One Night Stand With My Ex's Uncle

Anna’s POV

William’s voice was the first to cut through. Gruff, unimpressed. "Marcus makes his own decisions. That property belonged to him, not Simpson Group."

"But the timing!" Mary snapped, indignation lacing every word. "Just as we’re about to announce the Skylake development? Don’t tell me that’s coincidence!"

"With me, nothing is coincidence," came Marcus’s voice cool, unbothered.

I bit my lip to suppress a smile. This man is something else.

Voices erupted in protest. Then Phillip Murphy Marcus’s older brother and Catherine’s father tried to bring calm.

"Marcus just returned to America. How could he possibly know Simpson Group’s internal plans?"

Mary’s voice returned, practically vibrating with outrage. "He doesn’t care about his own sister’s family business, but he knows all about Shaw affairs. Let me make this clear: he can like whoever he wants, but Anna Shaw is off-limits. You might not care about appearances, but the Simpson family still has a reputation to maintain."

The words stung, despite how many times I’d heard variations of them over the years. Same old Mary. Always judging, never knowing.

"You uncle and nephew," she continued, growing more shrill, "falling over yourselves to impress her at that party it was pathetic! Are there really no other women in the world?"

I froze, nearly dropping my phone.

Wait. Jack too? No way.