Todos los capítulos de Engaged to One Whitmore, Fell for the Other.: Capítulo 1 - Capítulo 10

Layla Taylor’s hand stiffened against my back.“Harvey.”Only then did Harvey lift his eyes.They settled on me for the first time.No smile.No welcome.His gaze moved over me slowly, from my face to my dress, lower still, before returning to my eyes.I fought the sudden urge to straighten my clothes.Harvey gave a quiet scoff and lifted his glass to his lips.Heat climbed my neck.“Don’t start,” Taylor warned.Harvey said nothing.He took a slow sip of whiskey and looked away.Like I wasn’t worth the effort.My nervousness sharpened into irritation.“Come on.” Taylor’s hand slipped into mine. “I’ll introduce you to my parents.”I let him lead me farther into the room, but Harvey’s words followed me.You brought another one?Another what?Another girlfriend?Another woman he disapproved of?I looked at Taylor, but he was already smiling at the elegant woman approaching us.“Mom.”She was beautiful. Not young, but impeccably put together, with blonde hair swept elegantly away from he

LaylaTaylor’s chair scraped sharply against the floor.“We’re leaving.”I turned to him.“Taylor—”“No.”He pushed his chair back and stood.Every trace of warmth had disappeared from his face.“Get your things.”My stomach tightened.I didn’t want to stay. God knew I didn’t.But having Taylor drag me out of his family’s home because of me somehow felt worse.“It’s fine,” I said quietly.His eyes dropped to mine.“No, Layla. It isn’t.”“Taylor,” Evelyn said. “Sit down.”He ignored her.I could feel everyone watching us again.Wonderful.Because apparently being quietly humiliated hadn’t been enough. Now I got to leave in the middle of lunch with the entire Whitmore family watching.Richard set his fork down.“That was unnecessary, Harvey.”My eyes moved toward him.Harvey hadn’t moved.He remained in his chair, expression calm, as though asking who would pay for my mother’s surgery had been no more offensive than asking about the weather.He didn’t apologize.Of course he didn’t.Tay

LaylaI read the number again.$112,000,000.Still there.I leaned closer to my screen and checked the formula for what had to be the twentieth time. Nothing changed. One hundred and twelve million dollars in projected additional revenue over five years if Lightning Solutions Technologies expanded beyond new construction and entered the commercial retrofit market.It worked. More importantly, I could defend it. Every assumption. Every cost. Every risk.A small smile pulled at my mouth.I was good at this.And after Sunday, I needed the reminder.Who’s paying for the surgery?My smile disappeared.Of all the things Harvey Whitmore had said at lunch, that question had followed me home.Taylor was helping with Mom’s medical expenses. He’d never complained about it, never made me feel as though I owed him anything. But Harvey had forced me to confront something I didn’t like.Mom couldn’t work. Her care was getting more expensive, not less, and surgery would only add to it. My father had

Layla“Mrs. Whitmore is expecting you.”Well.There went my last excuse to leave.The receptionist stepped from behind the marble desk before I could give her anything more than my name.“Right this way, Ms. Miller.”I followed her deeper into the Asper Club, trying not to wonder how many women had been escorted through rooms like these before being politely informed that they were unsuitable for somebody’s son.The place was quieter than Belle Jardin.Richer too, somehow.Not because there was anything particularly flashy about it. There wasn’t. Dark polished wood covered the walls, broken by paintings that looked old enough to require their own insurance policies. Soft lighting fell over cream chairs and low tables, and the few people scattered throughout the adjoining lounge spoke in voices that never seemed to rise above a murmur.Nobody was taking pictures of their dinner.Nobody seemed impressed to be there.That probably meant getting inside was impressive enough.The reception

Layla“I need you.”The words had barely left my mouth before Taylor answered. “I’m coming.”“Taylor—”“I’m coming, Layla. Stay with your mom.”The call ended before I could tell him he didn’t have to drop whatever he was doing. I stared at the dark screen for a second.Mom’s fingers tightened weakly around mine. “He’s coming?”I nodded.She gave me a tired smile. “Good.”I slipped the phone back into my bag. “You should sleep.”“I’ve been doing nothing but sleeping.”“You were unconscious.”“Same thing.”“Mom.”Her eyes closed.I shook my head, but some of the terror that had been sitting inside my chest finally loosened. Only a little.◇Taylor arrived twenty-seven minutes later. I knew because I had checked the time after we hung up, then again when he walked through the door.He looked as though whatever he had been doing before my call had ceased to matter the second he heard my voice. His jacket was folded over one arm, his tie was gone, the top button of his white shirt was und