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“Tell me about it.” He interlaced our fingers like it was nothing at all. I sighed at the gesture. “What made you choose that industry?”

“I’ve always been a cosmetics freak. These past few years, I started being more mindful about the ingredients. And when I couldn’t find what I wanted, I started making some of my own. My husband used to make fun of me, that I have all that money and yet I’m wasting my time putting together creams like some simpleton.”

Zachary groaned. “Fucking hell.”

I looked up. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I keep bringing him up. I don’t think about him that often, I promise. It’s just...”

“You do what you need to, Grace. I’m not judging you. He sounds like an asshole.”

Those simple words put me at ease. Why was I so used to everyone judging me? Maybe because whenever I brought Roger up around Lais, she insisted that I should just never mention him again. My parents kind of did the same. I knew everyone did it out of love and because they wanted to see me happy, but I appreciated Zachary allowing me leeway.

“Well, you’re right about that. But I’d been toying with the idea of starting the business even during my marriage. The problem was, it caused a huge fight every time I brought it up.”

“He wanted you barefoot and dependent on him. And let me guess, it pissed him off that you were independent because you had your own money.”

“Yes, exactly. How can you tell? It took me so long to see it.”

“I think,” Zachary said, slowly caressing the back of my head with his thumb, “that it’s sometimes easier to see things objectively when you’re not in that situation.”

I nodded. “You’re right. I waited until the divorce was final, so it didn’t get to be a part of our asset divisions. But once I was free, I put all my resources and time into it.”

“You financed it yourself?”

“Part of it, but I also needed investments. Banks weren’t keen on loans. I found some investors. It was hard work because the Deveraux name isn’t really popular nowadays.”

“I’d say I’m sorry, but your brothers deserved it.”

I snorted. “No question about that. Honestly, not even my parents are holding a grudge against Xander. As far as we know, he’s the one who did all the legwork.”

“Yeah, he is.”

“Dad says it’s a good thing he ousted them or else my brothers would’ve probably sunk the company altogether. Can’t believe they would just throw away our family’s legacy like that.”

He frowned. “But it made things difficult for you.Wemade things difficult for you.”

I shook my head. “The way I see it, my brothers are the ones who made it more difficult. Anyway, I got all the investment I needed. I don’t plan to expand for now, so I don’t need more capital. My ambition was to turn a profit as soon as possible. I don’t believe in endless expansion without seeing profit.”

“That’s smart.”

I felt something bloom in my chest at his words and realized how starved I was for praise. It wasn’t just that I wasn’t used to it. I simply didn’t expect it at all, especially from a man who I was dating. It seemed completely foreign to me compared to what I’d experienced.

“Thanks. And it took four months for us to break even.”

“Grace, that’s really impressive. I bet investors lined up at the door after that.”

I nodded proudly. “They did. Even those who turned me away. They insisted that if I was ever looking to expand, they were open to negotiate with me. But for now, I keep working with those who invested from the beginning.”

“I like your business savvy. You’re known for it. One of my grandmothers, Isabeau, mentioned it once.”

“Isabeau,” I said slowly. “Why does that sound familiar?”

“I think every man and his dog in New Orleans knows Isabeau LeBlanc.”

“Wait! I think she was the head of the cotillion the year I attended or something. She was on the committee at least.”

“She’s on a lot of committees, so that doesn’t surprise me. And she was in even more back then.”

“So, what did she say about me?”