“Wait—what?”
“I’m just here for the week. I’m cleaning out the house and then I’m selling it.”
Valentina falls silent. “This is about Rachel, isn’t it?” I realize I haven’t heard her even say Rachel’s name in three years. I have refused to talk about it with anyone since then.
“No!” I shout into the phone. “I just need some time alone. I will be back before you know it.”
“Fletch, you can’t run away from your problems. Your place is here. You can’t be having a breakdown now.”
I clutch my phone to my ear. “I am not running away and I am not having a breakdown. You know I won’t let everything fall apart. I’m not letting Alfred Worth and his minions destroy everything I’ve built. I have sunk everything into this company, all of my money, all the work that I have done.”
“Fletch, you know that you’re not the only one who put everything at stake for this company.” I clam up. I know that Valentina, who has followed me from my very first company, has also put all of her money into this one. I can hear a long exhale on the other end. “Well, do what you need to do. You know I trust you. Are you sure you don’t want me to come and give you a hand?”
“No.” I don’t know what I did to deserve an outstanding employee and a true friend like her. “Just stay put and keep an eye out on things for me in New York, won’t you? I’ll be back in a few days.”
We talk a little more about our project. Before I hang up, I tell her, “Tell Joe not to come in tomorrow.”
“Are—are you firing him? This is the worst time to fire your COO. Where am I supposed to find you another one this late in the game?” My grin gets wider at her tireless tirade.
I cover my mouth to stifle a chuckle. “It’s his tenth anniversary. I’m sure his wife would appreciate it.”
Val stops and laughs impulsively. I know she’s shaking her head at me from a distance. “You know, if you’ll just let people get to know you a little, they might actually like you. God forbid, they might even think you’re a good guy.”
“Now, now,” I tsk-tsk. “I can’t let that happen, can I?”
“Fletch, I hope you know what you’re doing.”
I think about the green-eyed girl and thoughtfully trace a finger over my lips.
“I hope so, too, Val.”
Chapter 5
Amelia
As soon as we turn at the next block, Meghan gleefully announces to me, “So I looked up your new friend.” I am driving us to dinner at a cheap restaurant that we frequently go to and love. Meghan has just finished her nursing school finals and wants to celebrate. She’ll be working at the hospital in a few weeks and I am jealous that she has her entire future ahead of her. I am just trying to get through this week!
“And?”
“His name is Fletcher Payne. He’s the founder of InstaVis.” She tries to show me a fan website filled with his pictures and bio.
I give her a quick glance while still keeping my eyes on the road. “What’s that?”
Meghan inhales sharply. “C’mon, lady. Have you been living under a rock? The tech company? Apparently, this is his third company, and it’s going public later this year. He had two other very successful companies. He’s a well-known billionaire.”
I grow quiet and Meghan yelps with exasperation. “Gosh, don’t tell me you did not know? I mean—I’m sure there was something interesting in the house? Something expensive? Or fancy?”
I think really hard for a moment that I almost miss my highway exit. “No…” I answer hesitantly. “It was just a normal old house filled with old furniture and things.”
Meghan grabs my right arm with both hands. “Hey! I’m still driving!” I warn her. “What are you doing? Why are you so excited?”
“I mean, aren’t you? A real-life billionaire! I didn’t know he lives in this town. Well, I’m sure he doesn’t ‘live here’ live here. I bet he lives somewhere expensive and glamorous, like New York City or Paris.”
I clear my throat. “I think it’s his parents’ house.” I remember the faded family pictures and random chachkies peeking out of the boxes.
“Don’t you think it’s exciting? Seriously?” She grabs my arm again. “I didn’t think I would ever meet someone so rich and famous in real life. And he was just hanging around my neighborhood! I wish I had taken a picture with him or the house or something. I can’t believe I actually talked to one in real life.” She bounces up-and-down in her seat. “Maybe one day I’ll be a billionaire.” She adds dreamily.
I laugh giddily, carefully navigating my ancient truck over a bump in the road. “I sure hope not!”
“What do you mean by that?” She slaps me on the arm playfully.
I shake my head but say nothing. I don’t have the heart to tell Meghan that over the course of my lifetime, I’ve probably met more billionaires than she has probably ever heard of. Most of them just live in their own fantasy world, where conventional morals and laws don’t even apply to them. I don’t really care for most of them, and I’d be perfectly happy to never meet any one of them ever again.
Some of them are truly awful human beings.
“So that’s all you did?” Meghan asks as she finishes the last of her fries. She reaches for her phone and scrolls through social media again. “You cleaned and put things into boxes. For eight hours?” Ten likes since the last hour for her latest photo. Must be a slow day. She deletes the photo and posts something else.
I watch her bracelets knocking into each other as she responds to a comment on her profile. “Yeah.” I shrug and polish off the last of my burger as well. “That’s what the job is. What?”
My friend is chewing on the end of her straw
