Real Time
I swirled the scotch in my glass, the ice clicking against the crystal. The flashback left a sour taste in my mouth that even the expensive alcohol couldn't wash away. I had lied to Jax. I had lied to Theo. But worst of all, I had betrayed the only person who had looked at me and seen a human being.
"You look like you're plotting a hostile takeover, Cole. Or perhaps you're just bored."
I didn't need to turn around to know it was my mother. Her voice was like a violin string stretched to the breaking point—elegant, but capable of snapping.
I turned, putting on the mask of the dutiful son. "Just taking a moment of air, Mother. It’s a successful night. The Sterling merger seems to be the only thing anyone can talk about."
She stepped up beside me, her eyes scanning the cr
