Page 107 of Game Change

“I miss you too.”

“I have another meeting, so I won’t be able to call until tonight, but I’ll be back tomorrow around lunchtime.”

“How about I take you to our little bistro for lunch?”

“Yes, but I’m taking you. Talk soon. Love you.”

“Love you too.” I blow him a kiss, and we end the call. I sigh and wonder how I got here but remind myself not to question it.

My office door opens, and Ernestine walks in. “Milton is here again,” she says, and I roll my eyes. He’s not working on new projects, so I don’t know why he’s here. “I think he’s here to talk to you.”

Just as the words leave her mouth, the man walks in. “Ernestine,” he says with a smile. “I’d like a word with Brynne, please.” Ernestine nods and practically runs out of my office.

Whatever good mood I was in vanishes. I remain stoic and wait for him to speak.

He clears his throat and takes a seat in front of me. “I’m excited about you joining the family,” he says with a smile.

“Thank you.” When I offer no smile in return, he sighs.

“Is it always going to be this frosty between us?”

I shrug. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“We used to be friends. We talked about things other than work. I think the world of you. I was your mentor for years and still consider myself to be. Colin and Heath are my favorite people in my family.” I arch an eyebrow. No wonder Heath was so confident when he was raising hell in this office. He knew there was no way he would face any consequences. “And you’re going to marry one of them.”

I don’t respond because he didn’t ask a question.

“How about we go have some lunch?”

“I’m not hungry.” It’s a lie. I’m starving, and I’m grateful my stomach doesn’t growl. “And I have work I need to get done.”

“As your boss, I’m ordering you to have lunch.” He stands and waits for me to do the same.

“I thought Colin was the boss.”

“Well, I still own this company, and—”

“Mr. Kincaid—” It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him I’ll be leaving this company in another year, but I swallow the words. He doesn’t deserve that from me. That would show loyalty and courtesy, two things he didn’t grant me. Besides, I’ve already told Colin. He’s the boss and the only one who needs to know. He can tell him if he feels Milton needs to be made aware. “I’d rather not but thank you for the offer.”

He doesn’t leave as I hoped, but there’s no way I will have lunch with him and pretend our relationship is the same.

“I didn’t put Paddy in charge because of anything you did,” he says. “He is family. He’s blood.”

“And I accept that,” is all I say. “It’s your company, and it was your decision to make.”

“But you’re in love with him and angry at me.” He throws his hands in the air as if he can’t understand why that is.

“I’m not angry,” I say as calmly as I can. The one thing I’m not going to do is make him feel better for the way he’s treated me.

“I’d rather you tell me off and get it over with. I can’t take this iciness. That’s why I divorced my third wife. The woman could give me the silent treatment like no other, and it drove me crazy.”

“Well, it’s a good thing we’re not married.” Hoping he’ll get the hint, I start typing on my keyboard.

“I don’t have any kids of my own. My nieces and nephews are the closest I have to that, Heath and Paddy especially. He followed in my footsteps, and I thought he’d return home and work here, but he didn’t. And that’s because he didn’t want to be near his mother or Colin the First, who acted like a jealous toddler once he got a brother.”

I sigh and rub the bridge of my nose. My stomach growls, and I’m ready for him to leave so I can go to lunch.

“You don’t need to explain. You made your decision, and I’ve accepted it.”

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