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lot of family or because he valued his privacy.
Though she couldn t say her workspace was much better. She didn t have any family photos to
hang. No cute dog or cat pictures to look at. All she had were a few knickknacks she d picked up here
and there. Nothing important enough to clear off once she decided to quit.
The thought made her somber as they sat down, but Ben didn t seem to notice. Do you have the
account and routing numbers of the bank the funds are being transferred to?
Cali nodded as she reached into her purse and pulled out a blank check. Here you go.
Great. It won t take me long to get it started and then I ll need manager approval and you ll be
all set. Have you given any thought to how you re investing these funds?
That bright smile was now focused on her, and Cali bit back the urge to roll her eyes. This guy
had probably never even bothered to learn her name, but now that she suddenly had money, she was
worth talking to. I have a few plans, she said assertively as she waited for him to get on with it.
Great, he said, masking any disappointment. Two million then?
Cali held her breath as she glanced at Luke and waited for him to respond.
Two million, he agreed.
She exhaled and resisted the urge to jump up in the air and fist pump. She forced herself to sit
there like a rational adult until Ben left to get the manager, leaving Cali and Luke alone.
So are you taking any trips to celebrate? he asked.
Cali shook her head without thinking. Rourke is staying with me, so I won t be heading
anywhere for a while.
He nodded, but she could see the wheels turning in his mind. So exactly how close did you and
Rourke get?
After her initial slip-up, Cali regained her composure. Rourke is a friend. It wasn t easy for
him to come back and I want him to know that he has someone there who s...impartial.
Luke cringed. You know, don t you?
Cali tightened her lips as she considered her words carefully. Rourke told me his side of the
story. I wish you had told me too.
Damn it, that was so long ago. I was young and Lisa had all of us wrapped around her finger.
Cali shook her head. No, I m not mad at you. We ve all done things we regret. Some things that
we regret and still wouldn t change given the chance. She thought back to the thousand dollars she d
stolen from her mother. She wasn t there to judge Luke, but she also wasn t there to tell him what he
did had been understandable.
And as he sat there, looking for her approval, she realized just how much their relationship had
changed over the years. Even now, knowing that she could leave and never see him again, he was
explaining himself to her. She d known Luke long enough to know he didn t give two cents about
other people s opinion. But he cared about hers, and that touched a place deep in her heart.
Luke...I wanted to say
Ben pushed open the door and a suited man who must ve been the manager followed. He
introduced himself before giving the approval, and, just like that, Cali was a millionaire. This time
she couldn t stop the smile. This opened the world to her. If she lived modestly and invested right, she
would never have to work again.
Or she could find a job she truly wanted to do. Maybe a not-for-profit. Maybe go into the arts.
She could get a new degree or travel. Maybe purchase some income real estate.
Anything.
Luke led her out of the bank, and as soon as they were free of the bankers, customers, and
tellers, she threw her hands around his neck in a tight hug. I can t believe this, she breathed as she
tried to comprehend how much things had changed in just a click of a mouse button.
Luke hugged her back and pulled her in for a tight bear hug. I can t believe you did it. We
never thought Rourke would come back in a million years.
It was easy. I just told him what a great guy you were, she said with a teasing grin.
He let her go and gave a little snort. You always did underplay everything you did for me.
But you never believed me, she reminded him. Which made the underplaying easier.
So are you really leaving me?
She was quiet for a moment as she thought about how to word her answer. She couldn t go back
to being his assistant. She had enough money that she d never need to, and she was convinced she
needed to find her passion. Whatever the hell that passion was. I need some time to myself.
He nodded as though he didn t expect her to change her mind at the last minute. Well, Michael
is taking Rourke over what has been happening with the business right now. If things with them
get...heated, will you let me know? You ll be seeing him right after. I just don t want to fuck things up
so fast after we just got him back.
Cali thought of the way Rourke had listened to her babble on about her family drama last night.
He seemed so different from the angry, abrupt person she d met just a week ago. She d like to think
that he wasn t the sort to tuck tail and run after one disagreement, but she knew he could be a tad
unpredictable at times. Maybe it was one of the things she liked about him. She blushed as she
remembered just a few of the unpredictable things he d done after he d carried her from the couch to
her bedroom the night before.
If he s upset, I ll talk to him, she promised. But I can t report back to you. There was a line
in the sand she needed to draw between the brothers. And this time, she was going to be standing on
the side of the line Rourke was on.
Luke nodded. Here s hoping everything goes well then. I have to get back to the office, but
you ll keep in touch, right? And if you ever want a job or anything, you know who to call.
Don t worry, Luke. You re number one on my list. For a moment, she thought he was going to
say more, but then she was saved by the ringing of her phone. I should get this. She backed away.
I ll see you around. Promise. She turned away as she pulled the incessant ringing phone.
Please don t be Easson, she thought as she looked at the caller ID, only to be swept in a wave
of confusion. Well, it wasn t Easson. Even more confusing, it was a number coming from Walter
Farrell s office. She d called the place enough times that she must ve programmed it into her phone.
Cali here, she said in her official tone. Probably someone who didn t know she d quit and
needed to get a hold of Luke. Surprising, considering they d seemed to get the message through to a
lot of other people who had her phone number.
Hi, said a deep voice on the other end. This is Colin Carter. I m an associate of Walter
Farrell. I was hoping I could get a meeting with you later today.
Cali glanced over her shoulder, but Luke was already gone. Damn. I m sorry, but I m no longer
with DevX Tech. If you d like, I can get you a number to call
I think there s been a misunderstanding. I m calling to talk about Easson Harper. You were his
date last Friday, isn t that right?
Well, there went the theory that money solved everything. Even with her now overflowing
savings account, Easson was still a pain in her ass. He was, but I haven t seen him since. I don t
think I can help you.
I think you will. But I d rather you do it on your own terms. What time works for you?
Without any hesitation, Cali hung up the phone. From now on, the only pain in her ass would be
Rourke, and she d rather spend the rest of the afternoon dealing with him than with the endless pile of
shit Easson seemed to be piling on her.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Rourke stood over the empty desk area and looked for any sign of the woman he d spent the
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