Chapter 148
“That is not what happened p>
“Sounds like it p>
“I’m not jealous,” I repeat firmly.
I pause, then add,
“I just don’t like her p>
Zane’s mouth twitches again.
“Alright p>
I glare at him.
“Don’t look at me like that p>
“Like what p>
“Like you’re enjoying this p>
He doesn’t even try to deny it. Instead he reaches for a pen on his desk, spinning it slowly between his fingers.
“If she actually disrespected you,” he says casually, “I can have her fired p>
That catches me off guard.
“What p>
“Or I will have her transferred to another branch p>
He shrugs lightly.
“Your choice p>
I blink at him.
“You’re serious p>
“Of course p>
The casual way he says it makes my stomach twist.
“That’s ridiculous p>
Zane lifts an eyebrow.
“You just said she hit you p>
“She did p>
“Then what’s the problem p>
“The problem is I don’t want someone to lose their job because of me p>
Zane watches me carefully now.
“That’s not what would happen p>
“Yes it is p>
“No,” he says calmly. “What would happen is she would learn not to disrespect you p>
I shake my head immediately.
“No p>
His eyes narrow slightly.
“You’re refusing p>
“Yes p>
“Even though she might have intentionally shoved you p>
“Yes p>
Zane studies my face for a long moment.
“You are strange p>
“Excuse me p>
“Most people in your position would enjoy the power p>
“Well I don’t p>
I move closer to his desk.
“I’m not ruining someone’s livelihood because she annoyedl me and maybe purposely pushed me p>
Zane leans back in his chair again.
His gaze drifts over my face like he’s trying to understand somethin
“Interesting p>
“What is p>
“You p>
I frown slightly.
“That’s not helpful p>
He sets the pen down.
“Very well,” he says. “She keeps her job p>
“Good p>
“But if she disrespects you again p>
“She won’t p>
“You seem confident p>
I shrug.
“If she does I’ll handle it myself p>
Now Zane actually chuckles quietly.
“I’d like to see that p>
I roll my eyes.
“Anyway p>
I take a breath because I didn’t come here to argue about his secretar, j came for something much more important.
Zane seems to notice the shift in my expression and the amusement fades from his face slightly.
“Something else on your mind p>
I hesitate for a second then say quietly,
“I went to see my brothers p>
The room goes very arill as Zane’s eyes sharpen.
“And?” he asks.
My fingers tighten slightly around the strap of my bag.
“And we need to talk p>
Zane doesn’t say anything after I say it, so I continue p>
“I went to see my brothers p>
The office suddenly feels smaller.
“And?” he asks.
Just that, one word but there’s something underneath it some kind of edge p>
I shift my weight slightly, stepping further into the room.
“I talked to Lucas p>
Zane’s jaw tightens almost instantly…It’s small and barely noticeable but I see it.
I swallow.
“He told me what happened that night p>
Zane leans back slowly in his chair, one arm resting on the armrest, the other tapping once against the desk before going still.
“Did he now what version of the story did he give you p>
There’s something cold about the way he says it.
I take a breath.
“He said p>
“He always says something, doesn’t he ” Zane cuts in smoothly.
My eyebrows pull together.
“Zane p>
“What did he tell you?” he asks again, his voice clear er now.
I hesitate for half a second, but then I keep going.
“He said he loved her p>
That actually makes Zane laugh, not an amused one. It’s short and bitter.
“Of course he did p>
My stomach tightens.
“He said they were together,” I continue carefully. “That their relationship was a secret because she was scared of how you’d react p>
Zane’s gaze drops to the desk for a second then back to me… he looks unimpressed.
“And you believed him p>
“I didn’t say that yet p>
“You didn’t have to.
I step closer to the desk.
“He sounded sincere p>
“Lucas is very good at sounding sincere p>
“He also sounded heartbroken p>
Zane scoffs quietly.
“Heartbroken p>
“Yes p>
The tension in the room thickens.
“He said the night she died, you caught them together,” I continue slowly.
That’s when Zane finally moves, h pushes back from the desk and stands up and rthe chair rolls back a few inches behind him.
“And?” he says
“He said you dragged her away p>
“I did p>
“He said you two got into the car and left p>
“Yes p>
“He said he wanted to follow but p>
“But what?” Zane cuts in again.
“He thought it was better to give you time to cool down p>
Zane stares at me for a moment… then he laughs again.
This time it’s harsher.
“Oh that’s rich p>
I frown.
“What p>
“He told you he waited because he didn’t want to fight me in front of her. Right p>
“That’s what he said p>
Zane shakes his head slowly, running a hand over his mouth.
“Unbelievable p>
“He also said p>
“Elaine p>
The way he says my name stops me mid-sentence.
He walks around the desk slowly, eac step deliberate.
“Let me get this straight,” he says calmly.
I don’t like that tone.
“You walked into your brothers’ house. Sat down with Lucas. Listened to whatever tragic love story he fed you p>
“That’s not fair p>
“And now you’re here,” he continues over me, “to tell me he was deeply in love with my sister p>
I lift my chin slightly.
“That’s what he said p>
Zane stares at me for a long moment, then he exhales through his nose and looks away, shaking his head once.
“Of course he did p>
My patience starts slipping.
“Why are you acting like that p>
“Like what p>
“Like only the idea of it is ridiculous p>
Zane looks back at me… because apparently it is.
“Elaine,” he says slowly, “I walked into our warehouse and caught my best friend fucking my only sister p>
My face heats slightly at the bluntness and the mental image he just put in my head. Ewwwww I don’t want to picture my brother screwing someone, that’s just plain gross.