Page 72 of Broken Pieces
I’ve been in a meeting with my lawyers and Matteo since I got back from the auction. It’s late, and I’m barely registering what they’re saying. Anger still simmers throughout my body, and I just want this to be over.
First Alex, now this. Fuck.
Also, how does Aria know Alex? I have a million questions racing through my head right now, and I’m on the verge of snapping.
“We can’t simply hack into their system, Carter. This is not how it works,” Liam Hawkins, my lawyer, says.
“You guys move at the pace of a snail. I can find out in no time if that’s in fact our painting,” Matteo counters.
“That’sillegal,” Liam says exasperated.
I snap and hit the table. “Oh, for fuck’s sake!”
Everyone quiets down, all eyes looking at me expectantly.
I glance at Matteo. “Carter, we can’t fucking do that, especially because I am very much looking forward to suing the fuck out of them.” Shifting my gaze to Liam, I say, “Hawkins, I don’t know what to tell you, man, but you need to light a fire under your team’s ass because this needs to be done as ofyesterday.”
“We’re doing everything we can—”
“I don’t want excuses. I want actions. You’re dismissed.”
Liam nods as he gets up and walks out.
“Damian, you know I’m right,” Matteo begins.
“Not now, Carter. I’m seriously pissed off and exhausted. Find out what you can,” I lock my gaze on him, “legally.”
“You’re no fun,” he murmurs as he gets up. “I’ll see what I can find. Now if you excuse me, I’m going back to Chicago. Real dick move making me travel all the way here. Have you ever heard of video chatting?”
“This was too important, and it needed to be in person, you know that. And I would have traveled back, but Aria’s with me. I didn’t want to wreck her plans.”
“You could have left her alone. She’s a big girl,” he points out.
I glare at him and dismiss him with my hand.
“I see.” Matteo raises his eyebrow. “Who knew you were the possessive type?” he jokes.
“Get the fuck out. I mean it, Carter.”
He salutes mockingly with a laugh and walks out of the office, leaving me to brew in my own thoughts.
The car ride back to the condo was silent. I was firing off emails left and right, trying to gather everyone to strategize—which went horribly, I don’t know what I was thinking—and Aria was just seemingly lost in her thoughts. Once we arrived, she went straight to her room and I went straight into my home office and got down to business.
I’ve had problems with people before. It’s part of the business, you know? But this is too far.Too fucking far.
And, God, to top it all off, Alex fucking Brown. He’s like a leech that refuses to die. I can’t resolve what’s happening with the painting, but what I can do is find out who Alex is in Aria’s life, and what the hell happened today between them.
As I walk out of the home office, she’s on the couch with a blanket and comfy PJs watching what seems to be another musical movie. She is devoid of makeup, but still has her hair updo, and she looks fucking beautiful. I love the way her gold freckles pop when she doesn’t have any makeup on.
She looks up at me. “Did you get anywhere?”
I sigh, sitting next to her. “Not really. But hopefully soon.”
She hums in understanding. “What are we going to do? Are we taking the painting back?”
I nod. “I mean, if it turns out to be ours, we’ll take it back, but I don’t think we should use it for the gala.”
She ponders for a moment, fidgeting with her blanket, before replying, “I agree. It would create too much unnecessary drama. I’ll look into a new artist.”
