Free VULTURE (a Stepbrother Romance) by Emilia Beaumont Page B

to be signed. She thought twice about continuing and made her way to my office door.
    “Don’t forget you have a three o’clock meeting with Dave.”
    I nodded, and Sadie left to go back to her desk. A beep sounded in the room. I stared down at my phone and reached for it. When I saw who the message was from, I quickly slid my finger across the screen to read it.
    Sara: Is fish OK?
    A smile broke out upon my face, and I typed my reply. It was actually quite sickening how much I was looking forward to seeing her again. Earlier today at the cafe it’d been good to see her with a happy glow and a smidgen more confidence. After our little fight I’d been furious. The things she’d said—and didn’t say—had gotten under my skin. She was holding onto something that had cut her deeply. I could tell by the haunting look in her eyes. And I knew I’d be there for her when the truth eventually tumbled out, but she had to make the first step. I didn’t even mind if I wasn’t me she told, but there didn’t seem to be anyone else, anyway. Anita was a useless excuse for a human being, and her mother… But she had to get rid of the poison she held onto before it rotted her from the inside.
    Harvey: Fish sounds good. See you tonight.
    And as an afterthought I added:
    Harvey: Want me to bring anything?
    A few seconds later Sara’s reply popped up onto my screen.
    Sara: Just yourself x
    I tucked my phone in my pocket and grabbed my jacket, ready for my meeting down the hall. I had to look at least somewhat professional, as I suspected another fat contract was about to land in my lap.
    As I was about to pass Sadie’s desk she called out to me. “Harvey, what do you want me to do with this monstrosity?” Her thumb pointed back towards a smooth but ugly-ass crystal on a black plinth, the size of a grown man’s arm. It sat glinting on a desk next to the floor-to-ceiling windows behind Sadie.
    “That’s the award?” I said in disbelief.
    “Mhmm. Horrible, ain’t it?”
    “You would’ve thought the Businessman of the Year deserved better than that ugly piece of shit.”
    “Well? What do you want me to do with it?”
    “Bin it, or take it home and use it as a dildo for all I care,” I said and walked away as Sadie let out the most unladylike bark of laughter.
    “I might just do that!” she called after me.

----
    T he meeting went as I expected. David, my business partner, reluctantly handed over another hotel chain contract to me. He was pissed, but the client wanted me and my magic touch… so that’s what they got. He knew his time was nearly up, and someday soon I’d either buy him out or the board would get rid of him. But I kept him on, holding off on pulling his legs out from under him, as I liked our current setup. I got to do the fun stuff, organising the redesigns of the hotels, showing them how to run their business efficiently, visiting them and shagging the occasional maid while I was there. And David was chained to his desk, up to his eyeballs in the nitty-gritty. It was perfect.
    With a bounce in my step I left the office early and walked to the parking lot. A few vehicles were scattered around the area, and cold wind lashed at my cheeks. I popped my collar and braced myself against the promise of snow.
    Before arriving at Sara’s I stopped to grab a bottle of wine, something fancy and extraordinarily expensive. She was making me dinner; it was only right I let her experience a heavenly bottle of red, and I secretly hoped the rich liquid would stain her lips crimson.
    I approached the house, going around the back instead of knocking on the front door. A window was propped open, and the delicious scent of a home-cooked meal filled the air. I inhaled the aroma deeply. It’d been a while since anyone had cooked for me. I normally relied on Sadie to grab me occasional food supplies, the majority of them requiring little to no effort—maybe some boiling water in a cup of dried noodles, or the protein bars