Page 22 of She's a Big Deal

“Heard about trouble in paradise, thought I’d come to see if you all needed any help.”

“What trouble?”

“Oh, you know.”

Grace lingered with her eyes fixed pointedly on Reece. He met her gaze but was quick to look away with a mutter.

“Fuck’s sake.”

Grace was actually taken aback at his appearance. It had been a few years since she’d seen her two brothers. Jeremy still looked like the handsome playboy he was, with his sculpted body, sharp Armani suit, and stylish blond hair. But Reece had put on weight. His hair was matted as if he had not washed it in a while, and the bags under his eyes were deep like bruises.

“Have you been drinking?” Grace kept her voice calm and even, but she was not going to pull any punches. “Or something else?”

“None of your fucking business, Grace.”

“What is she doing here?” Jeremy tossed accusingly at his sister since Grace had not answered his question.

“Why are you asking me?” Chloe fired back.

“Guys, please,” Mark started, ever the peacekeeper.

“Why don’t you shut up?” Jeremy hissed at him.

Grace ignored them all as she walked up to Reece. Up close and personal, there was no doubt, and she said it out loud. “You stink of booze.”

“It’s my day off today,” he snarled. “So buzz off.”

“Why are you here if it’s your day off?” She glanced around the room and took in the unhappy faces. “Is this a damage limitation meeting? Have you been suspended, Reece? Or fired?”

“We were discussing how best to mitigate the situation,” Mark offered with a quiet exhale.

Grace caught a hint of obvious frustration in his voice. She knew he carried more than his fair share of the work here, and this sort of thing was not an exciting new project; it was hassle, pure and simple. No wonder he sounded tired. She took another step closer to Reese, causing him to bump the back of his legs against a chair as he moved back. He dropped heavily into it.

“Is it true?” she prompted. “My brother sexually assaulted two women on his staff?”

“Hell no! I didn’t do anything.”

“You sure?”

“Yes! They’re lying. They’re just after money, that’s all.”

“Lay off of him, Grace,” Jeremy warned. “He’s got a lot onhis plate.”

“I bet he does. Which came first, though? Attempted rape or a full plate?”

She’d baited him into an unguarded reaction. Reece leaped out of his chair as if it were on fire, and he finally got in her face. “There was no rape. You hear me?”

“Loud and clear.”

“Goddammit! I would never… It was just—”

“Reece!” Jeremy snapped.

“Let him speak,” Grace ordered. “It was just what, Reece?”

“Nothing,” he muttered again, then turned his back as he went to stand in front of the window. “It was nothing.”

Grace stared hard at her other brother. “What do you know, Jeremy?”

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