Ignoring him, I settle myself into one of the chairs that faces his desk, pulling out my phone and checking my text messages. I have a few from business associates. One from the reception caterer with a request for her deposit.
I forward that one to Mother without an accompanying text explaining myself. She’ll get it.
There’s another message from a phone number I don’t recognize. I open the text thread, my head starting to pound when I see what the first text says.
Unknown number: Hear you’re marrying the Lancaster slut.
I frown, staring at the words, reading them over and over.
What the fuck?
Me: Who the hell is this?
Unknown number: Good luck with that one. She’s hard to control and a bit of a screamer. Nothing a fat dick in her mouth won’t fix.
I see red. I’m so fucking mad my hands are shaking.
Without thought I hit the number and listen to it ring. It goes straight to voicemail, the automated voice telling me the person isn’t available.
Damn it.
“Who the fuck do you think you are, barging into my office like that unannounced?” Winston barks the moment he’s off the phone.
I glance up at him, ready to give as much ragey energy as he’s giving me currently, thanks to those shitty texts I just received.
“I’m your fucking brother, that’s who. And I can barge into your office whenever the fuck I want. You do the same shit to me,” I bark back.
Winston leans back in his chair, his brows up, the faintest smile on his face. I think he might be impressed. “What crawled up your ass this morning?”
“Mother,” I spit out. I don’t bother bringing up the texts from the unknown number.
I need to look more into that.
Winston grimaces. “There’s a visual I’d rather not imagine.”
“I’m not being literal. Jesus.” I lean back in my chair as well, mirroring his position. “I moved out this morning. That’s why I was late. And she was nagging my ass the entire time, saying she’s going to buy Charlotte and me a place in Bishop’s Landing.”
“Mommy’s buying you and the missus a home in the same neighborhood so she can keep you nearby at all times?” He’s trying to get under my skin, and it’s working.
“Fuck that,” I mutter, shaking my head.
Damn, my mood is foul.
“Really? I figured you’d want to bring your bride back to Bishop’s Landing to live close to Mother,” he says, sounding surprised.
“No way.” I shake my head, tired of feeling frustrated all the damn time. No one listens to me. No one lets me make one fucking move without managing it for me. I can’t do shit by myself, and I’m over it. “I don’t want her managing my life anymore. I agreed to marry Charlotte Lancaster for the family but that’s the last sacrifice I’m going to make. I need to be my own person for once in my goddamned life.”
And I mean every word of that. If this is what I have to do to finally be free of everyone in my life controlling me, then let’s go.
I’m starting to realize I have more in common with Charlotte than I originally thought.
Winston contemplates me before he finally says, “I love this new side to you, Perry. Very forceful.”
“I learned from a master.” I tip my head toward him.
He rests his hand lightly against his chest before dropping it. “Are you giving me credit where it’s due? I’m honored. Still doesn’t give you the right to just enter my office like you own it. I was on an important call.”
“With who?”
“Our sister. Tinsley was asking about you and Charlotte.”
“It wasn’t an important call,” I retort.
“Tinsley wanted the gossip.” He shrugs. “It was important to her.”
“What did you tell her? That I’m being forced? That I don’t know Charlotte at all? That I’m a fucking puppet who does whatever this family wants?” I leap to my feet and start pacing the length of Winston’s office. Which says a lot, because his office is gigantic.
“I told her the truth, yes. But I didn’t call you a puppet.” He sits up straighter, smoothing his tie. “We appreciate what you’re doing, Perry. Even if you feel like you’re being used.”
“I am being used. And I’m fucking sick and tired of it.” I run a hand through my hair and approach the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the city. “Why am I marrying Charlotte Lancaster anyway, huh? Tell me. I deserve to know the real reason, too. Don’t give me a bunch of bullshit.”
Winston is quiet.
Too quiet.
“Mother won’t tell me. I need you to be real with me, Winny.” I pause. “Please.”
“The alliance with the Lancaster family is necessary to bolster our strength against the Morellis,” he says with a ragged sigh.
So the same old song with a slightly different beat. Got it.
Why does it feel like my brother is holding something back, though?
“Plus, Mother is thrilled that someone is finally doing what she wants,” he continues. “You’re her favorite child. Her favorite son.”
I turn to glare at him. “No, I think you hold that title, since you’re the most like her. I’m just the one who was always the easiest to manipulate.”
My brother is quiet for a moment and I know I’ve hit the nail on the mother fuckin’ head.
“You’re angry,” he finally says.
I don’t even hesitate with my answer. “Fuck yeah I am.”
He exhales loudly, leaning back in his chair once more. “I’d love to keep up this chat and bash our mother’s life choices, but I have a call in less than five.”
I glance at my watch and see it’s almost nine thirty. “Sorry I was late.”
“You’re forgiven.”
“Sorry I barged in to your office.” Pains me to apologize since he was only gossiping with our baby sister.
“You’re forgiven for that as well. Look.” He steeples his fingers together, contemplating me. “We need a happy Perry in this office. The good-time guy who can convince anyone that everything is going to be all right. I forwarded you some emails earlier. I need you to make a few calls, smooth a few ruffled feathers. And this afternoon, I need you to get with your team and conduct some research.”
“On what?”
“The Lancaster business holdings. Where each one is based out of, who runs what, all of it. I want every filthy detail.”
“What if none of it is filthy?” I don’t know much about the Lancasters, but I haven’t heard anything about dirty dealings when it comes to them.
“Oh there’s some filth somewhere, I guarantee it.” Winston bares his teeth in a feral smile. “Tamp down that anger for now and put it to good use after lunch. I know you’ll find something.”
“Will do.” I start for his office door, hesitating before I pull it open. “Hey, Win.”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks for listening to me. No one else really ever does.”
I leave his office before my brother can even answer.
Chapter Fourteen
Charlotte
“Doja! Where in the world are you?”