Chapter 36 Don’t You Ever Hang Up First
Emilia’s POV
"Your brother’s on a business trip," I said.
Tiffany’s face lit up like I’d just told her Christmas came early. "Wait, are you upset he’s gone?" She grabbed my arm, practically bouncing. "Oh my Goddess, Emilia! I didn’t know things had gotten this serious between you two!"
I pulled my arm free. "Tiffany, stop playing dumb."
She blinked. "Huh? What do you mean?"
"Your brother is gay." The words came out bitter.
"My brother is what?" Tiffany’s jaw dropped. "That’s impossible!"
I sighed heavily. "It’s true. Fynn said it himself this morning. And Sebastian didn’t deny it. Not once."
Given Sebastian’s personality, the man who’d bite your head off for breathing wrong, if it wasn’t true, he would’ve torn Fynn apart on the spot. But he’d just sat there. Silent.
"Wait, Fynn told you he and my brother are together?" Tiffany’s confusion melted into something else entirely. Then she burst out laughing. Loud, uncontrollable laughter that had her doubling over. "Emilia! Oh Goddess, you actually fell for that?"
"What?"
"Fynn’s not gay!" She wiped tears from her eyes. "He’s my brother’s Beta and best friend, yeah, but they’re definitely not lovers. Trust me, if they were, I’d be furious."
The knot in my chest loosened slightly. I studied her face. No deception, just pure amusement. But doubt still gnawed at me. "Then why would Fynn say that? And why didn’t Sebastian correct him?"
Tiffany’s laughter faded into a knowing smile. "Because Fynn loves messing with people. And my brother probably thought it was funny watching you squirm."
I focused on her thoughts, letting my gift slip past her mental barriers. Poor girl. Fynn’s always pulling pranks. And Sebastian definitely knows. He’s probably enjoying this way too much.
Relief flooded through me, followed immediately by annoyance. That bastard. He’d let me believe...
"Wait." I narrowed my eyes at Tiffany. "Why would you be furious if they were together?"
Pink crept across her cheeks. For once, the bubbly Simons daughter looked genuinely flustered.
"Because I like Fynn," she admitted without hesitation. "Have for years."
I liked her straightforward honesty. "Does he know?"
"No." She bit her lip. "Fynn’s an orphan. He’s worked so hard to get where he is. I’m afraid if I tell him how I feel, he’ll think it’s some kind of... obligation. Or that I’m just the Alpha’s spoiled sister playing games."
My heart softened. I reached out and squeezed her hand. "Family background doesn’t matter. Not if what you feel is real. And if you don’t give up."
The days without Sebastian were blissful and painful. Although I would hear all kinds of thoughts, I had gradually gotten used to it.
I came home from Hanson Group each evening, chatted with Mila and Titus over dinner, and retired early without the constant tension of wondering what fresh insult Sebastian would hurl at me.
Tonight, inspiration struck.
Why not enjoy his room while he’s gone?
My current bedroom was fine, but stuffy. And having to trek next door every night just to use a decent bathroom was annoying. Sebastian’s suite, on the other hand, was practically a luxury hotel.
I grabbed my pajamas and slipped into his bathroom like a thief. The space was immaculate. Marble floors, a massive Jacuzzi tub, and not a single item out of place. The man was truly a neat freak.
I filled the tub with hot water and sank in with a satisfied groan. Jets kicked on automatically, and soft music began playing from hidden speakers.
This man knows how to live.
After my bath, I stood beside his bed. The same bed he’d refused to let me sleep in. Petty revenge sparked in my chest. I climbed onto the mattress and rolled back and forth across the sheets like a child making snow angels.
"Take that, you arrogant Alpha," I muttered.
Satisfied, I grabbed my Hanson Group files and reviewed tomorrow’s reports. At exactly ten o’clock, I closed the folder and picked up my phone.
The call rang forever before his cold voice answered. "What."
Not "hello." Not "what’s wrong." Just what, like I was interrupting something important.
"You landed safely?" I kept my voice neutral.
"Obviously. What do you think I’ve been doing for the past six hours, flying in circles?"
I bit back a smile. "When are you coming back?"
"Why do you care?"
"I don’t. Your mother wanted me to ask. You left without telling her."
A pause. When he spoke again, his tone had fractionally softened. "Next Wednesday."
Five more days. Joy bloomed in my chest.
"Okay. Got it. Bye..."
"Don’t you ever hang up first."
I froze. "What?"
"You heard me. And don’t call me for no reason."
"Fine."
"Is ’fine’ the only word you know?"
"Goodbye." I hung up before he could respond.
The phone rang again immediately. I stared at Sebastian’s name flashing on the screen and let it ring twice before answering. "Yes?"
"I wasn’t finished talking."
"Well, I was finished listening. Goodnight, husband." I ended the call and turned off the phone entirely.
Two days before Sebastian’s return, I was walking down the hall at Hanson Group, reviewing acquisition reports, when Lily appeared.
"Emilia!" She rushed over, slightly breathless. "Your aunt’s here. At the lobby security desk."
My blood went cold. I stopped walking. "Mindy?"
"Yeah. Security called your extension. I answered." Lily’s expression was worried. "She looks upset."
Of course she does.
My uncle Chuck and his wife Mindy only appeared when they needed something. Money, usually. Or bail.
I handed Lily my files. "I’ll handle this."
The moment I stepped into the building lobby, I saw her. Mindy, pacing near the glass doors, fanning herself with a magazine. Her clothes were wrinkled, her hair a mess.
She spotted me and rushed over, grabbing my arms. "Emilia! Thank the Goddess. Your uncle’s in trouble. You have to help us... please..."
I pulled free. "What happened this time?"
Mindy’s eyes were red-rimmed, her distress palpable. But I’d seen this performance before.
"The DEA raided our shop yesterday," she said in a rush. "They wanted to seize everything. Your uncle tried to stop them, and they arrested him. They’re saying he was smuggling, but it’s a misunderstanding!"
I crossed my arms. "Smuggling what?"
Her thoughts crashed into mine before she even opened her mouth.
Drugs. Cocaine. Chuck swore it was just one shipment for quick cash. Now he’s facing federal charges. If Emilia’s married to that powerful Alpha, the Simons family could make this disappear...
"Mindy." My voice came out colder than I intended. "Was Chuck smuggling narcotics?"
She flinched. "I... it’s not what you think..."
"How much?" I demanded.
"It was just once! He needed the money... the shop’s been struggling..."
"How. Much."
Her face crumpled. "Fifty kilograms. But he didn’t know! The supplier lied..."
I closed my eyes. Fifty kilograms of cocaine. Federal trafficking charges. My uncle was an idiot.
"You married an Alpha, Emilia." Mindy’s voice turned desperate, calculated. "The Simons family... they have power, connections. You could make one call and fix this. You’re family. You have to help us."
There it was. The real reason she’d come.