“Mr. Baker,” I responded, accepting his hand. I shook it before dropping it coldly.
“Oh, my God. I can’t watch this,” Kieran mumbled. I glared over my shoulder at my brother, and he quickly made himself scarce, signaling for Daisy to do the same.
“I apologize for addressing you so casually, Mr. Baker. Your siblings were so welcoming, and the atmosphere appeared… relaxed,” he said, alluding to my attire in that passive-aggressive undertone snobby people sometimes use. Mom called it “nice-nasty.”
“No harm done, Mr. Branson.”
He smiled slyly. “You recognize me?”
“Anyone who keeps up with Texas current events would. Your face is plastered everywhere.”
“My campaign manager says that exposure is everything.”
“Goodexposure is everything,” I corrected.
“I can’t argue with you there.”
“Thank you for returning Kiyah’s cell phone. How did it come into your possession?”
“Long story.”
Make it quick, asshole.
“I was visiting Emerald Hills, also known as The Bellagio per Kiyah, and I couldn’t find my wife’s room. I was struggling with my son and trying to navigate the halls when she came across us and offered to be our tour guide. I had finished my visit and was about to leave when I heard buzzing from my son’s backpack. Ifound the phone and realized her phone may have gotten mixed in with our belongings when I dropped the bag, and she helped me.”
“Yes… Kiyah can be careless like that.”
He tilted his head to the side and narrowed his eyes at me.
“I didn’t get that vibe from her, but you’re her brother. It’s only natural you know her better than I do.”
“How did you end up at our firm?”
His face brightened. “I recalled Kiyah discussing visiting her grandmother in the Ladies’ Lounge and went to look for her there.”
“Did you have trouble finding the lounge? Or did you manage to find it without assistance?”
He went rigid and glared at me. I matched his heated stare and waited for him to back down.
This man is… off, and I don’t like that Kiyah caught his attention.
“The Ladies’ Lounge was a little less challenging to find.”
“All those arrows and signs can really turn you around, huh?” I said sarcastically, poking at the bear.
“It gets a little challenging when you’re distracted by a child. Do you have children?”
“That’s none of your business.”
He threw his hands up in silent surrender. “I see that’s a touchy subject. I apologize if I overstepped.”
Asshole, you overstepped as soon as you stepped into a florist shop.
“I located the Ladies’ Lounge and met your grandmother. I tried to give her the phone for safekeeping, but she insisted I swing by the office and drop it off.”
“Did she insist you buy flowers, too?”
“No, that’s something I decided to do on my own. It was a pleasure meeting Kiyah, and I wanted to show her my appreciation.”