Page 122 of Open To Negotiation

The only thing I liked about this house was its location right on the water. Beyond the pool, patio, and manicured lawn stretched the endless expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. The property was massive, unnecessary for the three people that lived here.

People were already filling the main room of the house, milling around, talking quietly. I bet five of the people here actually liked my father, the rest were business associates or people who wanted something from me now that he was gone. Some might’ve just come for the expensive food Grace was serving.

The second my feet touched the floor people started coming toward me. I spent the next half an hour being talked to by people I didn’t care about who just wanted to talk about business. No one even tried to pretend that they cared about the man we were here to put in the ground. I hadn’t even made it to the damn bar yet and despite it being the morning, all I wanted in my hand was a scotch.

“Mr. Knight.” A man stepped forward as soon as the last one left. “Harvey Grey.” I shook his hand holding back my annoyance. “I’m sorry for your loss.” There was no emotion in his voice, it was a formality, one that everyone had said before launching into whatever it was that they wanted.

“Thanks,” I replied and looked over his shoulder as he started talking about the ways I could handle my father’s stocks, mentioning that there were rumors that I was already working to buy up my father’s shares in his business before his death.

I ignored that question. It was true but no reason to add fuel to that fire now.

This sunken room was full of people, but I could see the doors that opened to the lobby, teasing an escape I couldn’t take. Harvey, like every other god damn person here, was vying for his money, including Grace.

She may have been his wife, but I made all decisions for his business and his estate now. I wasn’t surprised, the man didn’t like me, the feeling was mutual, but we both knew I was the better businessman. He’d only left her enough money in his will to survive, which was still more money than most people would ever earn in their life.

I hated these people. I would’ve rather settled his funds and walked out as quickly as possible. My plan was to donate a good portion of his estate to the Maria Knight Memorial Fund just to spite him.

At least the rest of the guys would be here soon. I needed them today.

Almost like my thoughts summoned them, I saw Noah, Jaxson, Will, and Oli step into the room. The gratitude I felt for my brothers being here was immediate, some of the weight of responsibility lessening in my chest. They would help me tackle the room and get through the day.

But when they stepped aside, I almost fell to my knees.

Quinn and Asher stepped up beside the rest of them, creating a line as they looked over the room.

I blinked a few times to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating her presence. I wanted her here, even just for the light and peace she brought me, but I knew I couldn’t ask that of her after everything I’d done.

She looked fucking beautiful, like she always did. And as much as I’d been trying to forget what she looked like these past few weeks, I knew my memory had her right. She tucked a piece of that red hair that I loved to twirl around my fingers behind her ear. Her black dress was subdued but still looked extremely sexy on her.

I moved without thinking. Ignoring the questions from Harvey, I made my way through the crowd as she came to the bottom of the steps. I stopped when she noticed me, only a few feet standing between us. I knew Asher was saying something but I ignored him.

“You’re here.” My voice had more bite than I intended it to.

It’s how I’d been speaking to people since the moment I left her behind and it just slipped out. I’d gotten used to my post-Quinn asshole self.

“Sorry.” She looked like she wanted to turn around and leave. “I wasn’t sure—”

I didn’t let her finish. Closing the distance between us quickly, I pulled her into my arms. She stiffened for a moment before her arms wrapped around me, hugging me back. She fit so perfectly against my chest.

“I fucking hate the people in this room,” I said into her ear before I pulled back and she stepped away from me, looking at the ground instead of at me.

I hated that she seemed uncertain, she never looked like that with me. And as I tried to get her to meet my eyes, I thought I saw some moisture there. It gutted me that I did this to her, to us. But right now, I didn’t have another choice.

Part of me thought I shouldn’t even try and win her back, because there had to be someone out there that was better than me. Someone who wouldn’t hurt her the way I have.

“Fucking vultures,” Asher grumbled as he looked around the room in disgust.

I wanted to pull Quinn into my side and have her next to me but another man in a suit was already joining our group. She moved out of the way but stopped beside me, looking up, her eyes a careful clear mask that I hadn’t seen on her before. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking. I fucking hated it.

“I’ll go get you a scotch.” She sent me a tight smile and moved away before I could say anything. I tried to keep my eyes on her, but I lost her as another idiot came over and pulled my attention away.

It wasn’t long before her hand pressed against my elbow. She put a cold drink in my hand. This girl knew me better than I knew myself. I was lost in my thoughts, and she was gone before I could even thank her.

Over the next while, she would appear at my side with a fresh drink when I needed one then left me without a word. It was comforting knowing she was watching me, but I hated not being able to stare at her all day to savor it before she left me. I finally removed myself from another mindless conversation and turned to lean against the bar with my back to the room.

“How are you?” Quinn slid up next to me, careful not to touch me.

I hated it because all I wanted to do was reach over and pull her in, breathe in her scent that I’d been fucking longing after for weeks.