Page 24 of Designing Love (Bluewater Cove #2)

BOARDROOM BANTER

Sophia

S am’s downtown office is bright and minimalist, with walls painted in varying shades of tasteful grey and ivory.

It is designed to soothe clients’ frazzled nerves — or at least lull them into complacency before their next hefty bill.

A potted fern sits in the corner, valiantly clinging to life beneath the artificial office lights.

I drum my fingertips against the polished conference table, adjusting my blazer sleeves for what must be the twentieth time.

A bold-color blazer has always been my go-to power outfit.

I remember Daniel always saying I should wear black.

“More business-like ," he would say. But I knew he thought bold colors attracted too much attention — it was a distraction.

Nervous energy flutters beneath my ribs, mixing awkwardly with anticipation. Sam shuffles his papers into neat stacks at my side, every gesture annoyingly calm.

“Sam,” I whisper impatiently. “Stop that. You’re stressing me out.”

His eyes sparkle mischievously behind his tortoiseshell glasses. “Sophia, it’s my solemn duty, as your legal representative, to ensure you always suffer maximum stress.”

I roll my eyes. “You’re terrible.”

“And yet, you keep me around.” He grins reassuringly, gently nudging my elbow. “Relax. You’ve got this.”

Before I can respond, the door swings open abruptly.

Day three of these board-room marathons, and Daniel still enters like he owns the oxygen. I straighten instinctively, chin lifting slightly in defiance. His expression hardens briefly before melting into that practiced smile I’ve grown to loathe.

“Sophia,” Daniel greets smoothly, his voice a practiced, neutral tone.

I nod briefly, forcing calm neutrality into my voice. “Daniel.”

“Daniel,” Sam replies.

Daniel claims the seat opposite me, sharply adjusting his tie, his gaze flicking briefly toward Sam. “Samuel.”

Sam’s eyes twinkle with barely restrained amusement.

Daniel turns back to me. “I hope you’re ready to talk reasonably today, Sophia.”

Yesterday’s session ended when you flung the term ‘art school hobbyist’ across the table… Wonder who’s not reasonable.

“I’m always reasonable, Daniel. You’re usually the one trying to set things on fire.”

He smirks, feigning amusement. “Funny.”

Sam clears his throat pointedly. “Alright, everyone. Let’s keep the insults minimal today. I’ve got lunch plans.”

Daniel narrows his eyes at Sam, who just smiles innocently, flipping open a leather portfolio.

“Sophia’s settlement offer is clear: she’s proposing a full dissolution of your joint business holdings.

She’s offering you a generous payout in exchange for complete dissolution.

We’re willing to increase by 10% the buyout. ”

Daniel leans back, arms crossed arrogantly. “Generous is subjective.”

“You know exactly how fair that offer is,” I interject evenly, my voice firm but calm. “Frankly, I’m surprised you’re even hesitating. It’s more than you should be getting.”

He eyes me skeptically, his fingers tapping rhythmically against his arm. “Why the sudden hurry, Sophia? Why is running back to your beach house fantasy that important?”

My fingers tighten around the edge of the table. “What I choose to do after our partnership ends is none of your business.”

“You’re blowing up years of hard work over what, a midlife crisis in some backwater town?”

My pulse quickens, irritation prickling beneath my skin. “Better that than spending another second playing second fiddle in your ego-driven circus. I’ve had enough. We’ve been growing apart for a decade.”

Sam chuckles, flipping through documents. “I warned you, Daniel. Behave and be reasonable.”

I shoot Sam a half-amused glare, grateful despite myself for his humor.

Daniel’s jaw clenches tightly, irritation clearly mounting. “All jokes aside, Sophia, your so-called fresh start won’t erase what you’ve built here — with me. You’re walking away from something valuable.”

“I built it despite you, Daniel,” I remind him softly. “Not because of you. And yet, you’ll be reaping the rewards of my hard work.”

He leans forward, tone turning patronizingly gentle. “Soph, come on. I know you’re angry, but let’s be realistic… we were good business partners. We can still be even if we couldn’t make our marriage work.”

A sudden sharp knock at the door interrupts his attempt at condescension, making us all jump slightly. An intern peers nervously inside, clutching a stack of papers. “Sorry, Mr. Green, your signature?”

Sam smiles patiently, nodding. “Be right there, thanks.”

Daniel sighs irritably. “What’s with the interruption? That’s no way to run a business. This would not happen at my firm.”

Sam rolls his eyes before glancing between us. “If you two set another pen on fire like you did yesterday, billable hours triple.” He pauses, eyes twinkling.

As the door clicks shut behind him, tension fills the room, thickening uncomfortably. Daniel taps his pen against the glossy table, eyeing me intently. “Our VC backers will sue both of us if you gut the firm.”

“Then you’d better warn them to join the queue, Daniel — because once this agreement is signed, every liability still sitting on the books has your name on it, not mine. I’m taking the assets I built; you can keep the skeletons you hid in the closet.”

He scoffs.

“So, it’s really this Ethan guy?”

My stomach tightens, but I manage to keep my voice neutral. “I’m not having this conversation.”

He smiles, the edges brittle. “That’s a yes.”

“That’s a ‘none of your business.’”

His eyebrows shoot upward, momentarily startled before settling back into arrogant indifference. “Funny, I never saw you as the small-town romance type.”

“And I never thought you’d stoop to sabotaging a small-town renovation project,” I fire back, eyes narrowing.

He leans forward, voice low and sharp. “I had to get your attention somehow.”

“Congratulations. You have it. But you’re not getting anything else.”

“Sophia…”

“No, Daniel.” My voice remains steady, and my confidence is surprising even to me. “No more negotiating, no more waiting. Take the settlement.”

He hesitates, frustration evident. “You really think paying me off fixes everything?”

“Of course not. But it fixes you. I’m buying you out of my life.”

The words echo powerfully between us, reverberating through the silence. Daniel’s jaw twitches, pride visibly bruised. He exhales slowly, running a tense hand through his carefully styled hair.

Before he can reply, Sam returns, slipping quickly back into his chair and shuffling papers. “All right, folks. Any progress? Or should I have lunch delivered?”

I lean back, not breaking eye contact with Daniel. “Ask Daniel if he’s ready to accept the offer.”

Daniel sighs dramatically, shaking his head as if in defeat. “You know, Sophia, you’re making a huge mistake.”

“Maybe. But at least it’s mine. Not yours.”

He pauses, clearly assessing me with frustration. Finally, he sighs, shoulders slumping fractionally. “Fine. Increase my payout by another 10% and I’ll accept.”

Relief floods through me so powerfully that I nearly sag in my chair.

Sam gives me a side look. I nod, indicating that I’m accepting Daniel’s terms.

“Give me 15 minutes to print a new version.” Sam gets up and leaves the office.

I sneak a peek at my phone. 17 missed texts from Ethan, two from Claire.

“Somewhere you have to be?”

“Hoping to swing by the office and thank everyone for their years of dedication.”

Daniel shakes his head.

“I hope he’s worth it when you’re living in a dilapidated house, no clients, no career…”

“Daniel, just don’t…”

Sam comes back in, unfazed as always, drops into his chair and puts the papers in front of me. My hand trembles as I sign the final page.

Sam slides the papers neatly in Daniel’s direction, tapping them pointedly. “You know how it works, Mr. Big Shot Lawyer. Signatures here and here, and there, please.”

As Daniel signs, Sam’s eyes sparkle at me. “See, Sophia? Easy.”

I laugh weakly, adrenaline finally easing. “Oh yes, completely painless.”

Daniel straightens, pushing the papers toward Sam. “Satisfied?”

I meet his gaze steadily. “Immensely.”

He rises stiffly, adjusting his jacket. “Good luck with your fixer-upper fantasy. Don’t come crying to me when it falls apart.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” I say coolly, watching him stride briskly from the room.

Sam waits until the door closes behind him before exhaling. “Well, that was entertaining.”

I slump slightly in my seat, tension finally loosening. “Entertaining isn’t exactly the word I’d use.”

“You look peeled.”

“I feel peeled.”

He grins broadly, nudging my elbow playfully. “Admit it. You enjoyed it just a little.”

“Maybe a tiny bit,” I admit grudgingly. “But only because I had a front-row seat to Daniel’s ego imploding.”

“Spectacular, wasn’t it?” Sam teases, eyes softening. “Seriously, Soph, you handled that beautifully.”

I smile faintly, fiddling nervously with the edge of my jacket. “Thank you. For everything.”

He winks gently. “My pleasure. You’re worth it.”

I reach for my phone, my heart suddenly fluttering. “You mind if I…”

“Go. Tell Ethan you’re officially a free agent.”

I grin gratefully, pushing my chair back hurriedly. “I owe you dinner.”

“I’ll accept margaritas instead,” he calls after me as I hurry out, dialing Ethan’s number eagerly. “Call me with good news!”

I pause in the quiet hallway, phone ringing softly in my ear, heartbeat racing with anticipation. Please pick up, Ethan.

His voicemail kicks in, and my stomach twists nervously. I hesitate.

I hang up, breathing shakily. Despite the lingering anxiety, relief surges through me powerfully.

It’s finally done — no more Daniel, no more Vancouver, just Bluewater Cove and Ethan.

I need to share the news with him. In person.

I pick up my phone and book the next flight back to Pearson. I’ll arrange for someone to clear out my office and things from the condo.

There’s a place on the midnight flight. That gives me enough time to swing by the office and say my goodbyes.

I text Sage.

Me : I’ll be on the Midnight Flight out of Vancouver. Landing in Toronto around 7:40am your time.

Sage: All done?

Me : All free.

Sage: Be safe. I’ll see you mid-morning then.

Me: Will do.

Goodbyes to my team. Uber to the airport. I’ll text Ethan once I pass security.