1. Worth

Miles was calling, but I didn't feel like talking to anyone. I'd spent all day ignoring calls and texts from my mother, my sister, and several members of the staff I was supposed to be supervising. I couldn't do this anymore. I didn't want to be stuck in an office building all day. I wanted freedom.

My mother thought I was a lazy piece of shit, but that wasn't true. There were plenty of things I was willing to do, like running the art auctions she held several times a year. But since in her mind I was destined to be the CEO of Chamberlain Consolidated, it was that or nothing. So I'd learned to excel at doing nothing but drowning myself in pleasure.

If I had my way, I'd be on an island or in a mountain cabin right now, not stuck in the city with the heat rising off the asphalt, all my friends in happily-ever-after monogamous relationships, and my life seeming more useless than ever.

Reluctantly, I accepted the call; Miles was one of my best friends, after all.

Miles was speaking before I could even say hello. "We've got a situation here, and we need you."

"What kind of situation?"

"Matteo spotted a member of the cartel in the city."

Matteo was the former enemy and now boyfriend of our friend Carter. We'd all been involved in the takedown of a Colombian drug cartel, which may sound far-fetched, but Carter and Matteo are former SEALs, and Matteo is also former CIA. If there was trouble with the cartel, no wonder Miles sounded so tense.

I wasn't sure what they needed me for, though. I had none of the skills Carter and Matteo had, and I didn't work for Miles's company like our other best friend Ford. Even Ford had skills Miles needed—primarily keeping Miles out of legal trouble. I was the fun friend, the one to go drinking with, the one who always knew the best new restaurants, the one who knew the best bars to find a hook up that would help you forget even the shittiest day. I wasn't qualified to help them stop a dangerous enemy.

"I've got a meeting soon and?—"

"Worth, we need you here."

"Do you?" Was I really supposed to believe that?

"Yes."

I sighed. I'd never turned down a request for help from any of my best friends, not since we'd bonded with each other at boarding school.

I wasn't going to start now. "Fine. I'll be there. How soon?"

"Five o'clock."

I glanced at the ornate marble clock on my living room wall. I hated the damn thing, but my mother had insisted I keep it since it was my grandmother's. I should have enough time to shower, dress, and have my driver drop me at Montgomery Enterprises. "See you then."

"Good. Thank you."

Like usual, Miles ended the call abruptly. I sat staring at my phone. He'd thanked me. Miles didn't say please or thank you. He gave commands and expected everyone—even his friends—to obey. Rarely did anyone question him, except his boyfriend, Ben.

Something strange was going on. There's no way he needed me urgently for some kind of war-room planning. That coupled with the "thank you" spelled trouble, but the only way to find out what was going on was to show up at this "emergency" meeting. I knew Miles wouldn't tell me more before then, and I doubted any of our other friends would either.

I decided to wear my favorite lightweight blue suit. I might as well look good even if I'd rather be home in my silk pajamas feeling sorry for myself. I got several appreciative looks from both men and women as I entered Montgomery Enterprises headquarters. Despite knowing how damn fine I looked, my heart was pounding as I stepped into the elevator. Something was off, and I was about to find out what that was.

When the elevator opened into the executive suite, I headed to Miles's office.

"They're waiting for you," his assistant said.

"Thank you."

I took a breath as I opened the door, expecting to see Miles, Ford, Carter, and probably Matteo. What I didn't expect was my brother. He was supposed to be in Chicago doing an internship at a law office. "Beck, what are you doing here?"

"Sit down." Miles spoke before my brother could answer.

Heat rose into my face. "You lied to me."

"We needed you here. That wasn't a lie."

"The rest of it was, and whatever you think this is—" I gestured around at everyone. "I'm not interested."

"Worth," Beck said. "Please stay. I'm here because I'm worried about you."

"I'm fine." I turned to go.

"Worth?" It was Carter this time. "You helped me when I was all messed up about Matteo. I want to help you now."

"There's nothing wrong with me. I'm just…."

"Really fucking unhappy," Ford supplied.

I let out a long breath. "It hasn't been the best few months, but I don't need some kind of intervention."

Beck narrowed his eyes, studying me. "I think you do."

"You haven't even been here. How the hell do you know?"

"I know you don't call me back. I know you don't respond to my texts, not like you used to."

"I respond when I get a chance."

"Days later or while you're drunk off your ass." I started to protest, but he continued. "You've been alternating between acting like a hermit and trying to party like the world's ending as you fuck your way through every twink in Manhattan."

That was true, but I didn't want to admit it. I'd already decided I needed to stop going out and living like partying was my job. I wanted to see if I could be celibate and sober, like adults were expected to be. Then I realized that was depressing as hell, and I went back to partying like I always had, but somehow, all the fun seemed to have been sucked out of it. "I'm just enjoying life like I always have."

Ford huffed. "We've partied with you. We've seen the way you usually are. This is different."

It was. I felt like I was desperately chasing something and nothing was satisfying me, not my usual activities, and not trying a quieter life.

"I video called him he the other day, and he was wearing sweatpants and a dirty NYU T-shirt." Beck wrinkled his nose.

"I'm allowed to wear whatever I want in my own home."

Ford's eyes widened. "Jesus, it's worse than I thought. You wore a stained T-shirt?"

"What the fuck is wrong with all of you?" While it was true I normally cared more about what I was wearing than almost anything else in my life, there was no need for them to panic.

"We're worried about you," Miles said.

"You didn't even come to our Monday night meet-up last week," Carter added.

Monday nights at Vincent's, our favorite club, was one thing my friends had insisted was sacred. I'd been complaining about them not being available, but I was the one fucking it up. "I'm just…."

"Trying too hard to please our mom and making yourself miserable."

I shook my head at my brother. "I'm just tired. All this working…."

"Nope. I'm not buying it. You used to survive on a couple hours of sleep a night. Working is no harder on you than constantly partying."

"Everyone complained about how I needed to slow down and get more sleep."

Miles frowned. "We teased you, and sometimes we did tell you off when you got out of hand, but we want you happy. If a different man every night is what you need, then that's what you should have."

I shook my head. "No amount of hot young men is making me happy. Nothing is fucking fun anymore."

Miles laid a hand on my shoulder. "Why do you think that is?"

"Because you're all fucking in love and boring." I kept my tone light. I didn't want them to know how much that bothered me, and it wasn't even true if I was honest. Miles and Ben were happy to go out even if I had to worry Miles might kill someone for looking at Ben. I knew Ford and Carter would make time if I asked them, but I didn't want to make them lose time with their men. They were so stinking in love, all of them, and Beck…he was young and idealistic, and he wanted all our family problems neatly solved when they were never going to be. Our mom was a bitch. She wanted to put all her children in a box, and while her approach with Beck was more about dismissal than constant criticism, I knew it hurt him, and I fucking hated it.

She treats you like shit too.

Yes, but I can handle it.

Can you? Or is it breaking you?

My heart beat so hard I felt like it might come through my chest. I didn't want anyone to see how bad off I was. I didn't want to be exposed like that. "I'll be fine."

"Not if you don't take a break," Beck said. "You need to get out of the city."

"Not according to our mother."

"Are you going to let her run your life?" Miles asked.

"No."

Beck raised his brows. "No?"

"I don't want to, but I told her I'd try this job. I was hoping for even an ounce of praise for my effort, but I've yet to get that."

Miles huffed. "Fuck, Worth, you're the best friend anyone could ask for."

Had he really said that? "I can't believe you?—"

"Said something nice? I do on occasion."

Beck, Carter, and Ford were also staring at him.

"Jesus, I'm a nice person." Ford nearly choked and Carter burst out laughing. Miles actually looked a little hurt.

"Thank you," I said. It did mean a lot to me that my friends actually cared.

"It's true, and if you want to succeed here, let us help you. If you want something else, let us help you make that happen. You don't owe anyone your happiness."

"That's right," Beck said. "Take some time off and think about it. I have a two-week break between my summer seminar and my internship. I've booked a villa in Aruba. Come with me."

"When?"

"In a week."

I sighed. That was when I was supposed to have a summit with the C-suite and our vice presidents, but what was the point of being one of the owners if I couldn't reschedule.

"How long has it been since you left the city?" Ford asked.

"Too long."

Beck smirked. "Exactly."

I blew out a long breath. My mom would point out that I'd committed to six months of trying to take on a bigger role at our company, and I was already running off when during an important week. But I'd only agreed to the job because of her coercion. I couldn't believe I'd stayed as long as I had.

Maybe because the life you had before wasn't as glorious as you pretended it was.

I told that little voice in my head to shut the fuck up.

"You love Aruba," Beck said.

"Where are you staying?"

"I have the presidential villa at Ocean Elite."

That was one of my favorite places in the Caribbean. I had a slip for my yacht in Nassau and several other cities, but I really did enjoy Aruba.

Go.

This time I listened to the little voice.

"Fine, I'll go with you."

"Such a hardship," Ford said.

I flipped him off.

"We're going to have a great time." I couldn't help but smile at Beck's enthusiasm. "See. You're smiling already."

I was, and I felt lighter than I had in weeks. This was the right decision. I would tell my mother I was prioritizing spending time with Beck, but I had a feeling I would resign before the trip was over. I was done with trying to please her and done pretending I was enjoying myself by doing nothing but partying. I was going to figure out what I actually wanted and maybe even let my friends help me pursue it.

Beck left first. I started to follow him, but Miles called me back. "We do have footage of one of the prominent cartel members here in New York. That wasn't a lie."

"Fuck. What do they want?"

Carter snarled. "Revenge, I expect, but don't worry, we're on the lookout for them. We'll take care of this."