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“Is he on his deathbed?”

I frown. “I don’t think so. They didn’t say it was an emergency.”

“Then put it out of your mind for now. Can you do that?”

The doorbell rings.

I turn to him. “I have no choice.”

12

Ollie

Her emotions flip like a light switch. The doorbell rings. Lux unlocks the door with her phone. She hands me the other items for her desk, and I place them where she points. She dabs at the corners of her eyes, and by the time her coworkers reach the third floor, she’s pasted a smile on her face.

“Hello,” she says, hugging and kissing each person on the cheek.

“Mimi is downstairs. She’s taking a phone call,” the guy dressed all in black says.

Lux straightens up and sucks in a breath, but seconds later, a tall skinny brunette comes up the stairs.

She beelines for Lux and hugs her like she’s an old friend. “Are you ready for your big moment?”

Lux nods. “Yes. I didn’t know you were coming.”

“I wanted to be here for the first one. I’m sure you’ll be your usual gorgeous, extroverted, sexy, and genuine self. And that will make the video perfect. I’m just here to make sure the adornments, lighting, makeup, and angles all play up to you.”

Lux’s smile wavers, but Mimi doesn’t seem to notice. Instead, she turns around and looks at me. There’s a catch in her eyes, that widening I can’t miss even though my attention is only mildly on her.

My gaze is here only for Lux, especially after her confession. I hate that she has to do this even though she’s not feeling up to it.

Mimi is oblivious as she walks up to me and blocks Lux from my view. She’s almost as tall as me. “And you are?”

I extend my hand. “I’m Oliver. I’m Lux’s contractor?—”

“Oliver is my friend,” Lux says behind her. “I wouldn’t just trust any contractor in my personal space.”

The word trust hits me straight in the chest, first her confession about what happened with her father’s friend and now this. I don’t even get to recover from that, because Mimi squeezes my hand and smiles into my face like the Cheshire Cat, just a little more cunning and a lot more polished.

“No wonder she fought to keep you. I must admit, I would have fought too.”

“Excuse me?” Lux fought to keep me?

“Mimi, he’s really just a friend.”

“I’m sure he is.” She winks at me and squeezes my hand a little too tight.

I know women like her. She’s friendly with Lux and suspects there’s something going on between us, but I am sure she would press herself against me and run those overly lined lips over my jaw the second we were alone in a room.

I extricate my hand as gently as I can. “I’ll go finish my measurements and plans adjustments on the other side of the room. I’ll be very quiet so I don’t bother you.”

“You’re not a bother at all. Right, Luxxy?”

Lux is saved from answering because she’s already sitting in a chair, and the make-up artist is spraying something on her face. She has her eyes closed.

I go about my duties, examining the new walls. There’s supposed to be an exact number of wall plugs and connection points for all the electric devices—lighting, sound connectivity, the wiring for the heated floor. I’m only barely paying attention to what’s going on, but from time to time, I look up and watch.

They’re using too much makeup. Lux is already gorgeous. Her skin is glowing, and her lips are edible. She’s perfect the way she is, but they keep drawing lines on her face. I hope Ayla doesn’t ever start doing all this stuff.