Lyla

I feel like one of the biggest weights ever has been lifted off my shoulders. I hate voting in the board meetings, because no one ever wants to tell me anything—or give me the time I need to look over whatever it is we’re voting on. They just expect me to vote the way they want me to. Guil is fast on his feet, and he knows the business world, so I trust him to do this for me.

Once he’s packed a bag and we’ve stopped by the bank to have the papers he printed out notarized, we’re on the road to Newport. He’s driving his Bugatti today, because we both agreed throwing his money around is the right choice with my family.

Don’t get me wrong, they’re not all bad, just ignorant of the world around them sometimes. They live within their own little bubble, with the same friends they’ve had for years, and the same thoughts about life as well. “If it ain’t broke, why fix it” is their reasoning as to why they’re living like it’s still the 1980s. Brad and I never fit into their mold, but I pretended to. My brother never did, and I sometimes wonder if his recklessness cost him his life. It’s something I’ve been avoiding asking Guil about, but I promise myself I will once this is all over.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got this handled,” he tells me, reaching over to take my hand in his as he battles the crush of Southern California traffic.

“I know.”

“Are you sure? You seem to be thinking pretty hard over there.”

“Just a lot to think about.”

“Do you need a sounding board?”

“Not yet. I will soon, but right now, I just want to focus on this meeting. My parents aren’t going to be happy with my wardrobe choice,” I tell him, looking down at my short black dress with a white design over the top. It’s loose on top and bottom with a tapered waist.

“You look stunning, as always.”

“Thanks, but I’m usually in a power suit my mother’s picked out for me, or something ultra-feminine.”

“I’m glad you’re dressing for yourself.”

“So am I, but I know there will be comments. They’re also going to give you a hard time, you know. Just because they welcome you into our home doesn’t mean they’re going to be okay with you voting for me.”

“We’re going to present a united front. The shares are yours, and there’s nothing they can do about you choosing me.”

“You’re trying to be logical about people who value power over logic.”

“I’m pretty powerful.”

“That you are,” I agree.

I’m counting on his power to get us through this. Not just the meeting, but going public with our relationship as well. My parents tolerate him, because of his wealth and status, but they have told me time and again to stay away from him. Mostly because of his friendship with Calum. Both of them have hidden his connection to the clubs from everyone, but he’s still been “tainted” by association. They aren’t going to welcome us with open arms, but I don’t need them to. All I need is him by my side.

“Lyla,” my mother exclaims when I walk into the conference room. She starts to walk toward me, but stops short when she sees I’m not alone. “Guil?”

“Hello.”

My father walks up, a condescending look on his face. “This is a private board meeting. If you need to talk to us, we can set up a time later today. You really should’ve called.”

“He’s here to vote for me,” I tell them.

“No.”

“Yes. Lyla and I signed the papers before we came here.”

“You can’t vote for her! Not in this.”

“Why not this?” I ask, confused.

“He’s too connected to this,” my mother answers.

“It has something to do with Corrigan & Co.?”

“What? No. Why would you think that?”

“It’s where he works.”

My father eyes him shrewdly, looking for any sign of weakness. Guil just stares back at him, his eyes like ice. I feel like there’s more going on here, but I don’t know what it could be. My father is the first to break the silence strung tight between them.

“You know what this vote is, don’t you?”

“I do.”

“And you manipulated my daughter into giving you control so you could stop it.”

What? What is he talking about. “Guil?” I ask, but he ignores me, his eyes still on my father.

“You didn’t really think Calum would sit back and allow you to try and come for his company did you? Or that I would allow it?”

“What?” I ask, completely blindsided. This is about Calum’s company? Has all of this been about helping his friend? Was all of what I thought we shared just a lie? A manipulation to protect Calum and his business from my family? When Guil can’t look me in the eyes, I have my answer.

* * *

Guil

I can’t look at Lyla right now. Not when I know she’s going to be feeling betrayed, pissed, hurt—all of it. I deserve her anger, but it kills me to know I hurt her. I knew it was coming and I can’t say I was powerless to stop it, but I chose not to. When your childhood best friend asks you as he’s dying to make sure your other best friend is protected, you do what you have to do. Even if that means using the woman you’ve fallen in love with to make it happen.

“Take back your votes right now, Lyla,” her father bellows.

“I don’t know that I can.”

“You can,” I tell her.

I had to give her that out. No matter what was at stake and the promises I’d made, I had to give her the chance to destroy all of my plans. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t. Her brother would forgive me and I’m pretty sure Calum will as well if she goes that route. I’m hoping she won’t.

“Why give me the chance when you knew this would all come out?”

“Because you deserve to always make your own choices.”

“What do I need to do to make that happen?”

Shit. I honestly thought she’d trust me, and not take me up on my offer. “Just say the words.”

“I want my vote back.”

“It’s yours.”

“Get out,” her father repeats, and I do as he says.

I have no choice, but I need to know she’s going to talk to me when this is over—that she’ll let me explain.

“Lyla.”

“Goodbye, Guil.”

The finality in her voice slays me, but I know it’s my own fault. I walk out, hitting my speed dial for Calum as I make my way to the elevator. When he answers, he speaks before I have a chance to.

“It fell apart, didn’t it?”

“She’s voting her own shares as we speak. I was asked to leave.”

“We knew this was a possibility.”

“I’m sorry. I fucked it all up.”

“You had two promises to keep, and they counteracted each other. There was never going to be a way for you to give Lyla a chance and to save my company from an attack.”

“If I’d only been smarter and just used her.”

“It would’ve been worse if you’d just done that.”

“I’m pretty sure she thinks I did.”

“But, you didn’t. And as for the company, let them come if she’s angry enough to vote with them. I’ve been expecting them and I’m not going down without a fight.”

“I’m right there with you.”

“I’m going to head back to Vegas to talk to Matt. I’ll see you there?”

“Yes. I have the unfinished business Reina’s helping me with and I think I might take Miles up on the offer of an office at C&C.”

“Good. I trust the managers we have at the clubs and I don’t think your working for him will interfere with the consulting for me.”

“If it did, you know I’d choose you.”

“Damn straight. Talk to you soon, brother.”

“Yep.”

I hang up and take a seat in the lobby. I don’t know how long the meeting’s going to last, but I need to see Lyla. No matter where we’re at or what’s going to happen with us in the future, I need to talk to her. If only to tell her my feelings for her are real.

* * *

Lyla

“Are we ready to vote?” the Chairman of the Board asks after skimming over the proposal I know everyone else was clued into before the meeting.

Everyone nods and I manage to do it along with them, even though I feel like I’m going to throw up. Hearing them talk about Calum’s company and what they want to do to it makes me realize why Guil needed to save it. I’m pissed and hurt, but I get it. I just wish he’d trusted me enough to tell me what was going on.

The voting goes around the table and my father smiles when it’s my turn. “All you have to do is say ‘aye’ to make this official.”

“Nay.”

The room erupts as I say the word, but I don’t care. It’s the right choice and the only one I could make and still live with myself. I will not sit by and let my grandfather’s company be used to hurt someone else, just because society doesn’t like the other business he owns. And that’s what this is—a witch hunt for Calum because of his clubs.

“You know Guil used you, manipulated you. How could you do this to us after that?”

“What happened with Guil is between me and him. As for this, how could I not vote against it? The plan you’ve put forth is completely ridiculous.”

“You will not live under my roof and talk to me this way.”

“I was already planning to move out. I love you, but I won’t live the way you do, looking down on anyone who doesn’t meet your expectations.”

I walk out before anyone says more to me. This meeting and all that happened were beyond emotionally draining, and I’m done. Just completely done.

Which means I’m not at my best when I spot Guil waiting in the lobby. I want to punch him and kiss him, and just make him tell me I was more than just a vote.

I knew going into this I had an uphill battle. He always saw me as the kid sister of his friend, and never as more. I thought he was finally seeing me, but I don’t know. It’s the not knowing that’s killing me now, but I’m afraid to ask for the truth. If he says what I want, can I believe him? And if he says it was all I lie, could I survive it? For the moment, ignorance is bliss.

“I voted against the plan. You can go now.”

“I’m not waiting here to talk about the vote. I want to talk about us.”

I have to stay strong. “There is no ‘us’ any longer. If there ever was.”

“There was. My feelings for you have never been a lie.”

“What exactly are those feelings?”

“You know I love you.”

“Do I? How would I know when you’ve never told me?”

“I thought you knew. I thought I was showing you.”

“I didn’t. I don’t.”

“I love you. I’ll say the words as often as you need me to.”

My heart wants to soar, but my head keeps it in check. “I wish I believed you, because I love you too. But, you do know that, and you still did this to me.”

“What I did in regard to the vote had nothing to do with my feelings for you.”

“Really? Because I’m pretty sure you used my feelings to steal my vote from me.”

“If I was doing that, I wouldn’t have given you a way out in the paperwork.”

“Is that going to make you sleep well tonight? Knowing you gave me a choice I might never have known about?”

“You could’ve read the papers.”

He did not just go there. But yeah, he did. “Goodbye Guil. Have a nice life.”

I turn and walk outside before he can say another word to me. I’m done being manipulated but the people who supposedly love me. Just done.