Page 36 of Lavish

“Just a formality,” I said. “You taught me to cover every angle. Can’t have people at my company flagging it, right?” I was already spinning with a thousand ideas on how to delay the transfer. Every day I delayed would give me more space to work.

Jenese smiled, satisfied. “There’s my girl.

“Don’t take too long, Serena, to tell me what you think. I’m not one for waiting—and oh, is that your company on the news?”

I glanced at the TV behind me.

People protesting at King Developments.

Jenese let out a loud laugh, heading for the door, as my phone began to ring and Mama’s name flashed across my screen.

Fuck.

CHAPTER 8

Serena

SIX YEARS AGO…

“You fucked up,Laurene. You were supposed to marry Conrad, and the boy is in a fucking coma! What if he dies?” Mama yelled at Laurene from upstairs.

The voices bounced off the marble floors, sharp and echoing like broken glass. I stood rigid, heart racing. The words weren’t aimed at me, but somehow they still felt like they were.

Keep still. Be quiet. Don’t make it worse.

I wished Miles was here right now. He would’ve pulled me out of the room. No questions. Just grabbed my hand and gone.

Mama’s voice was sharp—it always was when she was mad. And Laurene… Laurene was fighting back.

“I didn’t ask him to fight his brother!”

“I know you had something to do with it,” Mama hissed. “Was that your plan all along? Make these brothers fight and you got out of this deal? Even when you know what it means?—”

“You mean what it means foryou! For the company!” Laurene screamed back.

I started to go upstairs, but a firm hand landed on my shoulder, and I jumped, looking behind me to see Erik.

“Stay here,” he said.

“But they?—”

“Stay.” Erik rushed up the stairs, leaving me there alone.

My hands were clenched into fists in the sleeves of my sweater. My stomach hurt. There was this buzzing in my ears, like the room was too loud and too bright and too much.

“You need to see this through,” Mama spat. “You leave now and there’s no coming back. Do you hear me, Laurene? If I gotta fix this, you getnothing!”

“Then clean it up,” Laurene said.

I heard a door slam and quick footsteps. Laurene was coming down the stairs, clutching a bag and her dress. Despite tears, she defiantly lifted her chin.

She stopped next to me and squeezed me tightly.

“Don’t let her turn you into something you’re not,” Laurene told me.

Before I could speak, before I could even process what the hell was happening, she was gone.

My life was falling apart. Miles was long gone.