Page 107 of Lavish

Serena nudged me to sit, her gaze pinned on Miss Yvonne.

“Gigi won’t be here tonight.” Yvonne hadn’t taken her eyes off me. “Apparently some rapper is more important than family.”

Miss Yvonne used to be…warmer.

I remembered once she called mebaby, just offhand. I think I was fifteen. But I still remembered her pulling a blanket over me when I’d crash on their couch. The way she told Erik and me to watch each other’s backs like we were blood.

She used to smile more, I remembered that. Not often—but when she did, you felt like you’d won something.

“He’s not a rapper, he’s an entrepreneur,” Laurene said as a server placed a plate of braised short ribs and truffle grits in front of her. “He’s worked with all the celebrities and stylists down in Hollywood. He’s going to give her advice to start her boutique.”

Miss Yvonne rolled her eyes. “Where did I go wrong?”

“I think it’s great,” Noelle chimed in, all bright-eyed and sugar-sweet. “It’ll give her some focus. A project of her own.”

Yvonne cut her a look so sharp it could’ve sliced through the beef. “We’ve handed that girl every opportunity money couldbuy, and what does she do? Half-asses it and runs the other way. Let’s move on before I lose my appetite.”

“Gigi’s resourceful. She can do it if she wants it.” Vincent shot Yvonne a look.

“Agreed,” Reese said.

I looked around the room. “Where’s Erik?”

Right on cue, the antique double doors creaked open, their aged wood protesting with a mournful groan. “I’ll call you back,” Erik muttered into his phone, slipping it into his pocket.

Then we locked eyes.

I felt myself sit up in my seat, a jolt running through my spine. The memory of seeing him outside King Developments with Victor that night, the streetlights blurring around us, had kept me on edge, waiting for him to tell Serena and for her to confront me. But when it didn’t happen, I knew Erik well enough to know he was up to something.

Nothing in his face shifted. No smile. No sneer. Just that blank, heavy stare. He took his seat across from me, next to Noelle, and looked to Miss Yvonne.

“Sorry about that,” he said. “Jose was able to secure that deal for us.”

Miss Yvonne just nodded. “Good.” She sliced into her short ribs. “So, you two,” she began, “let’s talk about your progress. How is the Harrington estate?”

Serena glanced at me and reached for her wine.

I cleared my throat, slow. “We’ve had some delays.”

“Delays?”

“Permits,” Serena added quickly. “We’re working through it.”

“Is that so?” Erik said slowly as he stared at the both of us. “Nothing else? No outsideinvestors?”

I played dumb and shrugged. “Not any that I know of.”

Erik’s gaze narrowed.

“We’re right on track,” Serena said firmly.

“Bullshit,” Erik muttered.

I frowned at him. “You got something you wanna get off your chest?”

“A lot actually,” he said.

“Boys,” Vincent said.