Page 80 of My Ex's Billionaire Brothers

“No,” I interrupt, softening my tone. “I know you wouldn’t force me. But Calvin always assumed I’d take his name. And I realized I assumed it too. I never questioned it. And that’s the problem—I didn’t question anything back then. Now I’m questioningeverything.”

They exchange glances, each of them wearing a distinct look of relief or understanding. A little of my tension melts away.

I chew on my lip, my next thought buzzing. “There’s something else,” I say. “I want my own place. At least for a while. I need to figure out how to live on my own terms,bymyself, for the first time in my entire life. I’ve always had roommates, or lived with Calvin, or stayed with my parents. But I want to try having my own space.”

Theo nods immediately. “I couldn’t agree more.”

I feel a surge of affection for these men—my men, in a sense—who don’t protest, don’t try to talk me out of my decision. They just listen. Theyseeme.

“On that note,” Theo says carefully, “how would you feel about a job?”

My mouth drops open. “A job? Doing what?”

“That’s up to you,” he replies. “If you want something more conventional, you can send me your résumé. My HR department can find a suitable position for your skills. Or…” He pauses, glancing at Gage and Hunter. “You could be our entertainment coordinator.”

Hunter chortles, and Gage lets out a rumbling laugh. My eyebrows shoot up. “Entertainment coordinator? That sounds suspiciously like ‘professional girlfriend.’”

Hunter raises his hands. “Nah, not like that. But hear us out. We’re workaholics. All of us, even though Theo pretends otherwise. Frankly, we’re always going a hundred miles an hour. Sometimes we forget to, you know,enjoylife.” He shoots a grin at Theo. “Mr. Spreadsheet here has it the worst, but we’re all guilty.”

“That’s where you come in,” Gage says. “You could plan our downtime, schedule vacations, remind us when we need to step back or lighten up. You’d be the one telling us to close our laptops or put down our phones. Full autonomy to keep us from working ourselves to death.”

“So you’re saying you want me to boss you around?”

A slow, mischievous smile spreads across Theo’s face. “Until we’re naked, of course. Then the roles reverse.”

I snort. “That’s a lot of authority.”

“Your mental and emotional health is important to us,” Gage adds, his voice gentler now. “And so is ours. We figure this arrangement might help us all.”

“So I’d plan vacations for us? Or date nights, or…what else?”

Hunter shrugs. “Whatever you think is best. You see us working too hard, you call us out on it. You find a fun destination, you book it.Wework foryouin that sense.”

My heart thumps. I find myself imagining a future where I have a small, cozy apartment of my own, a job that literally involves ensuring the people I care about actuallylivetheir lives instead of slaving away all day. “It sounds kind of incredible. But do you really think it can work as a real position?”

“We can do a trial run,” Theo suggests. “Three months. We’ll figure it out. But I think you might enjoy it.”

“I’ve spent so much of my life being told what to do—by my parents, by Calvin. The idea that I could be the one calling the shots, even in a limited capacity…it’s pretty appealing.”

Theo goes on, “Think about it, Anya. If you decide it’s something you want to try, we’ll make it official. Pay you a salary, give you whatever resources you need. Travel budget, scheduling tools, maybe even an assistant if it grows beyond personal stuff.”

I raise my eyebrows. “An assistant? Okay, I’m in. Let’s do a three-month trial. See if I can handle being your drill sergeant.”

Hunter cheers, a quiet whoop, and Gage nods in approval. Theo gives me that understated smile of his that always makes my stomach go floppy. The four of us stand there, the hush broken only by the soft hum of the desk lamp.

In this moment, it hits me—I’mchoosingthis path, forging it on my terms. I’m not stuck, I’m not pressured, and I’m not powerless. For the first time in ages, I feel genuinely excited abouteveryday to come—not just the big milestones.

34

GAGE

Night settles gentlyon Castle Beach, the stars above winking into view one by one. The Markoff cottage is still humming with the last throes of the holiday festivities, but the crowd has thinned, leaving only the hardiest celebrants finishing up their coffee and desserts. A cool breeze drifts across the yard, carrying the tang of salt air. The moon reflects off the dark ocean, the waves rolling in and out at a steady lull.

Hunter and Theo are inside, sorting through empty plates and cups. I hear them offering to take care of the remaining cleanup so Anya’s mother can finally rest. Neither Anya nor I have to coax them into volunteering—they just do it.

Anya stands near the side of the house, hugging her arms around her midsection. Even from several feet away, I can tell she’s chilly. I approach her quietly, my boots crunching on a few stray gravel pieces in the path. She turns at the sound, offering me a small, warm smile that tightens my chest.

I have only one thing on my mind. “You want to go for a walk on the beach?”