Page 75 of A Dirty Business
Why wasn’t I believing in myself?
“Viv said you weren’t there when we arrived. When did you come?”
He grimaced before answering. “I had a family thing not far away. Ashton texted when he saw you show up, and I considered not coming. I thought about respecting your wishes, but I’m glad I didn’t.”
I closed my eyes. “Why did you decide to come?”
He didn’t answer at first.
He didn’t answer in the next minute, or the next five.
Ten.
It was a full thirty minutes later. His voice was hoarse when he finally answered. “Because when it comes to you, I have absolutely nofuckingcontrol over myself.”
I wished I hadn’t asked.
But I was glad I had.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
TRACE
I was walking into my downtown office when my phone started ringing.
“Hello, Mr.West.” The doorman gave me a nod, opening the door for me. I was pulling my phone out, ready and needing a full day in the office, when I saw who was calling.
Uncle Steph calling.
I stopped a few feet inside. The front desk receptionist was waiting for me. She always had a greeting for us as we came in, and I’d been rarely coming in during normal hours. I’d been working remotely, but I wanted a normal day in the office. I wanted to talk to my colleagues, hear the bullshit stories about how much money they’d traded the day before. Half was bullshit. Half was testing if we’d heard anything. Half was just connecting to each other. Most of the guys who did this job lived for it. They drank, ate, shit stocks, but some were like me. They did the deep dive research, and when one of us was found, we’d always get “visitors” dropping by to “shoot the shit” or wanting to grab a drink.
But if my uncle was calling, I knew none of that would happen.
“Mr.West?”
I held a hand up to the receptionist but didn’t move any closer. I knew. I just knew—work or family.
She stood from her desk, still watching me, and after a moment, she frowned just slightly. Stepping out from the desk, she smoothed down her skirt and shirt and began to cross the lobby toward me. A few other guys were coming in, going around me.
“Hey, buddy! Long time no see.”
“What’s up? Two o’clock lunch?”
“Tristian, my man! Drinks on me tonight. You in?”
I didn’t answer them as my phone fell silent, and suppressing a curse, I moved to the side and hit the call-back button.
“Mr.West?”
I held a hand up. “One minute, please.”
She coughed just as my uncle answered. “My nephew! My boy. How are you?”
“Mr.West.” She raised her voice, inclining her head toward me.
I frowned, saying into the phone, “One second, Uncle Steph.” Pressing the phone to my chest, I raised an eyebrow at her. “Yes?”
“You have a visitor.”
