Chapter Five

Layla’s POV

I stared at the name lighting up my screen. The phone kept ringing in my hand, each vibration sharp against my palm.

Why is Nick calling me? Did he hit his head and dial the wrong number? Did someone put a gun to his head and force him? I turned over every possible reason and none of them made sense.

I had blocked him and Summer the same day I walked out of their wedding. Bella had insisted I unblock them so they could watch me find someone better. I still could not understand how her mind worked most days.

The phone rang again. The sound cut through the quiet of the lobby and pulled me back. It would not stop. I finally answered.

“Lay-lay, are you refusing to pick up? This is the tenth time I’ve called.”

His voice slid into my ear and my stomach turned. The old nickname made the back of my throat tighten. I wanted to end the call before he said another word.

“What do you want, Nick?” I kept my voice low. I was still standing in the quiet lobby of the hundredth floor.

“Please calm down, Layla. I know you have every right to be angry. I messed up. I accept that. I was blinded by Summer’s lies and the way she pulled me in. After—”

“Stop.” The word came out harder than I planned. “Stop with the lies. She seduced you and I’m supposed to believe that like some fool? That version of me is gone.”

“I know you won’t believe me easily, but my eyes are open now. After the wedding I found out Summer sleeps around to get her modeling jobs. I’m sorry, Layla. I don’t want to rush anything. I’ll forget that you kissed Kyle Brown at my wedding if you forget about the wedding to Summer. We can start as friends and see where it goes.”

A dull pressure started behind my eyes. The sheer nerve of him stood in the silence between us.

“Do you have any shame at all? Who would want to be friends with you? I would rather be your karma and stay in your life until you’re old. Don’t call me again. And one more thing—don’t forget I kissed Kyle Brown. I’ll make sure to invite you to our wedding.”

“What do you mean, Lay—”

I ended the call before he could finish. I had heard enough of his excuses. My hand stayed tight around the phone for a second longer than it needed to.

Theo was nowhere in sight. I walked to the elevator, pressed the button for the ground floor, and left the building without looking back.

~~~

The next day I stood in front of Brown Empire at exactly one o’clock. The cream blazer dress fit neatly against my skin. The Rene Caovilla heels clicked once on the pavement. My matching bag hung from one shoulder. I drew a slow breath and hoped he would agree to the interview this time. My nerves had not settled since the night before. I could not keep carrying this tightness in my chest for days or weeks.

I wrapped my fingers around the strap of the bag and walked toward the entrance. A different security guard stood at the door.

“Hello. I’m a journalist from Stargaze Broadcasting Station. I have an appointment with the CEO.” I showed him the ID hanging around my neck and offered a small smile.

“Hi. Please register here.” He pointed to a large visitor log open on the counter.

I took the pen. The ink scratched across the page as I wrote my name and the time of arrival.

“Are all the journalists at your station this beautiful?” he asked.

I gave him an awkward smile and a quiet thank you before stepping through the revolving doors.

The same receptionist greeted me and cleared me to go up. The elevator carried me to the hundredth floor in silence. When the doors opened, Theo stood near a desk where a young woman typed on a laptop.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Theo. I have an appointment with Mr. Brown at one o’clock. It’s still on, right?”

Theo started to answer when the double oak doors of the CEO’s office opened. Kyle Brown stepped out with both hands in his pockets and walked down the hallway toward us.

I smiled as he came closer, expecting him to stop. He walked straight past me as if I were someone he had never seen. I stood frozen for a full second, mouth slightly open, then hurried after him and stepped in front of the elevator before he could enter.

“Mr. Brown, I had an appointment with you for an interview this afternoon. Remember?”

He looked at me for a long moment. “Journalist Layla, you came at the wrong time again. I’m on my way out.”

“But I thought—”

“You thought what?” His voice stayed even, almost quiet.

I tightened my grip on the bag until the leather pressed into my palm. “Just a little more of your time, Mr. Brown. Is that possible?”

“What are the questions you want to ask?”

I listed them carefully, keeping my voice steady.

“Question one: As a subsidiary of Brown Empire, has Brown Financial separated from its parent company to operate independently and enter a larger market?”

“Question two: Regarding Brown Financial’s collaboration with ATC Financial, are there any long-term plans beyond more adventurous investments?”

“Question three: What is the main reason Brown Empire is funding the new robotic machine when it doesn’t align with the company or its subsidiaries?”

“Question four: What is—”

“Enough.” He turned away.

I took a slow breath and stepped closer. “Brown Financial was just established. It’s the first step for the outside world to understand the company. I believe you’ll give the media and the public a chance to learn more about the business.”

He nodded once. “Come with me.”

He walked into the elevator with Theo. I followed and stood at the far end. Theo pressed a button. The doors closed. No one spoke on the way down. The silence sat heavy between us.

The elevator opened onto a parking level. Kyle walked toward a black Rolls-Royce without looking back.

“I have a two-hour drive. We can talk in the car. You said before you could use the commute time.”

“Of course. Anywhere is fine.”

The driver opened the rear door. We got in and the car pulled into the New York traffic.

For the rest of the ride I conducted the interview properly. This time he answered every question and went further, laying out future plans for Brown Empire as a whole. The conversation stayed professional, yet every pause felt longer than it should have. I kept my eyes on the notes in my lap more than once just to steady my hands.

The car finally stopped at a horse ranch. I had not noticed the change in scenery until Theo announced we had arrived and stepped out with the driver.

“What are we doing here?” I asked.

“I only brought you along because the only free time I had was during the drive. You can go back now.” He started to get out.

I reached for his wrist without thinking. He looked down at my hand, then at my face. I pulled away at once, heat rising in my cheeks.

“Sorry, Mr. Brown. I have one last question.”

“Go ahead.”

“Do you have a girlfriend?”

I expected irritation or surprise. Instead he only smirked and said nothing.

“This question is for our readers’ curiosity. If you don’t want to answer, that’s fine.”

“Then I don’t want to answer.” He rolled his eyes and stepped out of the car.

I followed and caught up to him on the gravel path.

“Mr. Brown, please wait. I was only joking earlier. Let me ask the real last question.” I reached for both of his hands to stop him.

Footsteps sounded behind us before I could speak.

“Kyle, this is the first time you’ve brought a lady to the Pasture. Who is she?”

I turned. A good-looking man stood there spinning a pair of riding gloves in one hand. Beside him stood a face that still made my chest tighten.

Nick.

“What are you doing here, Layla? And why are you with Kyle?” Nick’s voice rose as he looked between us.

Kyle stepped closer to me, not glancing at Nick. “You were about to say something before we were interrupted,” he said quietly.

I looked at his face. The words came out before I could second-guess them. “Is it all right if I stay with you for the rest of the day? I don’t have much left to do at the office.”

He gave a short laugh. “Are you trying to use me to spite your ex-boyfriend?”

“What do you mean?”

“Can you ride a horse?” he asked, ignoring the question.

“No.”

“Come on. I’ll teach you.”

I looked past his shoulder. Nick’s eyes had gone wide. His mouth opened and closed once without sound.

I let a small smile settle on my face.

Time to have a little fun.