chapter thirty
Lily
I WAIT ANXIOUSLY in Violet’s office, wringing my hands in my lap, gnawing on my lip so hard Violet finally hands over a Fleur lip balm without saying a word. I slather on the balm, my eyebrows going up at how it soothes my lips instantly, and I hand it back to her.
She shakes her head. “Keep it. I have a bunch of them in my desk.”
“It works.” I toss the lip balm in my purse.
“I know.” Violet smiles. “It’s good stuff.”
Glancing around, I lean in closer to Violet’s desk and lower my voice. “Is she here?” I know she should be here; the meeting was scheduled for two and it’s a quarter past now. I arrived a few minutes ago. I wanted to be at Fleur when the firing went down.
Guess I want to watch Pilar make the walk of shame out of the building.
Violet sighs. “She’s in Father’s office right now. Ryder is sitting in the meeting with him. I’m sure she loves that.”
“I’m sure that pisses her off,” I mutter, wanting to laugh but I don’t. This is serious business, what Pilar tried to do.
“I’m sure, but I really don’t care.” The smile Violet offers me is nothing short of glorious. She’s thrilled that Pilar is finally getting what she deserves. So am I. “She’s not my problem anymore.”
No, she’s not, thank goodness. “I still feel bad that I didn’t tell you what she was doing sooner.” I have tremendous guilt over it, though everyone—and I mean everyone, right down to my grandma and my father—has reassured me that it’s all right. It doesn’t feel all right, though. I’m just lucky we caught her.
And I have Max, and Levi, to thank for that.
Violet waves a hand, making a dismissive noise. “Stop beating yourself up. It’s over. Your Max saved the day.”
I smile. “He did, didn’t he?”
Turns out Felicity Winston had a case of the guilts herself after Pilar sent her the Fleur product info and she didn’t do anything with it. Yes, she looked everything over and knows all of the company’s future plans, but she told no one, not even any of the execs at Jayne Cosmetics. Fleur lucked out. Violet didn’t have to make any veiled threats, but lawyers were involved, confidentiality agreements were drawn up, and Felicity had to sign them.
Pilar will have a confidentiality agreement to sign as well, once her ass gets canned.
It gives me greatly ridiculous pleasure to think that, let alone say it out loud.
“How is Max, by the way?” Violet asks not so innocently.
“He’s … great.” My voice softens and I know I probably look like a dreamy, lovesick loser but I feel like a dreamy, lovesick loser, so that’s okay. We’ve been together constantly the last few days and I can’t wait to go home to see him. Now that he’s in my life, I can’t imagine being without him.
“Looks like you got struck, too,” Violet says, amusement lacing her voice.
I frown. “What do you mean?”
“Struck by the love bug or whatever. Rose has it. So do I. And now, so do you.”
Funny, how I’d been so envious of my sisters’ relationships, though I told myself I never wanted one. What a lie. I can’t believe how easy it is with Max, how fast it’s happened. But I guess when you know, you know.
And I know Max is the one for me.
“We haven’t talked about love or anything like that,” I start, but she interrupts me.
“Oh, you will. Soon, I’m sure. He seems just as smitten with you as you are with him.” Her knowing smile is downright cocky and I open my mouth, ready to protest—for what reason, I’m not exactly sure—when I hear a commotion just outside Violet’s office door.
We both swing our heads to see Pilar standing in the hallway, our father glaring at her as she faces him, her finger poking his chest as she yells at him.
“You think I’m just going to walk out of here without saying a word, you’ve got another thing coming.” She pokes Daddy in the chest again and he doesn’t try to grab her, doesn’t say a word, but his face is a stone mask, his mouth drawn so tight his lips disappear.
“You called security?” Daddy asks when Ryder strides into view.
“They’re on their way,” Ryder says curtly, his gaze cutting to the glass window wall of Violet’s office. He sees us sitting there and his expression softens, his eyes never leaving Violet.
Pilar notices and focuses her attention on us. Her gaze is narrowed, her face pale save for two high spots of color on her cheeks. I swear she’s so angry I can see her entire body vibrating from where I sit.
“Stupid, smug whores!” she yells as she storms for the open doorway of Violet’s office. “I hate you both! Do you two really think you can ruin me?”
Ryder grabs Pilar’s arm before she can enter Violet’s office, effectively stopping her in her tracks. “You say one more word against my fiancée and you’ll regret it,” I hear him murmur, his deep voice full of barely contained rage.
She sends him a look over her shoulder and then returns all of her attention to us. “You may have won this battle, but you haven’t won the war. Not by a long shot.”
Violet and I say nothing. What can we say? I wish she’d just go away. I’m sure Violet feels the same.
Pilar jerks her arm out of Ryder’s hold and sends us a withering stare before she stands tall and starts to stride down the hall, Daddy following after her. I hear him speak to someone else—I can only assume it’s the security that Ryder just summoned—and Ryder enters Violet’s office, going straight to her as she leaps from her chair and practically falls into his arms.
“It’s done,” Ryder says as he runs his hand up and down Violet’s back, as if he’s trying to soothe her. “She said nothing when we presented the emails between her and Felicity Winston. She really started to protest when the Zachary emails appeared, though. That’s when I called security. They’ll escort her out of the building.”
“Did she sign the confidentiality agreement?” Violet asks as she looks up at him.
Ryder nods. “We made sure she did that before the Zachary emails came up. Your father handled it all beautifully. Never even broke a sweat.”
I’m strangely proud to hear it. “What about you, Ryder? Did you break a sweat?”
“Nah, though I did want to wring her neck with my bare hands.” He smiles, then drops a kiss on Violet’s lips. “It’s over, baby. She’s out of our lives for good.”
“Hopefully,” Violet adds.
“No hopefully. What’s done is done. Her career in the cosmetics industry is most likely over, but I’m sure she’ll reinvent herself. Or somehow convince someone she’s worth the trouble,” Ryder says with a shake of his head. “She did a lot for me …” His voice drifts and he almost looks guilty.
My sister snaps him back to reality. “But she also held you back,” Violet points out as she slowly withdraws from his arms, turning to face me. “Maybe you should start working at Fleur, Lily. With Rose gone and now Pilar, too, we need someone. And I’d like to keep it in the family.”
I blink in surprise. I can’t believe my sister is suggesting I come to work at Fleur. “I appreciate your faith in me, but I have plans of my own.”
Violet frowns. “What are you talking about?”
“I think I’m going to work with Max. Put my hacking skills to good use,” I admit, feeling embarrassed. I hope she doesn’t think that’s a stupid idea. It’s been fun, discussing plans for the future with Max. Not just fun, but exciting. I’ve never been one to think far ahead but with Max, it’s all I want to do.
Violet’s frown turns into a small smile, her eyes lighting up. “That’s … amazing. I love the idea. Father will be so proud.”
“You think so?” I’m pleased at the idea that I could truly make my father proud. I don’t think he’s been proud of anything I’ve ever done.
Ever.
“I know so. We’d love to have you at Fleur but completely understand that you’d rather work with Max. That sounds more like your calling, so I get it.” Violet smiles and steps closer to me, holding out her arms. I go to her and we embrace, clutching each other tight. “Go where it feels right, Lily,” she murmurs close to my ear.
That’s the best advice anyone’s ever given me.