Page 68 of Lavish

Serena

Tick Tock…

“I don’t getwhat you’re upset about. She sold us the house.” I stormed into the condo and deleted the text message.

Miles slammed the door shut, and I checked my watch. I had to get out of here, but Miles was making it difficult.

“Don’t you think she sold it way too fast?”

Mrs. Fontaine was all set to sign after we checked out the house, and all I saw was an opportunity to make money. Another shot at success. The chance to make Mama happy for a bit.

Miles had been sulking since. I wanted to know what his problem was, but I had enough on my plate right now.

“She’s a lonely, rich old lady with no family close by, and she hated being alone in that big house.”

Walking into the living room, I tossed my bag on the couch, waking up Doughboy, who was sleeping there.

“What did I say? Off! Off my couch.” I shooed at the cat, but he just lifted his head and blinked slowly at me before lowering it back down.

“You didn’t ask about the shady-looking electric setup that was on the first floor, or the water damage in the attic. Why the hell are you acting so desperate over this place?” Miles glared, hands on hips.

I wasn’t going to explain myself, even if he was furious.

“You’re just looking for issues. This place is our only viable option. Unless you’ve got a magic wand and another estate tucked up your ass, we’re buying it.” I crossed my arms. “I’ve got this, Miles.”

With the merger announcement, board meetings, and Mama and Jenese drama, I needed a quick, easy win.

“Yeah, no shit.” He stepped closer, until I could practically taste the musky, expensive cologne on his skin. “But why? You won’t say why you don’t have the Harrington estate.”

“I told you, they sold to someone else.”

“Bullshit. I deserve to know the truth.”

Deserve?Everyone thought I owed them something. My time. Energy. Patience. But what was I getting out of it? More requests,more requests, and damn complaints.

“You deserve the truth?” I taunted. “That’s rich, coming from you.”

Miles frowned at me. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

I knew what I’d been getting myself into with Miles. I knew he was charming, a bit of a player. But he’d been myfriend. One of my few friends.

I knew it was a bad idea. Not because our families were enemies then—they weren’t. They were long-time friends. Andthatwaswhy we kept it quiet.

“I told you when we started this…whatever it was…that my work came first. That I wasn’t built for distractions. And you said you understood, Miles. You looked me in the eye and said you got it.”

My voice broke, just slightly.

“But the moment it got hard, the moment I didn’t prioritize us the way you wanted, you acted like I’d betrayed you.”

If anyone found out, it would’ve become a thing. A headline. A strategic alliance. A legacy union. And we weren’t ready for all that. We were just two people trying to figure out what the hell we were feeling.

“Because you didn’t prioritize us at all, Serena.” He stepped closer, jaw tight, voice quiet. I flinched.

“You talk like I gave up,” he said. “But you never gave me anything to hold on to. Soon as shit got messy, you chose your family over me. How the hell do I compete with that?”

“It wasn’t that simple?—”

“It was for you.” His voice hardened. “You picked a side. Own it.”