Page 4 of Who Owns You?

She pouts and flips her long blonde hair over her shoulder. “I’m your brat…and ocassionaly the very bratty girl to some very lucky girls, guys, and nonbinary babes.” She winks at me, and I snicker. I love how open my sister is…most times.

“And what about you? The big bad world of finance hasn’t swallowed you up and turned you into a stooped little goblin yet?”

She rolls her eyes, the brains in her head just as awe-inspiring as her beauty. “As if. I have everyone in that office wrapped around my little finger.” She wiggles her pinkie for emphasis.

“I don’t think those finance bros are used to pretty women talking to them about things on or above their intelligence level.”

“Yeah, probably not, but they aren’t all that bad.” She shrugs a shoulder. “I think I’m going to hookup with Chad again.”

I shiver at the mention of her on-and-off-again fling since college, only now he’s Kennedy’s coworker—and benefits greatly from being in her orbit.

“Are you sure? Doesn’t he actively avoid going down on you?” I ask, pulling from the countless stories she’s told me of their less-than-spectacular bedroom life.

“Yes, but that’s why I have a vibrator. Unlimited orgasms,” she says, though the bubbly excitement in her tone doesn’t match her forlorn expression.

“Kennedy, you can’t just settle for Chad. If you really want to get a house in the burbs and have two point five kids, a million guys in this city would bend over backward to be yours,” I say softly as I plop down beside her and wrap her in a tight hug.

“I’m sick and tired of being lonely, Lottie. I want a love that will take my breath away and orgasms given by another human being.” She says with a little sigh, returning my embrace and burying her face in my shoulder.

I hold my sister tight for a long time before my phone ruins the moment, ringing with the same stupid ringtone I’ve had since high school.

“Who the hell is calling you at nine p.m., on a weekday? Please tell me you’ve been hooking up with someone but have been too busy to tell me?” She pushes me back, a flush of genuine excitement on her face.

I snicker and shake my head. “As if. You know how the city is—unless you’re a size double zero, then you’re made to feel like no one out there will love you.” I sigh, reaching over and plucking my phone from under the discarded wrappers of all the snacks we’ve devoured.

I’m not ashamed of my body. I’m pretty, gorgeous even with the right outfit, and I just so happen to be fat. It’s not a dirty word, just a damn fact. I’m fat and hot as hell.

“Hello?”

The call from a private number is odd, but the whole day has been one gigantic circus.

“Is this Charlotte Ryan speaking?”

The hard-earned buzz from all the vodka and sugar evaporates at the steely, professional tone of the speaker, and I feel like I’ve been doused in cold water.

“Yes, who is this?” I ask hesitantly.

“My name is Michael Anderson. I’m with Spalder and White Associates. You are mentioned in the will of one of my clients. Are you able to make it into our office tomorrow morning at eight?”

A high-pitched whine fills my ears.

I don’t have any family left, so this must be a joke.

“I don’t understand,” I croak as all the moisture in my mouth dries up.

“You must be feeling a lot of different emotions right now, but there are some incredibly important documents andaccounts I’d like to get put into your name as soon as possible. Ms. McKenna was quite clear about how she wanted things to go when the end came.”

The notes of warmth and fondness in his voice fill me with an ache of envy that makes me want to puke all over again. There was someone out there who cared enough to leave me some important things in their will but not enough to find me when I had been orphaned?

“Give me that,” Kennedy says, snatching my phone, and a few of my hairs. “Who are you and why are you upsetting my sister?”

Kennedy gasps, her mouth forming a perfectOas Michael Anderson tells her about me being in someone’s will. Someone I didn’t know existed and was out there all along, being vaguely aware of me.

She nods once and then again before hanging up.

“So I’m taking you to that appointment tomorrow. He sounds hot and like he isn’t afraid to go down,” she purrs, giving me her best bedroom eyes.

Chapter 2

---