Hollywood Heir (Westerly Billionaire #4)(43)

When she woke late the next morning, she wasn’t in a good mood. She showered, dressed, and gulped down a coffee without smiling. She hated that on her first day with Mr. Kirby she felt like she had nothing to give him. She should have been radiant, bouncing with enthusiasm. Instead she was fighting a headache and wondering if she should cancel.

Her phone rang. For just a heartbeat, she thought it might be Wayne and chastised herself for being disappointed that it wasn’t. “Hi, Dad.”

“I had an interesting lunch today with one of my investors. He wanted to know if you and I speak. I told him of course we do. Then he asked me to talk to you regarding the nature of your business. You don’t run a business, do you, Sage?”

“I do. I’m a plant psychologist, remember?”

“Oh my God, I thought that was a joke.”

“Wow, look at the time. I have to go, Dad.”

“No, hold on. Whoever you’re working with right now—I want you to call them and tell them you can’t see them anymore.”

“Why do you care who I’m working with?”

“I don’t, but some very powerful people do.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You don’t have to. You just need to tell your . . . What the hell do you call someone you work with?”

“Clients?”

“You need to tell whatever clients you have that something has come up and you’ll need to terminate your association with them.”

“No. I’m not going to do that.”

“If it’s about the money, Sage, I’ll wire you some.”

“I don’t want your money.”

“Fine. Play hardball. Name your price.”

“What are you talking about? I don’t have a price. I’m not shaking you down for more. I’m saying I refuse to let someone I don’t even know tell me what I can or can’t do.” Why would anyone want to stop me from having clients? “This doesn’t have anything to do with Mrs. Westerly, does it?” Her name kept coming up, and she’d already warned Sage to stay away from her family. Did she believe Sage knew one of them?

“I’m your father, and although I’ve always tried to respect that you’re a little odd, this time it’s affecting my business. Stay away from Eric Westerly. Is that clear enough for you?”

“First, I don’t know any Eric Westerly. Second, what will you do? Cut me out of your will? Stop treating me as well as you do? Even if you threaten to stop talking to me, I’m beginning to think that might be for the best.” With that, Sage did something she’d never done before—she hung up on her father.

Stay away from Eric Westerly.

Sage turned on the television and was about to hunt for a video of Water Bear Man when she saw him on a news clip. Eric Westerly was in Vandorra visiting a children’s hospital in his superhero costume. The media couldn’t get enough of it. Sage flipped through the channels and found Water Bear Man everywhere. Some stations spoke of how exciting it was to see him doing a public appearance. Other stations focused on his family tie to Vandorran royalty. King Tadeas. Crown Prince Magnus. Princess Rachelle, granddaughter of Delinda Westerly of Boston.

Rachelle. Wayne’s sister’s name is Rachelle.

As the camera did a close-up of Water Bear Man’s face, Sage’s heart began to thud in her chest. Wayne is Eric Westerly. On a trip with his family.

It was the worst of what she’d feared—not only had Wayne lied to her, but everything they’d shared had also been a lie. The only thing Sage was certain of was that Delinda Westerly didn’t want her around her grandson. She’d thought she’d gotten to a point where nothing could embarrass her anymore, but seeing Wayne/Eric on television, smiling and laughing as if he didn’t have a care in the world, tore at her confidence. Am I a joke to him as well?

She turned the television off and reached for her phone. “I’m sorry, Mr. Kirby, but I can’t meet you today.”

“Oh.” He sounded disappointed. “Do you want to reschedule?”

Tears entered Sage’s eyes, and her voice became shaky. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s for the best if we don’t.”

“Did something happen? Are you crying?”

That’s all it took for Sage to burst into tears. She cried for the little girl who was finally facing the fact her parents were not coming back for her. She cried for the woman who was no longer sure she could trust her instincts. She even wept a little for the man on the phone who she hoped would find his way to happiness, because she no longer had what it would take to help him. “No,” she croaked.

The man was quiet, then said, “I’ve done enough of it myself to know what it sounds like. Did you lose someone?”

“He was never actually mine,” she answered with a loud sniff.

“That doesn’t make it easier, does it?”

“No, it doesn’t.”

“Do you have anyone you can call?”

Sage glanced at the time on her phone. She didn’t want to bother Bella with this. Honestly, it was nothing more than what she’d said would happen. “Not at this hour, but I will later.”

“I know you don’t know me, but if you need to talk to someone—”