Page 59 of Scandalous Contract

I ended the call and dropped the phone on my desk. Leaning back, I closed my eyes. Keeping this woman by my side was going to be even more complicated than I’d expected. But she was worth fighting for, killing for.

First, I’d figure out who the fuck this co-worker was and make sure he backed off quietly, permanently, if needed. Then I’d figure out how to show India that her mother deserved to be treated like a queen and that I was the man to do it. Theonlyman to do it.

However, I couldn’t do that without Stefanie’s permission. Approaching her daughter behind her back, even in an innocent way, was a line I wouldn’t cross. That was probably the only line I wouldn’t cross when it came to Stefanie Adams.

It would be easier to deal with the co-worker first. Killing came easier to me than trying to convince someone that I was a good guy. And Iwasa good guy. It’s just that I had a bad side. When unleashed, it was hard to lock back down.

That was a side of me I never wanted Stefanie to see.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

JULIAN

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THE BUDGET REPORTSwere now a lost cause. Numbers and contracts had been replaced by one name spinning in my mind on a constant loop: Stefanie Adams. I couldn’t wait for her to miss me. I had to give her a nudge.

I also had to show the bastard at her job that she was taken. I dragged my laptop closer, opened a browser, and typed“best flower shops near me.”A dozen listings popped up. I picked the first one with solid reviews and clicked on it.

An image of a black woman appeared on the screen. She was wearing a floral apron and gloves and was standing in the middle of a garden. She looked familiar. I grabbed my phone and scrolled through some of Stefanie’s posts online and found a picture of her and this woman.

The caption read:Flowers grown with love smell sweeter. This is my favorite florist, and her store has flowers for every occasion.

Exiting out of her profile, I dialed the number listed for the floral shop.

A cheery voice came across the line. “Good morning, this is Blossom & Vine. How can I help you?”

“I want to place an order for delivery,” I said.

“Absolutely! What kind of flowers were you thinking of sending?”

“What kind do women typically like?” I asked, leaning back.

She laughed softly. “It depends on the message you want to send. Each flower conveys a different message. Roses are romantic and can represent desire. Lilies are elegant, while tulips can be playful. Different flowers mean different things. Are you trying to sayI’m sorry,I love you,I miss you or...?”

I sat up straighter, knowing the exact message I wanted to convey.