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“Finally!” Cameron groaned. “I’ve been telling you to look into it for years.”

Relieved that the focus had finally shifted away from my relationship with Mia, I shrugged. “I just wasn’t ready yet.”

“You’re expanding DawnStar, right?” Taylor asked, her chin resting in the palm of her hand propped on the table.

I nodded. “The gaming industry is growing at a rate that most companies are struggling to keep up with,” I explained. “I’ve found a market where global competitors have yet to enter, and I think we’ll do pretty well.”

“Where are you expanding to?” Hayden asked.

I took a deep breath before answering. “Brazil.”

They all exchanged knowing looks and I sighed, knowing I’d just hammered myself to the wall.

“Is there a, uh,specific reasonyou’re choosing Brazil?”

I leveled a glare at Alex.

“There are several business-centric reasons that I’ve considered,” I said through gritted teeth. “Chief of which is their media industry. It’s still young, and growing fast. If DawnStar can get in there first, we’ll be set for years.”

“Right, right, of course,” Taylor hummed. “Not at all because Brazil is Mia’s home country?”

“Would you all just leave this alone?” I sighed, the situation so frustratingly familiar to what we’d put Cameron and Hayden through as a group.

The difference was that there had obviously been potential with their love interests while Mia was just an employee.

A very treasured employee.

“After all the hell you put me through not too long ago?” Hayden scoffed. “Not likely. You’ve been crushing on Mia foryears, it’s time for you to accept it and admit it.”

“I don’t have to do either of those things because it’s not true,” I argued.

“That’s a lie, Reid,” Cameron added, her dark hair tucked behind one ear. “Why won’t you just admit it?”

My stomach squeezed tightly, and I floundered for an excuse.

A reason, I corrected myself.

“Because there’s nothing to admit,” I insisted.

“Reid?”

My heart launched into my throat and I whipped around to see Mia standing near the table.

“Saved by her crush,” Hayden said under her breath.

I flipped her off and got to my feet.

“Are you joining us?” Hayden asked.

Mia shook her head. “Sorry, ladies,” she said with a sad smile. “I’m on my way back from a meeting and need to speak with Reid before I go back to the office.”

“Pity.” Hayden pouted.

I waved her off and led Mia a few steps away from the table, enough that we were out of earshot.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

Mia tucked a curl behind her ear, looking stunning as always in her pale blue suit. “Rae’s been moved into critical care,” she said quietly, her brows pinched in concern. “Her fiancé said she’s stable but there’s an infection. She’ll be out a little longer.”