Page 13 of Sins of the Father

“So, he has multiple women for each day of the week?” Lacy asks, her eyes shining with excitement.

“No. He’s a strict one-woman type of guy.”

“Really? That’s encouraging to know studs still exist and believe in monogamy.” Lacy smiles and raises her eyebrows to the camera.

Catarina continues, “It’s more of a date number one, you can do this. Date number two, you can do this.”

“What date number did he first kiss you?”

“Two,” both my exes say in unison.

“And then was it on?”

My exes look at each other again, like they have a secret.

“No. It was much later,” Katelyn informs the world.

“But once Steven Sinclair is on...” Catarina takes a deep breath and dramatically blows it out. “Well, the man’s an animal.”

“Like a slow burn of—”

Shira trots to the front of the room and turns the T.V. off, pulling me out of my trance as everyone groans, and several people whine for her to turn it back on.

“Five minutes until our meeting. Can I clarify some things in your office before we start, Steven?”

I snap out of it. “Sure.” I turn and leave the room, ignoring everyone’s eyes but feeling them watching me.

I can’t believe Katelyn and Catarina said those things on national television.

Shira is close on my heels and shuts the door once we step inside my private office. “Are you okay?”

I crack my neck and release a breath before I turn. Shira’s been my assistant for the last eight years, and she’s worked her way up with each promotion I received. She’s excellent at what she does and always makes me look good, even the few times I’ve fumbled. She’s in her late twenties and works a lot of long hours, as I do. “I’m fine. What did you want to see me about?”

Concern fills her eyes. “I only wanted to make sure you’re okay. That was brutal, and they should be ashamed of themselves.”

“I’m fine. Thanks. Can we change the topic?”

She scans my face for a moment. “I hope that didn’t ruin your major achievement. No one deserves to be on the list more than you.”

I force a smile. “Thank you. I’m sure I would never have been on it if I didn’t have you cleaning up my messes and making me look good.”

She beams and swipes her hand in the air. “Now you’re just trying to butter me up.”

“No, it’s true. I’m sorry they don’t recognize our assistants who make everything in our lives work.”

“Thank you. It’s nice to hear that, but honestly, you deserve this. Don’t let what those two witches said about you put a damper on your big moment.”

I wish I weren’t on the list. It’s just a reminder of all my faults.

And now the world can know just how boring and screwed up I am.

“Okay. Is everything ready for our meeting?”

“Yes.”

“Great. Give me five minutes, and I’ll be in?”

“Sure.” She hesitates but then leaves the room.

---