late.”

Sacker makes an O with his thumb and forefinger and enters the office. I study Rhys’s meetings for the week. He has at leasttwo a day. Need to see if there’s a way to cut at least a couple out. After working with him for three years, I’ve learned he hates meetings, since most of them aren’t as productive as their agendas make them sound.