WOLF and the Runaway Heiress.

Chapter 09

RIO

On my way home, all I could think about was whether the panties were mine. Bree raised some doubts in my head about it.

Maybe they were mine, and it’s been so long that I forgot about them?

But I never buy red lace panties. I don’t like how the colour looks on me, and a few might disagree, but I just think that with my fiery red hair and green eyes, wearing red clothing takes away from them. I much prefer to highlight them, not compete.

Again, Bree and a few others might disagree, but it’s how I've always been, especially with my paler complexion.

I am confident that I have only ever bought lilac, lavender, grey, green and black. However, I also always buy in sets. If these are my panties, then I am guaranteed to have the matching bra to go with them somewhere in my drawers.

Bree may not think Liam has cheated, at least once, and I really want to believe that version of things as well, but that gnawing voice within me is demanding that I fact-check.

I had a few hours before I had to meet with my mum for lunch, and I planned to bounce all of this off her. She knows me best; she also has more experience with shady men than I do, so if there are red flags, my mum will see them before I do.

I waved at the guards at the gate as I entered, and as soon as I parked, I was already rushing to the door. I refused to let this weigh on me any longer than necessary.

What I hadn’t expected when I entered the house was finding David casually coming down the steps.

“David?” I was surprised, and my voice gave it away.

But so was he. “Hey, there you are,” he replied with a quick, friendly smile.

“Yeah, here I am. Entering my house. What's up?” Still confused, I put my purse down on the small table in the foyer and removed my shoes.

I hated shoes. If I could spend my life barefoot in the forest somewhere, while still being able to bake and maintain a semi-social life, I would sign up in a heartbeat.

David chuckled and smirked as he finished walking down the steps. “I was searching for you, of course. Bree called and told me you found panties in Liam’s bedroom?”

My heart clenched.

Are you freaking kidding me?

Why the hell did Bree have to run around opening her damn mouth? It’s been what— thirty minutes since we parted, and she went to work?

My jaw ticked; I was angry, but also still very confused.

“So, you left work to drive across town and talk to me about gossip that Bree is spewing without my consent?”

David threw his hands up in surrender. “Whoa, I’m not your enemy, Rio. I was already heading here when Bree called and asked if I thought Liam was cheating on you. That's it.”

“Of course she did.” I rolled my eyes and walked past him to head up to my bedroom.

David followed.

“Do you really think Liam would do that?” he asked, keeping pace.

“David, why were you heading here? Aren’t you supposed to be at work right now?”

“Wow, I thought we were good. Where is this hostility suddenly coming from?” His brow furrowed as he spoke.

I entered my room and went straight to my underwear drawers.

There was no red anything in there.

Thought so!

Next were the bra drawers.

David huffed and sat down on the corner of my bed and watched me search my room like a mad woman.

“Rio, what's going on? What are you searching for?” he finally asked.

I stopped and sighed. I turned and looked at him. I realized that he still hadn’t answered my question.

“David, tell me the truth. Why aren’t you at work right now?”

There was a long pause before David finally gave in.

His shoulders slumped, and he leaned in to rest his elbows on his knees. He looked defeated.

“I hate it, Rio,” he started, and what he said surprised me.

“I don’t understand. I thought you liked the company.” I put a pause in bra hunting and focused entirely on my stepbrother. I’d never seen him this depressed.

“I love the company. I love working for Mum's cause, but the department manager, John, is an absolute d**k. He is arrogant, rude and calculating. He’s been going out of his way to make me look like a fool since I started the other day. He wants me fired. I bet he's even willing to spread lies about me to do it.”

My eyes widened at what David was telling me.

My mum liked John; she picked him herself and helped him grow into his role. Like many others within the foundation, John was at rock bottom. He was about to lose his house, his wife left him, and he started down the path of substance abuse. It was a supervisor of a rehab support team who contacted my mum, and John's name came up as a recommendation to help save.

Being the bleeding heart that she was, my mum took John under her wing and helped him back on his feet again. He was made to work his way up, just like David, so it surprised me that John would bully David. He was now the head of the Financial Department. He was incredibly loyal to my mum and what her foundations and business do to help those looking for a fresh start. He wouldn’t do something like David was describing.

“Wait, he said he wants you fired?” I asked, toning back my skepticism.

I loved David. Don’t get me wrong, he was my stepbrother, but he was also a spoiled, pompous ass at times. He’s gotten better over the years he’s been with us, but it still flares up from time to time.

“Not in those exact words, but it is heavily implied. I think it’s easier if I quit. John is impossible to work for, Rio.”

“Wait, don’t quit. This is what you wanted. Successful people can only fail if they quit when things get tough. If John and you are butting heads, go to the supervisor for both of you and have them mediate the issue. This is how my mum's businesses are handled. There are many personalities under the umbrella of the Ricard foundations, and that is why my mum ensures that mediation is key for all disputes. You should try and work things out before you get up and quit, David.”

Why was I the mature voice of reason here? David is four years older than I am.

With a sigh, I turned back to my dresser drawers.

“What are you looking for, Rio?” David asked, and I scrunched my face in frustration.

“I am looking for a red bra.” I finally stated.

I heard David moving around in my room. The next thing I knew, two hands firmly gripped my shoulders, spinning me around to face him.

“Rio, do you honestly think Liam is cheating?” I saw the emotion in his eyes. I knew David would feel guilty about it if Liam were. He was the one who introduced us, and he was the one who pushed us together once he learned that there was mutual interest.

“I don’t know, I just know that if I can find the red bra that goes with them, then I will know that he wasn't, and it just slipped my mind. That is all I can focus on right now, David.”

“Why a red bra?” It made sense that he wouldn’t understand, one, because he never wore these types of things, and two, to my best recollection, David hadn’t been in a serious relationship. Women have habits and preferences for panties and bras. When I buy bold colours, I always make sure to have the matching bra for the set. I don't like mixing and matching colours.

“Because I buy in sets only.” I keep it simple and resume my search.

My phone was dinging, and I saw it was Liam.

I was sure that either Big Mouth Bree or concerned friend, David, had already given him the heads-up, and now he was blowing up my phone.

What I was expecting was for David's phone to start ringing.

“Hello,” David answered.

I watched the colour pale from his face as the person on the other end spoke. His eyes locked with mine.

I grabbed my phone instinctively and saw that it wasn’t just Liam blowing my phone up; it was also my mother's personal assistant from the foundation.

I looked up and locked eyes with David again.

“Mum had a heart attack. She was found in her office. She’s being rushed to the hospital, but—”