TWO WEEKS LATER
“Morning, Lilah,” Camila says when I enter her office, her gaze staying focused on the papers in front of her.
“How did you know it was me without taking your eyes off the papers in front of you?” I sit on one of the chairs in front of her desk.
“You are the only person in this building who would enter my office before I say, ‘come in’.”
“Oh.” I knocked but didn’t wait for her to let me in.
“I know why you’re here, but unfortunately, I don’t have good news.” She finally tears her eyes away from the pile of papers in front of her, taking off her glasses. The look in her eyes only increases my worry tenfold.
“Why is it suddenly so hard to find an investor?” I ask, exasperated. Camila has been trying for the past two weeks to find someone other than Beau to invest in our company, but so far, she has had no luck. I know it was hard to find Beau originally, but I don’t understand why it seems more challenging to find someone else this time around.
“I don’t know, but I have a feeling someone is preventing anyone from wanting to invest in our company.”
I sit up at that. “Why do you think so?”
“When I couldn’t find anyone to take a deal similar to the one I’d worked out with Beau, I contacted everyone who was initially interested but had wanted more shares since we were running out of options. But they’re not interested at all anymore. I even tried persuading them by adding the percentage of the shares they had originally argued for. They wouldn’t budge.”
“That’s odd. Someone must be offering them a better deal than us.”
“Exactly what I was thinking.”
“Could any of our competitors be behind it?”
“Maybe. I asked Danny to help. He said by the end of today he should hopefully be able to tell me who is making our potential investors decline our offer.”
“You asked Danny for help?” I ask, disgusted at just the mention of his name. “Aren’t you guys broken up? Why would he agree to help his ex-girlfriend find out who is trying to ruin her company?” Danny is a lawyer, so it doesn’t come as a surprise that he can help find out who is behind the investor problem. He has the connections. But that doesn’t explain why Camila would ask him, or why he’d agree to help.
“About that—” She starts, but I raise my hand to stop her.
“You don’t need to tell me.”
I shouldn’t be surprised they’re back together. Their breakup lasted longer than I thought it would, but I’m sure they’ll break up again soon. It’s what they do.
“He apologized for what he did, and I didn’t see why I shouldn’t take him back if he’s sorry.”
“I know, the same as always,” I huff.
“I know I say this a lot, but Danny and I are—”
“Are soulmates?” I finish for her. “I know, you don’t have to tell me again. Just inform me immediately when he tells you who is trying to mess with us.” I stand and turn towards the door.
“I will, don’t worry.” Camila calls after me.
“Thank you, see you later,” I say, turning the doorknob and walking out, hoping for a miracle to fix this situation.
***
I park my car in front of Camila’s house and walk to her front door. She only got a chance to meet with Danny an hour ago and asked me to come to her place immediately after talking to him. Danny must have found out who was responsible for our troubles. I wouldn’t put it past Mr. Antony to be involved. He hates our company and would do anything to see it ruined. According to him, Camila and I are not qualified to be his competitors. He believes women should stay home and raise children, and only men should work. But we see him for what he is—a sad old man who has nothing better to do than bring down independent ladies like Camila and me. Every time he tells us we shouldn’t be in the field and at home instead, he only shows how intimidated he is by us. Our company expanding into real estate would be a real threat to him. He has to be behind our inability to find an investor.
. Before I can grab the doorknob, Camila’s front door is opened—leaving my hand hanging in the air. The face that greets me is not the one I was hoping to see.
“Hello, Lilah,” Danny says, smiling. But I can tell it’s fake, even though the only light source is the moon. Danny is dark-skinned. His black hair is styled in a low cut, and he has a beard. The Dolce & Gabbana suit he’s wearing does little to hide his muscles. I’d be lying if I said he wasn’t ripped. To sum it up, Danny is a gorgeous man, but even with all his handsomeness, he is the worst romantic partner I have ever met—except Beau if I’m including that horrible human being in the running, too.
“As I’ve said many times, it’s Delilah to you.” I push past him and walk into the house.
“I know; I just love to see that fire burn in your eyes whenever you get annoyed,” Danny chimes from behind me. I don’t need to turn around to see his expression. That ever-present smirk that I wish I could tear off his face. I risk a glance back when feel his eyes still on me. Danny licks his lips and winks at me before walking out the door. A shudder of disgust wracks through me.
How can he tell my best friend he loves her and then behave like that? The worst part is he tells Camila he’s simply appreciating God’s creations and would never do more than that, but I know it’s a lie. I can’t wait for the day Camila catches him in the act. Asshole, I direct the insult at the closed door. Hoping by some chance I never have to see his face again.
“From the look on your face, Dan must have called you by your nickname,” Tamara observes as I walk into the kitchen. She sits on one of the kitchen stools while Camila cooks over the stove.
“You guessed right.” I take my seat beside her. “I didn’t know you were coming. I almost stopped by your restaurant on my way.”
“I didn’t plan to, but Camila called and mentioned she was making lasagna, and you know how much I love her lasagna,” Tamara explains, practically drooling. Tamara and Camila became friends after I introduced them in college. We’d been a trio ever since.
“I don’t understand, Lilah; why do you hate Danny calling you that? It’s just a nickname,” Camila says, stirring whatever she is cooking in the pan.
“I know it’s just a nickname. But I don’t want Danny to call me by my nickname because it will make him feel like we are friends, and we are not.”
“But he is my boyfriend.”
“I know, but that does not mean he is my friend. I respect him as your boyfriend, and that’s enough”
“You know, if you got along with Danny, it would make me happy.” Camila sounds sad. I know she wishes Danny and I would be friends, but unfortunately, I love her too much to pretend to like him. Someone has to call out his behavior.
“I know, dear, but enough about me and Danny. Did he find out who is behind our troubles?”
“You won’t be surprised,” Tamara says, chuckling.
“Why are you laughing? Who is it?” I ask, confused.
“It’s your one and only sweetheart—Beau Williams.” Camila answers.
“You have got to be kidding me.”
“Nope, it’s him,” Camila continues, “He has made anyone potentially interested in investing in the company back out. How he’s doing it we don’t know, but Danny is certain he is the one behind it.”
“Why? Why would he be doing this? To gain what? I just don’t understand.” I shut my eyes and rub my temple as a headache begins to form, even thinking about him is making me feel stressed.
“There could only be one reason,” Tamara states.
“Which is?” My eyes shoot open as I turn to face her, waiting to hear what she thinks.
“He wants to ensure he is the only person available for you to choose as your investor.”
“I know that, but why? Why does he want to be our investor? It doesn’t make sense, and it’s annoying me.”
“Have you thought about the possibility that he might want you back and this is a way to get mixed up in your life so he can be close to you?” Camila interjects.
“Did you smoke this evening, Camila?” I ask, looking at her, confused as to why she would say such a thing. “There is no way Beau is doing this because he wants me back. He broke up with me, remember? Not the other way around.”
“Yes, and that’s why it makes more sense that he would want you back. He must have realized he made a mistake.”
“I doubt it,” I scoffed.
“Then what other reason do you think he could have for doing this?” Tamar says.
“The only possible one.”
“Which is?”
“He wants to see me fail, and I won’t let him. I’ll meet up with him this weekend and make sure he gets the hell out of my business.” Beau thinks he’s so brilliant, but he doesn’t know who I am anymore. When I’m done with him, he will wish he never stepped foot into this city. I can’t believe after seven years, he still wants to ruin my life. What kind of human being is he, for God’s sake?
“How are you going to do that?” Camila questions.
“I’ll tell him that if he doesn’t leave this city and allow us to find a new investor, then I’ll tell his mother what he’s doing—I can bet that bitch doesn’t know what he’s up to.”
“Perfect idea. There is no way she would let him invest in your company.” Tamara says, smiling.
“Does she hate you that much? Does she have that kind of control over Beau?” Camila says.
“Yes.” Tamara and I reply in unison.
This is the only way to get Beau out of my life. I’ll do whatever I have to.
I ask the waiter to refill my glass again while waiting for Beau to arrive at the restaurant. It's been 30 minutes since I got here and no trace of Beau yet. I'm starting to think he's not coming, but I also don't think he would pass up the opportunity to have dinner with me. I'm confident that my threat will work, and Beau will back off because of where I'm from. I was born and spent some of my youth in Nigeria. His mother always hated me because of the color of my skin and didn't try to hide it. She looks down on Africans. If the bitch had her way, Africans would still be her slaves.I watch as the clock in the restaurant strikes nine o'clock, which means an hour has passed and still no sign of Beau. I can't believe he’s standing me up."Ma'am, would you like to order now?" The waiter asks for—if I’m not wrong—the tenth time tonight."No, but I would like a bottle of whatever you have been filling my glass with.""Alright, ma'am."The anger I’m feeling is all consuming, the best thi
DELILAHI move closer to the intoxicating scent around me. It smells so familiar, but I can't place where I’ve smelled it before. It smells so good that I don't even want to open my eyes to check where it’s coming from. It calms my heart and makes me want to spend the whole day wrapped around it. I let out a sigh and feel my breath bounce back against my face. That's odd; why did that happen? I slowly open my eyes to find out what's wrong. My eyes widen as I come face to face with a rock-hard chest. I quickly check my body to ensure I didn't do what I think I might have done. I know I drank a lot last night, but I am not one to have a drunken one-night stand. A breath of relief escapes me once I see I am fully clothed. Thank God, I didn't have a one-night stand.I tear my eyes away from my body and look up to see the owner of the magnificent chest in front of me. Every finger is itching to rub my hands all over this beautiful man's chest, but I stop myself because I need to know who i
"Lilah, what are you doing here so early?" Tamara asks once she opens the front door."Where do I start?" I walk past her into the house."Maybe you can start by explaining why you are wearing a dinner dress so early in the morning.""I spent the night out." I sink into one of the couches in her living room."You spent the night out! Oh my God, it's been so long. I have to ask, with whom?" Tamara asks, getting more excited by the minute. I didn't date much after Beau, so it is no surprise that Tamara is eager to hear about a date."Beau.""You had sex with Beau?" Tamara asks, wide-eyed."Of course not; I just spent the night over at his place.""How did that happen?""I don't know, but I guess he was called to the restaurant after I passed out.""You passed out at a restaurant?""Yeah," I say, staring at Tamara's TV screen."Why are you looking at the TV? It's switched off. Is something on your mind?""Beau kissed me.""He did what?""He kissed me." My hands automatically touch my lip
Once Camila walks back into her office after seeing Beau off, she says something that makes even me consider accepting his offer."If Beau is really planning on becoming an investor so he can ruin the company, remember he is the one who will lose a lot of money, so there is no way that is why he’s doing it."After she says this, I take a minute to digest her words."You're right. If anyone suffers a huge loss, it would be Beau, not us.""Exactly, so let's not dwell on the past. Instead, let’s focus on making good use of his money. We don't really have a choice if we want our dream to come true. Beau has left us no other options.""Is he truly the only choice?""Unfortunately, yes.""Give me the day to think about it.""No problem. Let me know what you decide before tomorrow," Camila agrees."I will." I leave her office and spend the rest of the day wishing a very slow, painful death on Beau Williams.***The following day, Beau and his lawyers arrive early for the contract signing. I
I glare at Beau as we walk into the boardroom. Unfortunately, there’s only two side-by-side seats left. Taking my seat beside Camila, I nod at my assistant to start. As the meeting begins, something presses against my thigh. I try to move it away, but my hand gets caught in something—or by someone. Turning to my left towards Beau, I shoot him a questioning look. One I hope no one else will notice.Beau gets the message but ignores it. He smirks that devilish smirk of his and continues to hold my hand, interlacing our fingers as he leans over to whisper in my ear. "Don't they look perfect together?" he asks huskily, his hot breath fanning across my neck.Swallowing the lump in my throat, I try to ignore the warmth seeping into my hand and attempt gently tugging my hand out of his without drawing attention to what’s going on, but Beau’s hold only tightens. He smiles, showing off his beautiful dimples. I give up and try to concentrate on what's being said in the meeting, and Beau instan
Saturday comes as quickly as I had hoped. I’ve spent all day getting ready, so now I just need to add a few finishing touches to my face. Luckily, I’m very skilled with makeup, so I was able to do my own, and Tamara had helped me to style my hair in a sexy updo a few hours ago. Once I am done applying my red lipstick, I close the tube and admire how the color accents my skin. Now all that’s left is to put on the dress. Camila had helped me lay it out on my bed earlier. She and Tamara are also coming to the party, so they’ll have a front row seat for what I have in store for Beau. I smile as I look at the dress. Beau is absolutely going to hate it. It’s a sleeveless, nude tulle gown with black flowers, sequins, applique, and a deep V-neck. The back is also open in the same style as the front, with a slit on the side exposing my leg. A thrill of anticipation runs through me as I put it on. I slip on my black heels and then walk to the full-length mirror to take a look at the full ense
After a few minutes of driving, the car arrives at the venue. I grab Beau’s outstretched hand and step out. The thought to refuse his help occurred to me but I changed my mind. Beau puts his hand on my exposed back and walks us to the hotel entrance.“Your skin feels so smooth, my love,” he whispers.I roll my eyes at him. “Your hand is supposed to be on my waist, not my upper back.”“I know, but I want to feel your skin under my fingertips.” He caresses my spine. A shiver passes through my body as my gaze locks with his. Those gray eyes light up, and I try my best to ignore the feeling of his hand on my skin. I roll my eyes at him once again in an attempt to show him he doesn’t affect me.Once inside, Beau and I walk around and thank people for coming. A few minutes later, I excuse myself and find Camila so I can do the same with her. Camila is my partner after all, so it’s only proper we thank people for coming together. Also, I’d never met the people Beau and I spoke with. I want t
It's been a few weeks since the celebration party. I have been avoiding Beau like he is COVID-19. I know we’ve seen each other only a few times since he came back into my life, and it may seem like I’m worrying too much, but I am not. Beau only touched me through my panties, and I was dripping wet. I can’t even imagine what would happen if he touches my bare core. Plus, Beau and I have history, making it easy for me to fall for him if we were intimate. What am I even saying? He’s only touched me three times, and my body practically wants the man to fuck her already. She clearly has no shame when it comes to him, and I know it wouldn’t be hard for me to fall for him again, so to prevent that from happening I am keeping my distance.As an investor in my company, Beau inspects the houses we use his investment to build. I am supposed to go with him, but I’ve been asking Camila to go in my place. Today was supposed to be the same, but Camila had to visit her mom. She isn't doing so well. I