Page 5 of Love and Loathing

“Liv’s back.”

Roscoe shot him a look.

“Back in London,” Aubrey said, attempting to keep his tone light. He took another plate over to the bin, focused on that while he spoke. “Corporate Tax with HallardPuck, moved from their New York office to here.”

“Have you seen her?”

“Not yet. But every other person I know is a lawyer. I can’t escape the grapevine.”

Roscoe frowned, and Aubrey stiffened at the sympathy, already embarrassed he’d said anything.

“I suppose that explains it,” Roscoe said kindly. “I’d wondered if it was maybe the other thing. Domnall. Is he still giving you trouble?”

Aubrey let out a breath, dumping a plate unceremoniously in the sink. “It’s the same as always. Power plays and ego trips.”

“He’s just finalised his divorce, hasn’t he? That’s probably got something to do with it. Trying to prove something.”

Aubrey nodded. “I wish he’d prove his manliness on his own time. He’s toying with us. So far, he’s signed over barely one per-cent of his liabilities to our care but keeps hinting he’s going to open his wallet any moment now.”

“Evie’s not wrong. The man’s awful.”

“I know. But you know what this role is like for me. Your father only gave it to me because of your…let’s say…rather abrupt departure when they were already behind schedule setting the department up.”

“I’m sorry I—”

“No, no.” Aubrey waved his apology away. “I’m glad you got out. Look at the state of you now. Sickeningly happy. It’s disgusting.”

Roscoe laughed. “Sorry. Again.”

“At least one of us is,” Aubrey murmured. Then, before Roscoe could respond to that, he said quickly, “But you know what it’s like trying to prove yourself to your father, and he has no parental love for me to soften his beady eye. He’d happily see me gone. And with Domnall fucking me around like a monkey on a string, it might happen any day now.”

Roscoe bit his lip, concern all over his face, and Aubrey turned away, embarrassed again. Fucking Liv. He was too old to be this unmanned by the mere mention of his ex. But Jesus fucking Christ, knowing she was back in town had hit him far harder than he’d expected.

He was aware of his heart beating and his palms sweating as he readied himself to ask what he had been needing to ask all night, finding the actual moment of doing it every bit as awful as he’d imagined. He turned on a tap, picked up a plate. Put it down. Turned the tap back off.

“Roscoe…I need to ask you a favour.”

“Of course. Anything.”

“It’s the Actuaris Annual Awards on Friday, and I’m being sent to further woo Domnall and pander to his ego. The only issue is…”

“Yes?”

“HallardPuck are also courting him. And they’re sending Liv.”

“Oh shit.”

“Exactly.”

“Aubrey, I’d come with you, of course I would, but did you say it’s this Friday?”

“Yes.”

“Poppy’s got her first big work do on Friday, and she’s terrified. I promised her I’d be there, but—”

“No. Right. Obviously you have to go to that.”

“What time is yours? Maybe I can—”

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