“Needless to say,” I sallied forth, “we need the money back that David stole so if you’d like to take a break from our pleasant conversation at this juncture to give that order to Gill, I’ll wait. Or, if you’d prefer I do it, I’ll take that opportunity now.”

“I’ll do it,” she muttered, reaching for her purse.

I sipped Prosecco while she did, trying not to think how different this was—having this conversation again with my sister, talking about a business I did not want to be in, harking back again to all that happened which should be history, but I had to admit (regrettably due partially to me) it had not yet been laid to rest—doing all that with something to look forward to in my imminent future.

This being dinner at Nick’s that night, something I’d agreed to last night under some duress while fucking in his bed.

Not painful duress.

A different kind.

But (I told myself) the fact remained that I had survived a dinner at his place without anything catastrophic happening. And the same with fucking there every night since, except when we were at the club. Not to mention an ugly conversation with him that still made my heart race because it seemed it was spurred by jealousy he shouldn’t feel and a demand from him of exclusivity I should not have given in to.

Yes, I’d survived all that.

And I’d survive lunch with my sister.

So dinner again with Nick should be a breeze.

Our meals were served while Georgia was still issuing orders to Gill.

I didn’t feel in the mood to be polite, but the truth of it was, I now had two jobs, mine and David’s, so I needed to get moving. Therefore I didn’t wait before I started to eat.

She joined me when she was done on the phone.

“Unless you prefer otherwise, I’ll explain things about David to Dad,” she offered, tucking into her pasta.

“That’d be fine,” I agreed, willing to agree to anything that offered me the opportunity not to be around my father. But definitely not being there when he heard his trusty friend/employee was an embezzler.

“We’ve other things to discuss,” she told me.

“David left a mess so let’s discuss them. I have a great deal to do,” I replied.

“I’ve set up four labs,” she announced. “As of two weeks ago, they’re all fully functional. We’ll have product by the end of next week.”

I stopped with my fork halfway to my mouth and stared at her.

“Sorry?” I whispered.