Page 26 of Charm (Billionaire Buck Boys #7)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Greer

We exit the building without one word passing between us. I know Krista is heartbroken. I hate that. Causing her pain is the last thing I want to do, but I felt as though I was tossed into a lion’s cage when I walked into that meeting room.

“Krista.” I grab her shoulder from behind before she can rush off. “Stop, please.”

“Why?” Her voice carries over the late morning hum in the heart of Manhattan.

People mill about around us. Cars pass by on the street, and the constant noises of the city surround us, but none of it drowns out the pain in her tone.

“I have to talk to you,” I say calmly. “Please turn around.”

She does, and I’m met with bloodshot, reddened eyes.

It’s an instant reminder of the day Celia died.

I was the one who broke the news to Krista.

On that cold, rainy afternoon, she’d stared at me, trying to understand what I had just said.

I was trying to do the same. I struggled to piece together how my vibrant best friend, who had so much to look forward to in life, was no longer laughing, planning, and gushing about everything the future had in store for her.

I pull Krista close, hugging her tightly. “I’m sorry, Krista.”

Her arms circle me much the same way they did when we lost Cels. “I’m at a loss for what happened back there. The way you acted was so… it wasn’t like you at all, Greer. I’m really confused.”

The calmness in her voice gives me hope. Maybe we can get through this. Maybe there’s a chance she’ll give me the answers I need.

“I’m confused, too,” I say.

“About what?” she asks, her eyes searching my face for something. Maybe it’s a clue as to why I was so rude in the meeting or why I ended it so abruptly.

“When exactly did you connect with the Sheppards?” I ask tentatively because I don’t want her to shut down on me.

“A few months ago, I guess.” She looks toward a passing taxi. “Can we talk about all of this later? I feel overwhelmed right now. I don’t know how I’ll be able to make the move to LA work without this sale.”

I don’t know if that’s an overt attempt to make me feel guilty, but that’s exactly what’s happening. Being responsible for Krista not chasing her dreams would leave me so guilt-ridden that I would come to resent the business.

I know that because I know myself.

I also know that I’m angry with her for not discussing a potential sale with me when she realized it was what she wanted and there was a possibility that it could happen.

“Did they approach you, or did you approach them?” I ask, ignoring her plea to talk about this later.

I can’t give her time right now because I sense Holden Sheppard is going to track me down before the end of the day.

She shakes her head in frustration. “Jameson came into the store one day. He introduced himself right away and asked about the business.”

“What did he ask?”

Krista half-shrugs. “He was interested in a few of our products. Apparently, he’d been in the week before that and had picked up some of the passion fruit gummies, and the cinnamon poppers we introduced last fall. He loved them both.”

Since I came up with those recipes, I should feel pride in knowing he liked them, but I don’t. For all I know, Jameson hated everything, but wanted to gain the upper hand by pretending to love our offerings.

“Did he ask you straight out if you wanted to sell, Krista?”

“Not right away,” she answers with her gaze locked on mine. “He said that he knew how hard of an industry we’re in, and that the competition is fierce.”

He’s right about that. I debated jumping into the candy space, but my need to fulfill Celia’s ambitions won out in the end. That’s changed since we launched, though. I love the business, and the prospect of passing the torch to my daughter eventually leaves me teary-eyed.

“When exactly did the subject of selling Sweet Indulgence to Carden come up?” I try to keep my tone even.

I know I should be transparent and tell her about what happened in East Hampton between Holden and me, but I’m still trying to wrap my mind around it.

Her gaze drops to the sidewalk, so mine follows.

I watch silently as she kicks a gum wrapper with the toe of her shoe before mumbling something about people who litter.

Just as I’m about to repeat my question, her hand dives into her purse. Her phone pops out. She taps the screen and exhales. “It was about two months ago. That’s when Jameson first mentioned that Carden would be interested in buying the company.”

“You’re sure?” I ask because this is too important for her not to be certain.

She flips her phone around to show me something, but it’s back facing her before I have a chance to see anything.

“Jameson sent me a text message exactly two months ago today asking if I had ever considered selling.” She tilts her head slightly while looking at me. “I responded that I was.”

Without asking me.

I want to point that out, but this is not the time to remind her of that. She set out on a path to get everything in place to sell our business without considering what I wanted.

“Anyways.” She sighs heavily. “I’d like to go home, Greer. I have the worst headache. Can you handle the delivery this afternoon on your own?”

I tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear. “I can. I will.”

“Should I tell Howie that we’re not moving?”

The question stings because she’s putting a burden on me that isn’t only mine to shoulder. If she had given me more of a heads-up about everything going on in her life behind the scenes over the past few months, I would have been better prepared for today.

Although I can’t blame her for the shock I felt walking into that conference room to see Joe standing there.

Holden…his name is Holden.

“I’ve had a lot thrown at me the past couple of weeks, Krista.” I manage a small smile. “We need to discuss this more. Let’s sit on things for a day or two, and talk again, okay?”

A grin spreads over her lips, instantly changing her expression. “I can’t tell if that means there’s still hope for the sale to go through, but I’m going to believe there is until you tell me otherwise.”

I won’t confirm or deny that there’s hope because I feel numb right now. Making a decision that will alter so many lives requires a clear mind. My mind is cluttered with memories of East Hampton and thoughts of Celia at the moment.

“I’ll go now.” She reaches forward to hug me. “I love you, Greer.”

“I love you,” I whisper. “I always will.”