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“I’m so fucking in love with you,” I mutter.
Our lips crash together again. We have to force ourselves away from one another. Her hair is a mess, and her lips are swollen. My cock is rock hard.
“I think you’re the one who’s bad for business,” she says, adjusting her clothes as I slide on my shirt.
“Oh, I absolutely am, but I’m so damn good for you too.”
“Theonlyone for me.”
“The only one who can handle you.”
She scoffs as she walks toward her door with a sassy smile. “Barely.”
I goto my loft and shower. It’s a bit past six, and I don’t have to arrive at Lustre’s headquarters until eight, so I have plenty of time. Once I’m dressed, I quickly make a cup of coffee and a bowl of oatmeal, then grab the letter Billie gave me the day before.
I pick it up and smooth my fingers across my sister’s handwriting. My heart lurches forward when I see she drew hearts over thei’s in Billie’s name. Carefully, I unfold the letter.
Billie,
I want to offer a huge congratulations on what you and Harper have accomplished with Bellamore in such a short time. You should be very proud, considering how competitive the market is. Because I know you and how independent you are, I don’t imagine you’d ever accept anyone’s help regarding your company, but I want you to know that Banks’s Advertising and Marketing Firmis always watching out for you. However, that’s not all I want to discuss.
I want you to know how dangerous Josh Lustre is. I know you two have just started dating, and it seems serious, but he’s a scoundrel. He knows nothing about fashion. He chose you because you’re a shining star and you have precisely what he needs to continue pushing his shady-as-fuck company forward.
For two weeks, I’ve contemplated whether I should warn you or not, and with good conscience, I can’t ignore this. He needs you not as a life partner, but as a business partner. Never collaborate with him. Do not give him too many details about what you’re working on. Protect your brand!
I know a piece-of-shit CEO when I see one, and not to mention, he’s a known cheater. Once he’s given the opportunity, he will do to you what he did to the other women he dated in the past. Refuse to sign an NDA with him.
Now, the next thing I want to discuss is my younger brother. I’m aware—along with the entire planet—that you and Asher don’t get along and have disliked each other since college. He can be a total asshole and push things too far, especially when he’s right. I know how much he gets under your skin, and trust me when I say, you do the same to him. However, the two of you could be great together. I promise this isn’t me writing a letter to tell you to stop seeing Josh and date my brother, but you should.
Why? Because I see the way you two look at one another. I see how when you’re together in the same room, everyone else disappears. Even though you twogo back and forth constantly, you each enjoy it. Please promise that once you’ve healed from Josh, you’ll give Asher a chance.
As your friend, I want you to be happy.
As a sister, I want my brother to be happy.
I’m confident you could be happy together.
The two of you are a match made in heaven, and maybe, some days, you are more of a match made in hell, but regardless, you are still a match. I’ve always imagined the two of you together, and the thought brings me so much joy that I can barely contain it. I don’t know how to get the two of you from hate to like to love, but I know it’s meant to be. Destined.
Harper and I have discussed this heavily, and she mentioned that you didn’t want any of her love prophecies, but you didn’t tell that to me.
One day, you WILL be my sister, and I can’t wait to dance at your wedding. Also, I know you’re rolling your eyes as you read this, which is fine. I can’t wait to tell you I told you so.
The last thing I want to discuss is how you caught me and Brody together. Please don’t tell anyone about our relationship. We’re falling in love and I’d like to keep our secret safe for now.
Thank you for being a great friend.
Eden
.
.
.
P.S. Please destroy this letter when you’re finished reading it. I don’t want it to get into the wrong hands.
My eyes blurwith tears as I set the letter down, trying to process everything I read about Josh and me and her secret relationship with Brody. After her death, he avoided me, and things just weren’t the same between us. For years, I thought I’d done something to him, but it never had anything to do with me. He was secretly in love with my sister, and no one knew it other than him, Eden, and Billie. Brody has been secretly mourning her, and knowing that nearly breaks me.