My CEO 224
(Jayden)
"What the hell, Lance?" | mutter, trying to keep my voice low.
Lance, as usual, is completely oblivious to feelings. "What? | thought it'd be a good idea to bring them out, you
know, get to know everyone. They're family now, right?
| glare at him, my jaw clenching. "Family? Lance, | handed them shares to keep them and that business out of
my life, not to bring them into it."
Lance shrugs, unbothered by my annoyance. "Yeah, but they're here now. Might as well make the best of it.
Those sisters are hot hot hot!"
"Do not even go there. | swear Lance..."
Before | can finish, Gabriel catches sight ofand waves hesitantly.
| force a smile and wave back, feeling Winona's eyes onas she approaches. "I don't know what Lance has
done but | know that look between you two."
Lance waves the four of them to ccloser. The older sister is looking like she hates it here and the youngest
is bopping with the beat and looks excited. The other is somewhere in between, | think. | sigh, running a hand
through my hair. "Meet my cousins, from Cuba."
Winona's eyes widen in surprise. "You're kidding. This is them? Oh wow! It's great to meet you all. I'm Winona,
Jayden's Fiancée."
"Hi Winona. I'm Gabriel. This is Eva, Ana and Mia. My sisters."
"Hey, con over ladies and meet my BFF Lisa and my baby sister Cass. We'll let the men do the man
things. Winona grins.
"Great idea," Lance agrees.
Winona kisses my cheek. "You got this," she whispers into my ear.
"I wish | did," | mutter. "Lance thought it'd be a good idea to bring them out tonight."
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Winona givesa sympathetic look before she leads the ladies off to the booth leavingwith Gabriel and
Lance.
"Jayden," Gabriel says, his voice thick with the Cuban Spanish accent. "We didn't mean to intrude, but Lance...
he insist."
| glance at Lance, who's grinning like an idiot, completely unaware of the tension he's created. "Yeah, he's good
at that," | reply, trying to keep my tone light.
"So, Gabriel. Are you single?" Lance asks.
"Why? Are you gay?" Gabriel answers quickly with a smile.
| almost choke on his answer. Hah! Lance might have met his match.
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"No. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I'm just wondering if you have a wife and kids stashed
away.
"Lancel Jesus! It's too soon."
Gabriel smiles. I'm not sure how to read him yet. "It's okay. I'm single and so are my sisters."
"l see." Lance says.
"But they take care of themselves."
"Right." Lance swigs his drink down. "I'll go see if they need a refill."
"Listen," | say, turning to Gabriel. "This is... unexpected, Winona and | aren't staying long tonight. It's been a big
week. But | hope it all works out for you all." Gabriel nods. "We appreciate what you did, Jayden. Really. | wasn't
expecting anything from Brennan. Industries without a fight."
| nod. "Cmeet the others. | don't want to talk about that place tonight."
We walk over to the booth and Cass looks like a deer in the headlights when her gaze lands on Gabriel and stays
there.
Phillip, who's eyeing the sisters like a hawk, sidles up toand Gabriel sits in the booth. "You know, Jayden,
these sisters... they're something else."
I roll my eyes. "Phillip, this is complicated enough without you and Lance adding your loins into it." Not to
mention Cass who still hasn't taken her eyes off Gabriel.
"He smirks, taking a sip of his drink. "Who said anything about loins? Just admiring the view."
"Right," | mutter, turning back to the group, trying to focus on the present, on the people around me, not on the
mess Greg left behind.
and
As the night goes on, | try to loosen up, to enjoy the company, but it's not easy. Gabriel and his sisters are polite,
but there's an underlying tension that | can't shake.
Lance, of course, is having the tof his life, completely oblivious to the awkwardness. But I'm not letting their
feelings makefeel lesser. They are here and they have their company shares.
I'm still happy to be walking away and focusing on my family. "I know we should dance, but maybe next time. I'm
really beat and looking forward to seeing Henry."
too. Lisa and Cass are fine to get home. So we can go."
| say my goodbyes, keeping things polite but distant. Gabriel and his sisters thankagain.
As Winona and | step out into the cool night air, | let out a long breath. "Okay, callold, but wasn't it louder
than a club used to be?
"Maybe. Or maybe we are just getting old." She laughs.
"I hope they all have fun, but I'm not rushing out clubbing anymore."
"Meeting your cousins. That was.... something." Winona says, slipping her hand into mine.
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224 Not My Problem
"Yeah," | reply, my voice tired. "Not exactly what | had in mind for our night out."
"But you handled it well," she says, leaning into me. | look down at her, grateful for her steady presence in my
life.
"Maybe," | agree, though | know it's going to take more than one night to untangle the mess Greg left behind.
| continue, "but it won't be uncomplicated always. One day they will ask what Greg was like here."
"I guess they will. Are you curious about what he was like with them?"
"I doubt he was the asshole he was toand Mother.
"How do you think Judy will handle it all?"
"I think she'll be livid he cheated on her."
"I'm sure she will."
"But she'll also wrap up as many
their shares as she can so she holds the controlling majority. | mean
as long as they don't challenge her authority, it will all be smooth."
"Do you think Gabriel will challenge her?"
"I'm not sure what to make of him. But anyway, it isn't our problem."
"It sounds nice hearing you say that." Winona grips my arm as we get to the valet.
"I mean it too. They can fight all they want."
"| agree. And we don't need to know about it."
"I won't ever get involved again."
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