Page 49 of The Enemy

“I am listening. But if you think for one second that I’m going to get named CEO without some heavy fucking speculations or extra clauses, you’re delusional. I might carry their name, but at the end of the day, the only Riviere here is Lourdes.”

“And Gerald will never hand the company over to her,” my mother rebuffed.

“Gerald won’t live forever,” I added.

My mother was annoyed with me, but she was unsure how to express her displeasure. Instead, she gracefully got up from my desk and adjusted her skirt.

“Be on your best behavior when you get to Saint Bipal. Anyone worth a damn will be there. Your father never added you as a member to his Clear View Country Club membership, so be grateful Gerald added you to his.”

I didn’t even bother to bid her goodbye, or else I would say something I wasn’t sure I was ready for. I was beginning to understand that many of my father's actions were intentional. He loved me, I knew that, but if what my brother said was true, then he also resented me.

The alarm on my cell phone startled me. I looked down at my watch and almost cursed. I would be late to my next meeting if I didn’t leave now.

Richard was already seated when I got to the restaurant.

“Sorry I’m late,” I said as I unbuttoned my suit jacket so I could sit.

“I just got here myself. I stopped by Lou’s office so that I could explain a bit more about the trip.”

“Is she excited?”

I genuinely wanted to know.

Two nights in a beautiful resort with Lou was a recipe for disaster, but I didn’t care. I took comfort in the fact that I had a job to do, one I wanted to do exceptionally well.

“So, it’s all good and in place?” Richard asked instead.

“Yes, and thank you for trusting me with this.”

“No, thank you for coming to me with this. We worked out the best outcome together.”

Just as Ileft the office, I saw Lou walking to her car. Without thinking twice about it, I followed suit.

“Nice wheels,” I drawled. It was cute how she was startled by my voice. “I’m surprised I didn’t see this in my statements.”

She had upgraded to another vehicle. It was the same model as her other Porshe, but this one was a respectable color, which was a pity.

“Mierda,” she cursed. “Is that some talent of yours? Appearing where you aren’t wanted?”

She seemed to think of what she said and bit her lip. I’m sure her thoughts took her to the ball.

“Is it him? Is he the reason for all of the changes?” I gestured to her hair and down to the pants she wore. Other than the ball, I’d yet to see her in a skirt.

“What?” she asked.

“Your hair, you never used to wear it like that. Your outfits are different…you’re different. You used to have fire in you, and now you won’t even fight back.”

Her eyes gleamed, and I was waiting for her to fight back. To yell at me or something, but when she looked around at the people passing by, I realized she wouldn’t do it.

“Are you baiting me?” she asked. “You’re lucky all you have to do is show up, and because you have a dick that’s all everyone expects of you.”

She got in and slammed the door, then sped out of the parking lot.

It was not my intention to piss her off like that.

Fuck.

Her attention was what I wanted. The attention she would give me when we would spar. Lou used to be a bright flame ready to incinerate me at a moment’s notice, and now all I got were embers.

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