CHAPTER 3

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.