CHAPTER 1

Standing up from my chair and walking to the window with a cup of coffee, I look out and take in the scene before me. Many cars are trying to beat traffic and make it to work in the city of Austin. A crowd of people swarms the sidewalk heading towards the various buildings in the center of the city. I take a deep breath as the morning sun shines on my face. A ring sounds, snapping me out of my thoughts. Setting my coffee mug on the table, I pick up my phone. The caller ID reads Daddy with a crown emoji beside it.

“Hello, Dad,” I say, answering the phone.

“How are you, Delilah? Are we still on for lunch today?” 

“You saw me before I went to work this morning,” I reply, shaking my head and smiling. I can’t believe he’s worried about how I’m doing.

“It doesn’t matter. A lot can happen in an hour or two.”

“Really, Dad?” He’s nothing if not protective. If the man had his way, I wouldn’t work at all, but it hasn’t always been like this. We only became close after my mom died and I moved to the states from Nigeria to live with him. My parents were divorced, so I lived in Nigeria with my mom until she passed when I was fourteen. But once I was here, my dad quickly made up for lost time, and we’ve been inseparable ever since.

“Yes, really.” He chuckles before continuing, “But did you still want to meet for lunch? I forgot to ask you before you left the house this morning. I need to know if I should reschedule my meetings or not.” Dad works as a mechanical engineer and sits on the board of Tesla, so he’s able to adjust his schedule.

“If you can make it work, I’d still like to meet. I want to discuss my proposal with you before meeting the investors later.” A group of investors are coming into my office today. With the help of my dad and my best friend, I have managed to build a successful architectural firm in just three years. Now, my plan is to expand my business into real estate development. As an architect, I only design houses; I don’t build them. I want to develop and sell. It won’t be easy, but it’s possible with the right set of investors. And I’m up for the challenge.

“No problem, dear. I’ll have Jeremy pick you up from your office.”

“No need to send your driver; I’ll meet you there.”

“Alright, see you later dear, bye,” he says, hanging up the phone.

Despite myself, I can’t help the smile stretching across my face as I look through my proposal once more. This is going to be a huge step, both for the company and for myself. Something big is going to happen today, I can feel it. And I can’t wait.

***

I finally make it back to the office after spending more time than I meant  to at lunch with Dad. I was so focused on pitching my proposal to him I forgot I also had to be on time for the actual meeting. I rush into the room, hoping the investors might be late and my absence won’t be why the discussion hasn’t started.

“Oh, thank God. They haven’t  arrived,” I say, walking into the mostly empty boardroom.

“You are fortunate,” Camila—my best friend and partner—says, turning around in her seat as I enter. I’d met Camila in college, and shortly after graduating when we were twenty-two, we’d started our company— D&C Inc. She’s my partner, but her skillset is altogether different. Camila is an engineer, and a brilliant one at that. I couldn’t imagine working without her. Though we both bring something different to our company, we always make a point to sit side-by-side during any meetings to show our level of authority is equal.

Getting comfortable in the chair beside hers, I notice how she’s adjusting her appearance, using her phone’s front-camera to see herself.. Her hand fluffs her black hair and she lightly pinches her cheeks making them rosy before smacking her lips against each other to spread her light pink lipstick.

“Why are you checking yourself out, Camila? We are about to have a business meeting, not a double date.”

“I know, but have you seen the man coming to negotiate? He’s hot. I have to look my best, and so do you.” Camila tries to undo a few of my top buttons.

“Why are you trying to show off my cleavage?” I slap her hands away from my blouse.

“If I can’t win his heart, maybe you can. It’s long overdue for you to get a boyfriend,” she says, moving to fix my hair.

“Don’t you have a boyfriend? And besides, there is no way I would date one of our investors. It wouldn’t be professional.”

“Danny and I broke up last night.” A hint of sadness seeps into her tone.

“Again?” I ask, frowning.

“Yeah.”

“How long has it been this time?” Camila and her boyfriend never stay broken up for more than a few days. It’s an endless cycle of breaking up and getting back together. I don’t know why my beautiful friend wastes her love on such an idiot. I hate Danny with a passion. He’s an arrogant bully who takes my friend’s feelings for granted. I wish she would see that he is not worth her time and leave him for good one day.

“It’s only been a day, but I believe we’re truly done this time.”

“Yeah, and I am fair-skinned,” I say, rolling my eyes and gesturing towards my obviously dark complexion.

“What’s that supposed to mean? I’m serious; we broke up for real this time. I am not going back to him, even if he begs me.”

“Whatever,” I huff.

“I am ser—”

“Miss Stephen,” my assistant interrupts, poking her head through the door.

“Yes?”

“They’re here, ma’am.”

“Oh,” I say, standing as she opens the door further to usher everyone inside.

Camila also stands, and we approach the door together, but my skirt snags on something as I’m walking. Bending down, I try to remove it without causing the fabric to rip. I successfully untangle my skirt from the edge of the table without ruining it, thankfully. It’s high time I get new boardroom tables.

I lift my head, my hand stretching out to greet the investor but stop moving mid-way. Blinking rapidly to make sure my eyes are working correctly, I look at the man in front of me, and all I can think is what a sick joke the universe is playing on me right now. Anyone else among the billions of people on this earth could be here today, but it just had to be him. Are you kidding me?

His stunning gray eyes light up as Camila speaks to him. I watch as a smile spreads across his face the more Camila tries to make him comfortable. His dimples begin to show even with the slightest curve of his lips. A wave of pain goes through my heart the more I look at him. He hasn’t changed one bit. His eyelashes are still the longest and fullest I have ever seen in my life, and the way they fan his face—Oh, Lord. He finally notices me, and I watch his plump, red lips pull into a smirk once they take in the shocked expression on my face. He steps closer, moving past Camila, but I can’t move an inch. I just stand in place, waiting  for him to get to me.

“Hello, darlin’, it’s been ages. Did you miss me?” He asks, filling the room with that broad southern accent of his.

When I hear his voice, the feelings I’ve held at bay in my heart all these years come back in full force, and without thinking, I lift my hand and almost land it hard across his face. Tears of anger build in my eyes as he holds my right hand in the air.

“Still feisty as before. I’m not surprised,” he says, the smirk on his face growing wider.

“Get out.” I pull my hand from his grasp and point toward the door.

“Ch—”

“Don’t you dare call me that.” I cut him off before the word leaves his mouth.

“Lilah, what are you doing?” Camila asks, rushing to my side. I’m sure she must be wondering why in God’s name I would speak to our investor like this when I know we need him to make our dream a reality.

“I’ll explain later, but right now, he needs to leave.”

“Why? Do you know him? Did he do something to you?” She asks, looking between us, confused.

“Did he do something to me?” I repeat, laughing dryly. “I think I should let Mr. Beau Williams answer that himself.”

“Mr. Williams,” Camila says, turning around to face him.

“I forgot to mention during our meeting that I am Delilah’s ex-boyfriend.”

Camila’s eyes widen, and she meets my gaze. “He’s that Beau?”

“Yes, let me introduce you. Meet Beau Williams, my ex-boyfriend,” I say, glaring at him. I can’t believe he showed his face after what he did. I feel like killing him right now.