$79,548

 

Ryan Edwards

I should’ve walked in sooner.

From the hallway, I’d heard just enough, Vanessa’s condescending voice, Lily’s silence thick with humiliation. It made my jaw tighten, made my fists curl.

I should’ve walked in and almost jumped in to shut down Venessa and the fossil with the receding hairline questioning Lily’s worth.

I could’ve ended it. One sentence from me; just one and that room would’ve fallen silent like a grave.

Not before I could say anything, Lily rose and spoke up. She agreed to their conditions. She didn’t fold, she wanted to prove herself

Lily didn’t speak on the drive home. Not once.

She kept her eyes fixed on the window, but I wasn’t fooled. I saw the way her fingers kept pulling at the sleeves of her blouse like they were suffocating her. The way she shrank into her seat when we stopped beside a group of sharply dressed women

And the worst part? She didn’t say a damn word. She wouldn’t. That was Lily. Proud, steel-spined Lily, who would rather choke on glass than admit she didn’t feel like she belonged.

But I saw her.

I saw the way her eyes dipped when the boardroom’s laughter echoed in her head. The way her fingers brushed against a frayed thread on her hem like she just noticed it’d been there all day.

She didn’t have to tell me she felt out of place.

Her silence screamed it..

She knew.

She knew she stood out in Denzol and not in the way she wanted.

But the thing about Lily was that she still showed up. Proud. Stubborn. Stronger than anyone gave her credit for.

And she didn’t know the whole truth. She still thought Theo ran Denzol. Still believed I worked beneath him. That was by design.

Because if Lily ever realized I was the CEO, the one in charge of that boardroom, the one who could’ve shut Vanessa down with a single word she’d never trust me again.

But I couldn’t step in. Because she needed to win this. On her own.

We pulled into the school driveway just as the last bell rang. Isabella came skipping toward the car, her backpack bouncing and glitter trailing from her ponytail.

We got out to pick her.

“Mommy! Uncle Riri!!” she chirped, running into Lily’s arm first before she gave me a hug

“My munchkinnn!!” I baby talked to her and ran a hand over her hair. She giggled and picked her up, and we headed towards the car.

She was so bright and always happy. I was already falling in love with her. She makes me want to be a better man for her mother.

“We have Career Day tomorrow! We’re supposed to dress like who we want to be when we grow up!” Isabella said as I was about to start the car.

Lily smiled at her daughter’s enthusiasm. “That sounds exciting, baby. What do you want to be? I know you’ve always wanted to be a doctor, that hasn’t changed has it?”

“Nu-uhhh. I still want to be a doctor!” Isabella beamed. “But I don’t have a doctor's outfit. And……. we haven’t gone shopping in forever.”

The smile on Lily’s face faltered just slightly. Just enough that I noticed.

“I want to look smart,” Isabella added, buckling herself in. “Like you, Mommy. But with a stethoscope!”

Lily chuckled lightly, brushing Isabella’s hair back. “We’ll figure something out when we get home okay?” I caught the flicker of discomfort in her eyes.

I started the engine. “You know,” I said casually, “there’s a boutique just on the way home. Might be worth stopping by.”

Lily shot me a look.

“Don’t,” she said under her breath. “I keep telling you I’m not your charity case, Ryan. Don’t make a scene in front of her. I don’t want your money”

“I’m not.” I kept my voice level. “But if your daughter needs something for school and you need something that makes you feel like you belong in that boardroom, what’s the harm in looking?”

“Ryan—”

“I’m not offering you my money,” I added quickly. “Denzol offers a wardrobe fund for executives. You’re the only one who hasn’t used it.”

She blinked. “That’s convenient.”

I shrugged. “Take it up with HR.”

“You’re not taking my money,” I said. “You’re letting the company invest in how you represent it. That’s all.”

It was the only line that worked.

Isabella was too busy humming and swinging her legs to notice the stare-off happening between us. Eventually, Lily exhaled.

“Fine. Just for her.”

“Of course,” I drove straight to one of the most discreet boutiques in the city. One I knew had a private entrance.

Inside, the receptionist practically bowed when she saw me. Fuck. Not here. Not now

“Mr. Edwards,” she said too loudly.

I shot her a look and subtly nodded toward Lily.

The woman corrected quickly, pasting on a neutral smile. “Welcome. Please, right this way.”

Lily’s eyes lingered on me for a second longer than necessary. But she said nothing.

We split off, I took Isabella toward the kids’ section while Lily was ushered into the fitting area. I helped Isabella pick out a tiny white coat and pink stethoscope toy set. She couldn’t stop giggling.

As we were browsing, a maroon colored suit that would fit Lily perfectly but she wouldn’t take it if I recommended it.

I called one of the women there and told her to recommend the suit to her and take it to the dressing room for her.

Isabella also wanted to try on some of the clothes in the dressing room. I led her to the women’s dressing room but I wouldn’t go in with her. I had to request for a lady to escort her in.

Isabella walked in with one of the ladies to try on her clothes but my eyes wandered and I couldn’t help but catch a view of Lily. Her door was slightly open, enough to show a good amount of skin

I should’ve looked away

My eyes should have dropped

I tried.

But the curtain fluttered for a split second as she tugged a zipper and I caught a glimpse of her bare back, the smooth curve of her waist, and a delicate trail of freckles I hadn’t forgotten.

My throat dried instantly and felt my chest rise faster

Memories crashed in. Her body wrapped around mine. Her gasp in the dark. Her nails on my skin. All of it.

Her waist had always been my weakness, the slope of it, the way her skin dipped when I kissed it. A dozen memories slammed into me, the late nights, her moans in my mouth, the way she arched against me in that cramped college apartment.

I looked away. But not fast enough.

I hadn’t touched her in six years.

Now she was here. Inches away.

And I couldn’t touch her. I couldn’t speak a word of what I felt.

Because I lost her trust.

I ran a hand over my face and forced my legs to move out. Godddd… I should never have left her behind but I couldn’t control the circumstances….

I heard footsteps while I was crowded by my thoughts. I looked up to see that she had stepped out from the dressing room. She was in a fitted navy dress that clung like it was custom-made, I nearly forgot how to breathe.

She looked...damn, she looked incredible. The other women at Denzol didn’t hold a candle to this. They weren’t Lily.

My mouth hung open as I stared at her.

Does it look ridiculous?” she asked, smoothing the sides self-consciously.

“You look like every man’s mistake,” I whispered before I could stop myself.

She blinked.

I cleared my throat. “I mean you look perfect”

“What?” she asked, smoothing the blouse.

“You look...” I cleared my throat. “Professional.”

Her eyes sparkled with something close to amusement.

“Mommy!” Isabella called. “I look like a doctor!”

Lily turned, smiling at her daughter.

I stepped closer. “You do. You both look like you could run the world.”

Mommy, you look so pretty!” Isabella said, running to her side.

Lily's eyes were filled with excitement and so much happiness. I knew what shopping did to a woman. I would take her shopping every ficking day if she didn’t ask so many questions

“You’re staring,” she said, looking over to me

“I’m allowed to admire,” I said simply.

She shook her head, but her lips twitched.

I noticed the excitement in her eyes die down as she glanced at the price tags. “These are too expensive. I may look good in them, but I can’t afford this.”

“You’re not paying for it,” I reminded her again.

She eyed me warily. “How much does the wardrobe fund cover, exactly?”

“Plenty. You’d be surprised how much is allocated”

She frowned. “You sure?”

“Positive. You’re well within budget don’t worry”

At checkout, the receptionist raised a brow when I handed over the items.

“Charge it to Denzol Corp,” I said because Lily was there

She frowned slightly. “There’s no—”

Lily got distracted helping Isabella tie her shoe lace. I took the opportunity to slip my platinum card and a folded note to the receptionist.

The note read: Charge everything to this. Say it’s Denzol. I’ll be back for the card.

She nodded subtly

After a few seconds, she smiled and handed us the bags. “Everything is charged to Denzol Corp. Thank you so much. Do you need an escort to take the bags outside for you?”

“No, don’t worry. We’ll be just fine” I smiled at her, thankful for her cooperation. I took the bags and we left the boutique, walking out toward the car, Isabella beamed.

“Uncle Riri, can I take a picture of my shopping bags” asked. “Your phone has a better camera!”

“Sure, bells” I said, handing it over.

She took selfies posing dramatically beside her bags, then stopped, frowning at the screen.

Isabella blinked at the screen, then tilted her head in confusion. “Uncle Riri, you have a message.”

Isabella tilted the phone innocently. “It says…debit $79,548 from Luxe boutique”

Shit. Bells you’ve killed me!!

My heart slammed in my chest.

Lily paused mid-lace. Her head turned slowly and her eyes locked on mine.