Page 94 of Serving the CEO

Drew had warned me about it, but I hadn’t listened. I’d been so certain that this one woman couldn’t be important enough to effect a project of that size. Now, everything was completely fucked.

I’d ended up dumping the whole mess on Drew. He’d balked but I’d told him that in my current mood, I’d piss the stubborn bastard off enough that he’d try to pull the book and we’d invested too much money in it to risk that.

Drew had left, even more furious at me than before, which had done nothing to improve my mood, and I’d still had work to do.

I’d told Anamaria that unless it was an emergency, I hadn’t wanted to be disturbed. Then I’d dealt with the fires coming out of Jessica’s former imprint and focused on working myself into exhaustion.

Now I had a headache and all I wanted was a stiff drink, a hot shower, and my bed.

When the phone rang, I almost ignored it. It was probably Drew—or worse, somebody I’d hooked up with before calling for another go. If I picked up, I might be stupid enough to say yes just to try to get Jessica out of my head. Honestly, sex with a hot woman who wanted to fuck my brains out should beexactlywhat I wanted.

It was the last thing I had any desire to do though.

Knowing there was a slight chance it was someone I actually needed to talk to, I picked up the phone.

With a sigh of relief, I saw it was probably the only person in the world I’dwantto talk to: my baby sister. It’d be nice to talk to somebody who wouldn’t nag me or bitch at me about something.

Putting the call on speaker as I answered, I said, “Hey, sweetheart. How are you?”

“I’m doing okay.” She sighed. “You sound like you’re anything but okay.”

I grimaced. That she’d noticed shouldn’t have surprised me. Amelia was observant, especially when it came to me, and even I could hear the strain and exhaustion in my voice. “No, I’m fine. Just had a rough few days.”

“Is it Jessica?”

“No.” It came out harsher than I intended, and I cursed myself silently. I never spoke to her like that, and she hadn’t done anything to deserve it. “Sorry, Amelia. But can we not talk about her? I’m done with it. Moving on.”

“Really.” Her tone said she didn’t believe a word out of my mouth.

I couldn’t blame her. I wasn’t so sure I believed it either.

“Well, I’m glad to hear that,” she continued, “because your book distributor is going to be working with her.”

I paused in the process of pouring myself a glass of scotch. “Say what?”

“You heard me. Kate Jorgen from Rand Distributing gave her a call today. They’ve got a meeting set up and they’ll be talking contracts tomorrow. Kate wants to distribute Bristol Hayden’s book.”

“And you know this how?” I resumed pouring my drink. I really needed it now. I had a feeling I wasn’t going to like what she had to say. “Amelia?”

“I’m financing her publishing company,” Amelia said, her tone flat and determined.

It took a moment for her words to sink in because they weren’t anything I’d even come close to expecting from her. Amelia didn’t dislike reading, but she’d never even hinted that she was interested in publishing, or in being a part of any sort of business, honestly. Why would she back Jessica publishing Bristol’s book? I hadn’t even been aware that Amelia knew about the book.

“You…” I stopped and tossed back half my scotch and closed my eyes. After a count of five, I asked, “Since when?”

“Since I talked to her a couple days after the wedding.” She blew out a breath that came through loud and clear. “Look…I like Jess. I’m not breaking off a friendship with somebody I like just because the two of you didn’t work out.”

“I didn’t say you had to,” I replied automatically, and I meant it.

But fuck me if I wasn’t feeling something. Hurt? Betrayed? Angry? Jessica had leftmeat the altar and Amelia was talking as if this was some break-up I’d initiated. Like this was my fault.

Then again, Amelia didn’t know the full truth about my relationship with Jessica. And who knew what Jessica had said when Amelia asked about the wedding.

I quashed the curiosity that piqued when I thought about whatever discussion the two of them had had about what had happened that day. Normally, I would’ve hated not knowing, but a bigger part of me was afraid of what those two women had said about me. I didn’t know if I could bear it if the two women I cared about the most thought poorly of me. And despite everything, I did actually care what Jessica thought of me.

“Derrick…”

The odd note in my sister’s voice dragged my attention out of my head. Taking another sip of scotch, I asked, “Yeah?”

---