Wyatt cocked his head toward his open doorway. “Come in here a sec.”
“Wy, I really don’t have time—”
“Come on, little brother. You’ve got time. Dad’s in a meeting.” He disappeared back into his office.
Jace shoved his hands in his pockets and followed him. Wyatt probably wanted to gloat and tell him what Jace’s assistant duties would be. Good times. He stepped into Wyatt’s posh office and sat on one of the two leather couches.
Wyatt propped a hip on the edge of his desk, evaluating Jace with cool blue eyes. “You’re here to give in to Dad.”
Just the words made Jace want to heave. Give in. To Dad. “Can we talk about something else? Don’t you have a new award or something to show off?”
“Don’t give me that shit, Jace. You know Dad’s the one who does that. Not me.” He shrugged. “I know you couldn’t care less about all this stuff or what I do.”
Jace pressed his lips together, a hint of guilt poking at him. “Hey, if this does it for you, that’s great. Honestly. I sometimes wish you’d been born after me instead of before. Trying to live up to your level of success is a bitch.”
Wyatt scoffed. “Yeah, my success. I’ve got millions in the bank and don’t have a damn second to spend any of it. Or anyone to spend it with. I’m on top of the world, little bro.”
Jace stared at him, shock stealing his words. Wyatt—wunderkind financier and golden child—wasn’t happy? Sure, Jace knew the guy didn’t date or spend a lot of time on the social scene, but he’d always figured that was how his brother preferred things.
Wyatt ran a hand through his short-cropped dark hair. “Look, just tell me what’s going on. I know if you’re coming to Dad, things must really be in the shitter.”
Jace leaned back on the couch, resigned. What did he have to lose by telling his brother? Wy would know soon enough anyway. No doubt his father would tell anyone in shouting distance how right he’d been, how his wayward son had come groveling back to him for help.
“Diana’s blackmailing me. If I don’t pay, she’s going to ruin the reputation and career of someone I care about.” He looked down at his hands. “My store is stable and I know I can grow it, but I don’t have the money to pay Diana off right now. So here I am.”
Wyatt released a whistling breath. “So you’re going to give up your dream to save someone else?”
“She’s more important than my store. I figure I can suck it up and work here again for a few years. Get your coffee and type your e-mails—whatever the hell an assistant does. Then save my cash and maybe try a business again one day.”
Wyatt laughed, a big and hearty one that almost didn’t look right on him. Jace realized he hadn’t seen Wy laugh like that since they were teenagers. “I admire your selflessness. But you would be the worst assistant ever.”
Jace couldn’t help but grin. “What? I can type.”
“Look, bro, I know things haven’t been great between us for a while. But the only reason I get pissy with you is because I’m damn jealous sometimes.”
Jace smirked. “Right, jealous of me.”
“Yes, of you, smartass. You’re the free spirit of the family. The one who shoots the bird at every rule and expectation and does your own thing. The guy who the girls wanted and the boys wanted to be friends with.” His expression turned serious. “I don’t want Dad to break you of that.”
Jace blinked and stared at Wyatt as if he were seeing his brother for the first time. How had he never noticed how isolated and overworked his brother had become? While Jace had been busy finding every way he could rebel, Wy had been left with the burden of shouldering all of their father’s highest expectations.
“Wy, I appreciate what you’re saying, but I don’t know what else I can do. I can’t let Diana release the information she has.”
His brother crossed his arms. “How much does she want?”
“Half a million.”
“It’ll be in your account tomorrow with an extra hundred grand to put toward your store.”
Jace stood, waving him off. “No, dude. I can’t take your money. It’s not your place.”
“Pay me back when the store expands,” Wyatt said, standing as well. “I’ll consider this an investment in a good business.”
Jace couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Wyatt was going to trust him with that much money? Just like that. And put money into Jace’s business? “You want to invest in Wicked? Have you ever even been in a store like mine before?”
Wyatt’s smile was droll. “I don’t date a lot. But I’m not dead, moron.”
Jace raised his palms. “Sorry, big brother. I wasn’t sure if you’d lost your V-card yet.”