Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 94915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
“Enough,” Julien says. There’s anger on his face now. Everyone’s staring at him, and I notice Jean’s trying to shake his head slightly. “You can insult me, but you will leave my wife out of it.”
His Grandpère sits back, crossing his arms over his burly chest. “I will say what I want when I choose to say it. Are you trying to tell me otherwise?”
“I’m saying leave my wife out of this.”
The two men stare at each other. The tension at the table intensifies to the point where all I want to do is melt into the floor. A part of me is happy Julien’s sticking up for me, but a bigger part just wants this awful dinner to be over.
His Grandpère has been nothing but nasty from the moment he sat down. Nasty to Julien, nasty to me, and nasty on every other topic in between. I almost feel sorry for Julien, having to deal with a man like that, except none of this is really my problem, and I don’t actually care about Julien at all.
I have to keep myself separated from what’s going on. This isn’t my fight. Whatever’s happening between Julien and his Grandpère isn’t my business, and it doesn’t really matter what the old man thinks about me at all.
Grandpère pushes his chair back and stands. His dinner remains untouched before him. “I believe I’ve seen enough. Henri, Rene, a pleasure as always. Young Jean, I forgot you were there.”
“Merci beaucoup, Monsieur Moreau,” Jean says gracefully.
The old man turns and leaves the dining room. Nobody speaks until Julien gets to his feet.
“You know how your grandfather is, Julien,” Henri says quickly. “The family is all he cares about. He means well.”
“He means well, for himself.” Julien walks to the door and I have to hurry to follow.
He leads me back to the front sitting room where he pours himself another drink and throws it back. I watch him, not sure what to say. If he weren’t such a bastard, I might feel sorry that he has to deal with such an old asshole like his Grandpère, but that’s not my problem.
“Here,” he says, walking over to a side table. He grabs an envelope out from a drawer. “Your payment.”
“You had it ready?”
“I like to be prepared.” He walks over and holds it out, but instead of letting me take it, he grabs my wrist and pulls me close to him.
I let out a soft gasp of surprise as he shoves the envelope into my back pocket. He squeezes my ass as he does it, palm gripping hard, his teeth clenched, staring deep into my eyes. I’m too surprised to do anything for a couple seconds until I remember that he’s a prick and he doesn’t care about me at all. He’s only taking his frustrations out on me.
I shove him back with a snarl. “Hands to yourself.”
“I was only paying you.”
“Don’t touch me again.” I pull the envelope out and lift the flap. A tidy stack of hundred-dollar bills is nestled inside.
“Go ahead and count it.” He walks over to the drink cart and pours another. He tosses it back. “Did you enjoy yourself tonight?”
“Not really.” I put the envelope back into my pocket. “You and your grandfather don’t get along.”
“Grandpère is a controlling, conniving, bloodsucking piece of shit. Henri is correct, all he cares about is the family.” I hesitate, thinking about all the assholes in my own life, especially Cormac. I remember a dozen different nights my brother treated me like shit, all because the family comes first, no matter what. But Julien waves a hand at me. “Just go, your role here is finished. You have your money.”
I open my mouth to ask if he needs me to stick around, but I decide against it.
Instead, I march to the door and pause before leaving.
“We should meet up again soon,” I say, despite myself. I’m tempted to end this relationship here and now. Five grand is a pretty good parting gift. But a part of me wants to see this through if only to stick it to his asshole grandfather. “You know, to discuss where we go from here.”
He gives me a hard look. “I’m surprised you want to after Grandpère’s little temper tantrum.”
“We all have our family shit.”
“Yes, we do.” He nods at me. “I’ll see you again soon then, mon minou.”
“Stop calling me that.” I leave his beautiful house, wondering what I’ve gotten myself into, and if it’s not too late to run away.
Chapter 5
Brianne
In contrast to the enormous mansion where Julien’s staying with his grandfather, the Hayes Group family house is small, comforting, and inviting.
Well, mostly inviting, or at least it used to be. These days I get hard stares from most of the cousins if I get anything at all. Mostly I’m ignored and treated like a piece of fungus growing under a log. Nobody’s outright rude or mean to me, but they’re not interested in having a conversation, and that’s fine.