“I agree. And as such, I’d recommend you not do so.”
“I need an assistant, Fordham. You can’t do all the things Steph did for me.” Branson raised his voice to be heard outside the closet.
“Nor would I ever desire to do so,” he replied, drolly. “I’m afraid I’m not physically attracted to you, in the least.”
“Very funny.” Bran didn’t affirm or deny Fordham’s implication as he emerged from the closet, with his shirt unbuttoned, and sat down to put on his socks and shoes. “What am I supposed to do, if I can’t replace her?”
“What to do. Indeed, that is the question. Perhaps you should anticipate your father’s next move.”
“Next move? He’s already played his hand.” The moment Bran made the statement, he realized how shortsighted he’d been. Of course his father wouldn’t make a play without a backup plan.
“Though the game may be over for you, I seriously doubt your father feels the same. I’ve been vigilant on your account, but he’s escalated the scope of his attack. I believe Jeff Caldwell’s appearance is a prime example.”
“Stephanie’s ex? Think Dad had something to do with that slimeball showing up here?”
“Seems more probable than not. We know Carina contacted him at some point.”
“Caldwell’s in custody now,” Bran mused, as he buttoned his shirt.
“Makes one wonder what your father will do next, in an attempt to hurt the one you love.”
Fordham’s contemplative words sent a shudder of dread down Bran’s spine. He didn’t bother to defend against Fordham’s assumption that he was in love with Stephanie. He could only wonder how far his father would go in a game that was spinning out of control. What Branson had started, in an effort to prove himself to his father, had now put Stephanie and Ellie in danger. Did his dad know where she was? Bran’s heart accelerated, breaths coming faster. He had to warn Stephanie. He retrieved his cell phone then remembered Steph had blocked him. Instead, he dialed Finn, but the call went to voicemail. His fingers trembled as he pushed them through his hair.
“Mr. Knight,” said Fordham. “I believe you’ve misbuttoned your shirt.”
“Never mind that.” Bran leapt to his feet. “Fordham, contact my pilot. Tell him we’re leaving for New York in fifteen minutes.”
“An excellent plan, Mr. Knight.”
Branson could hear the smile in Fordham’s voice. It matched the one on his own face. I’m bringing Stephanie home.
“I still can’t believe he told you about the wedding,” Steph commented over the low rumble of jet engines.
Finn glanced up from his paperback. “I think he let it slip because he was upset about his dad.” His eyes twinkled. “Where are you going for your honeymoon?”
“Stop it. It’s not a real marriage.”
“It was a real wedding. So it could be a real marriage, if you wanted.”
“That’s not why I’m going to see him.”
“If you say so.” He turned back to his book.
“Really. I mean it.”
“Okay.” Finn mumbled the way people do when they’re pretending to listen but actually paying attention to something else altogether.
“Finn? Did you hear me?”
“Huh? What?”
“I said I wish you’d quit talking about the wedding.”
“You’re kidding, right?” He closed his book, shoulders sagging. “Since you’re the one bringing it up?”
“Of course I’m kidding. I want to talk about it. I need to talk about it. I’m legally married, and I haven’t been able to tell a soul about it. Do you have any idea how hard it’s been for me? It would be hard for anybody. But for me, it was excruciating. Look at me, I’m so desperate to talk about it, I’m forcing a bored man I hardly know to listen to me.”
Finn chuckled. “Can’t claim you hardly know me. We dated for a while.”
“True. We were quite an item for a few hours.”
“And, I was practically the best man at your wedding.”
“The accidental wedding to a man who was engaged to someone else. The marriage I’ve had to keep secret forever.”
Finn tilted his head, scrunching his nose. “It’s only been a week.”
“The longest week in history!” she ranted. “I got married, got a stomach virus, got attacked by my ex-husband and rescued by my current husband, quit my job, moved to a house to which the furry and six-legged inhabitants refused to relinquish the rights, and drove all the way to New York City in a car so full of stuff we could barely squeeze inside. So I was in the car for fourteen hours with my best friend, and I couldn’t even tell her I was married.”
“Why didn’t you just tell her?”
“Because...” Steph slapped her armrest. “Branson said we weren’t telling anyone. Then he up and told you all about it. Out of the blue. Why does he get to do that?”
“Guess you can tell Laurie, now.”
“Oh my gosh. She’s going to be so mad I didn’t tell her when it happened. I may just keep it a secret until we get divorced, rather than face her fury.”
