CHAPTER25
Jules
I’m high on the euphoriaof the last two weeks. Not long ago, Levi Aldridge was a stranger. Now, he’s my boyfriend and one of my incredible business partners. As much as I’d love to spend my days and nights wrapped in his arms, I can’t. In between our hot fuck sessions, I have a business to run. He has two. Speaking of my sexy boyfriend and formidable lover extraordinaire, he’s been in New York for the past four days. Our nightly video chats pale in comparison to being with him—even if they’re dirty as fuck. And, sure, I’m tickled pink by his daily text messages reminding me I’m his filthy girl and he’s thinking about me, but I long to kiss his lips. He should be landing at LAX shortly.Thank God.I’m not ashamed to admit, I miss him like crazy—far more than I expected. I’m counting the minutes until I see him. I already have so many indecent thoughts in my mind, and I can’t wait to get him all to myself. A wave of desire prickles through me, pooling in my belly.God, I’m addicted to this man.
Since Levi, Collin, Shane and I sat in my conference room, it’s been two weeks of brutal work. Thank God Alice agreed to come back. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without her. That’s what happens when you’re well connected. My three business partners tapped into their circles to secure the experts we need to see the crowdfunding through. I have wings knowing I’ll be able to do Daddy’s memory justice. The expertise of Shane’s consultant is mind-blowing. There’s no way I would’ve been able to hire someone with that kind of pedigree. Things are moving so fast, it gives me whiplash. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining. Working side-by-side with these savvy businessmen is a huge eye-opener. For the longest time, it was just me. Now I understand why it always felt like I was walking in quicksand. The constant doom and gloom voice that was my only companion is finally quiet. Not being around Hillary also helps a lot.
After a quick bathroom break, I trail back from the small kitchen to the conference room, latte in one hand, a large peanut butter cookie in the other, singing a happy tune in my head. Since I barely took time for lunch, I take a few minutes to enjoy my coffee and indulge in the sugary treat. Once I get my sugar and caffeine high, I get back to work.
So little time, so much to do.
I’m fully immersed in my work when a key slides into the door.
I told Alice not to come in on weekends.
“Oh, yoo-hoo, Jules,” an annoying voice singsongs.Hillary?“Your car is in the parking lot.”
God. What does she want?
I do a double take when she appears.
She’s a redhead now?
I’m not talking about Sydney’s beautiful shade or sexy salon shades I’ve seen other women sport. Nope. Hillary’s hair is eerily similar to the Jack-o'-lantern pumpkin bucket color kids use to go trick-or-treating on Halloween. Not a word of a lie.
“Oh, there you are,” she says, stopping in front of the conference room. “Working hard?” she sneers.
Her voice sets me on edge.
“You came to check up on me? I’m touched,” I mock.
Even though it’s Saturday and it’s as hot as Hades outside, Hillary is decked out in a head-to-toe neon green pantsuit. The sheer blouse she’s wearing is in the same screaming shade. So is her bra. The in-your-face color against her red hair is jarring.
What the hell?
She comes and stands in front of me, hovering over me like a witch about to pounce. She curls her lips up in a smug smirk. “Some of us have lives, Jules,” she says. “While you’re slaving, wasting your youth, the duke and I are attending a yacht party in Marina del Rey. This,” she waves her finger up and down the length of her body, “is designer. A gift from my boyfriend,” she answers my unoffered question. “I even got my hair done for the occasion,” she smooths down her flaming-colored hair, a smug smirk perking her lips. “Being a blonde in LA issoooocliché.” Which is why you spend an exorbitant amount at the salon to get Olive and Petula’s hair dyed every six weeks like clockwork? “This hair color is much more New York and the duke says I look much better as a redhead.”Eye roll.“It makes me stand out and give me an air of sophistication.”Clearly the duke doesn’t grasp the meaning of sophistication.
“Do you want me to organize a ticker-tape parade?” I sneer with a bitchy curve of my lips. I’m heaping the sarcasm on, and it doesn’t go unnoticed.
She glares at me.
The tension between us is suffocating.
I have my issues with Hillary, but I still struggle to understand what my father saw in this woman. Her only redeeming quality is she’d beg, steal, and die for her daughters. That said, I doubt she truly ever cared about my father. And from what I’ve observed since his passing, I’m certain she never loved him. Daddy was just a kindhearted man who was lonely when Hillary came crashing into his life. The thing is, Daddy didn’t fall in love easily, and once he did, he couldn’t see anything. Hillary used that to her advantage. Until his last breath, he was oblivious to her faults.
“That won’t be necessary,” she says, checking her manicure. “I thought I’d stop by to talk about the next steps. Given it’s Saturday, I knew I’d find you here.”
“What do you want?” I ask, not bothering to hide my annoyance.
“You’ve been ignoring my text messages and calls all week,” she reprimands.
“I’ve been busy,” I retort. “Remember, you gave me an ultimatum.”
“Yes, and that’s exactly why I’m here. I’m glad you came to your senses about the house.” My jaw clenches. “I might not get much out of it once we sell it, but at least it’ll be lunch money and, when I move to New York,”Condescending bitch,“it’s so important to be seen at the right restaurants.”Eye roll.Hillary wanted to work with a real estate agent she knows. I put my foot down. Levi found me someonehetrusts. That’s good enough for me. Hillary was fuming, but in the end, her greed won over. She’s desperate for her half of the money. “Have you found a way to buy out my shares from this sinking business?” she asks, straightening her shoulders and adjusting her blazer.
God, that color is offensive to the eye.
I stare down at my clasped fingers as a foreign emotion seizes me—rebellion. “Hillary, I have two weeks left. So, calm the hell down.”
