Page 11 of Camping with the Boss
“Was he still asleep?”
“No. He was gone—is gone—along with his suitcases. But River left me a note.” And because this is my best friend and not an arrogant CEO demanding things, I show it to her.
She reads over it several times. “Do you think he’s in trouble?”
“I don’t think so. I mean, I thought he just didn’t want to go.” And now that’s in my head.
What the heck’s going on, River?
She sits up, her eyes wide. “Are you going to find him? Is that why you need me to risk life and limb by taking Taffy?”
I ignore her comment about my sweet cat. But I can’t ignore the rest. I hadn’t thought of trying to find River. Does that make me a crap brother? “Mr. Darian asked me to take River’s place.”
“Wait, what?” She tilts her head so I can’t avoid her gaze. “He asked you to take River’s place.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
It sounds lame now. “He said he needs an outsider.”
Her face scrunches up. “But River works there. He isn’t an outsider.”
“I don’t know. He wants someone who’s not a part of his core management team.”
“Do you think that’s the real reason?”
I shrug. “Does it matter?”
“It might.” She moves Taffy off the coffee table before she can reach the food, ignoring Taffy’s hissed complaints. “I heard he has an image problem.”
“You were just saying how great he was. How is that an image problem?”
She shrugs. “About six months ago, they had a discrimination suit against them. The employee was fired for being gay or something. It got settled out of court.”
“But River still works there.” For now.
“That’s why I didn’t believe it at first.” She shrugs. “But now River’s gone. It makes you think.”
I push my hand against my chest. How did I miss this? And what else have I missed? “River would have told me if he was having problems.”
Alex gives me a sympathetic smile. “All I know is this is their first-ever Pride retreat.”
I feel like an idiot. I should have asked more questions. “How do you know that?”
“River told me.”
“How is it that my brother talks to you more than he talks to me? Wait.” Oh God. “Do you think that’s why Mr. Darian asked me to go to the retreat?”
“I don’t know. Did you tell him you’re gay?
“No.” I don’t mention he thought River was my boyfriend.
She grins and waggles her eyebrows. “Did you openly check him out?”
I groan. “I tried not to, but he’s hot.” Not to mention how great he smelled.
“I’d like to be close enough to check him out.”
