Page 46 of The Best Worst Mistake (Off-Limits #2)

Bringing Silas was a bad idea.

I can tell immediately that this was a mistake.

Every woman we pass on our way into the conference room trips over herself when he walks past, and he grins widely at each one of them, lapping it up.

Even after yesterday’s shocking news, Lila is still dressed in a cherry-red business suit, with a sultry new hairdo to match her equally new I’m single vibe. I’ve never seen her put so much effort into her appearance before, and she smacked my words away when I tried pointing it out.

“He’s our client ,” I reminded her, when she showed up looking like that this morning.

“And I’ll never have another client again, if I can bag a man like that,” she’d said.

Having grown up with Silas I know that sure, he was always a good-looking guy, but it’s amazing what public knowledge of an inheritance like his has done for his likability. Si could have any woman in this building with a snap of his fingers today, and probably half the men, too.

A few minutes after Abby walks in with Brett, my phone vibrates in my pocket with a text from her.

You didn’t tell me Silas would be joining us today.

I shoot Abby a quick reply, keeping it short, before the current owner of The Nile Group stands in the middle of the room, asking for the meeting to start.

I couldn’t. There’s a work wall between us, remember? We don’t know each other personally when we walk into this room, or regarding anything that happens re: this deal.

My phone vibrates again, just as the owner is thanking us all for being here, extending a special thanks to Silas, “who’s been rather busy,” she says, smirking before adding, “according to the media.”

It’s a final text from Abby:

You’re right. Sorry. Yes, the work wall is back up.

She smiles at me, almost imperceptibly, from across the long table.

I couldn’t have warned her that Silas was coming, and she knows that.

It wouldn’t be ethical for me to give her any leg up regarding this deal.

Plus, telling her that Silas would be in the room today would have sent her and Brett into a frenzy last night, trying to figure out what his presence would mean for their client today.

I wish I could respond, It’ll all make sense soon, Abs , but I can’t.

Instead, Silas stands abruptly, telling the room he has an announcement to make.

A few murmurs break out, and I completely avoid Abby’s face, knowing I won’t be able to hide my feelings if I lay eyes on her right now.

And that’s the last thing she needs, with Brett sitting directly to her left.

We’ve almost made it through two months of negotiations without Brett catching any whiff of something happening between us.

Once we make it out of here today, we’re in the clear.

Lila kicks me under the table when Silas clears his throat, then shoots me a look that says, you’ve got to be fucking kidding me.

I wish I could apologize for Silas being an idiot, but all I can do is nudge her back, hoping my apology is known through my foot hitting hers, instead of my words.

“Hey everyone, thanks for coming today,” Silas starts, giving the room one of his best megawatt smiles.

I breathe through my teeth and tuck my hands into my lap, steeling myself for the show stopping moment he tells the room we aren’t interested in the deal anymore.

Abby and I will be celebrating her induction into the New York firm’s partnership by tomorrow with the news coming out today, I’m sure of it.

Which keeps her in New York, and me here in L.A.

, licking my wounds as the laughing stock of the M & A world.

Losing a multi-billion-dollar deal on account of an out-of-control client is not something I want to deal with, and the residual effects of this will surely follow Lila and I around for years to come.

Especially as we get to work on Silas’ next deal.

“I came here today to let you all know that while I appreciate allowing Davenport Media to join you in the endeavor to acquire The Nile Group, my company will be pulling out, effective today.”

An audible gasp circulates the room.

Fucking hell.

I can feel Abby’s eyes burn into me, but I force myself to keep my eyes on Silas. I won’t even look over at Lila right now, who’s likely just as stoic and controlled.

The owner of The Nile Group pushes her chair away from the table and nearly stands up, but thinks better of it and stays seated.

“So, Abs,” Silas goes on, grinning right at Abby. “Hi, by the way. Good to see you again.”

My stomach plummets to the floor. I avoid Abby’s face at all costs.

Don’t say anything stupid, Si , I’m mentally screaming at him, straight-faced, wishing I’d warned him not to earlier.

But I couldn’t risk warning him off, because I didn’t even want to plant the seed of stupidity in his head.

Bringing him here was like bringing a loaded gun to play Russian roulette with the group of people gathered, but all I can do is sit here, holding my breath, praying to God that he’s not about to humiliate me or Abby with whatever comes out next.

“The Nile is all yours,” he goes on while I nearly pass out from lack of oxygen. “And by yours, I mean your client’s. You’ve won, Miss Torres. I’m out.”

Brett turns to Abby, looking like a bulldog that’s just smelled a new pile of shit.

“As you wish, Mr. Davenport,” she says, in a measured voice. “Thank you for making us aware of your withdrawal in person here today.”

I can tell she wants to look at me, but she won’t let herself.

“Let’s all grab a drink the next time I’m out in New York, eh?” he says, smiling, just as Lila scoffs audibly beside me. “Celebrate that new partnership offer of yours.”

He winks at her.

Brett looks at Silas, then back at Abby, who looks like she might be sick.

Finally, Brett stands and holds out his hand to Silas. They shake hands over the table, and Silas holds his hand out to Abby next, waking her up from whatever stupor has glued her to her seat.

I feel nauseous.

She stands up next, which causes a ripple effect of people standing up around the table, some clapping, others shaking their heads.

Abby’s client has won. They are the new owners of The Nile Group. This makes it official.

I finally steal a glance at her face, but she’s white as a ghost.

The room clears out quickly. There are press calls to be made, and statements to go out.

Lila herself is probably halfway back to the office right now, leading the charge on a fresh PR campaign she was working half the night on, to try and save our reputation as a competent M & A division after this complete disaster of a final quarter fallout.

I’ve assured her that the media has always seen Silas as a loose cannon, and that this latest move will only be seen as on point for him, but she’s desperate to not let this affect our other clients, or have them pull out of any of the ongoing deals we’re working on.

A few colleagues are shaking hands with Silas and me, thanking him for being here today, saying whatever else they can think to say that isn’t along the lines of, you idiot .

Finally, Brett takes us both aside, thanking us for relinquishing our position today. I can tell he’s ecstatic about the deal, though a little intrigued about the other part of Silas’ speech. The part he should have never said.

“Thank you again, Mr. Davenport,” Brett says, stealing his attention.

Abby is standing beside Brett, but looks as if she wants to hide. I need to keep Silas moving before anything else comes out in front of her boss.

“I am curious, though, you mentioned celebrating Abby’s — Abs’ — partnership offer at our firm, and you seem to know her.

If you’re at all interested in moving your M & A business over to New York, I’d love to set up a meeting, led by our newest partner here, of course, if that’s what you have in mind. ”

Brett’s fishing for business. He assumes that Abby must have impressed Silas enough to catch his eye in a business sense, and was hinting at wanting to work with their firm when he made that comment about celebrating her promotion.

I see Abby let out a slight sigh of relief when she hears this too, then manages to give me a polite smile — smart enough to keep any familiar undertones out of it.

“Oh, yeah, sure, I appreciate that,” Silas says, shaking Brett’s hand harder. “But I’m very happy with my team here at Harper and Associates.” He claps me loudly on the back. “Just like our girl, Abs. She’s pretty happy with them, too, I think. Or, at least this one here.”

Silas beams at me, happily.

Fuck.

My stomach lurches. He has no idea what he’s doing right now.

“I think we’re going to head out for a celebratory round tonight,” I try to steer the conversation off course.

“Happy with you ?” Brett interrupts, shifting his eyes to me.

“But, I turned it down,” Abby quickly spits out. “The job offer. With Harper and Associates. I turned it down, didn’t I, um, Mr. Harper?”

She swallows, then digs her eyes into mine, silently begging me to catch on.

“Right, the job offer — yes, she turned it down,” I say, trying to save face.

“They tried to poach you?” Brett asks, turning toward Abby.

“Dude, you didn’t tell me you tried to give your girlfriend a job,” Silas says, slapping me on the back again. “You cheeky little son of a gun.”

I swallow.

Abby’s jaw hinges open.

Brett jerks his face back to Silas, as if he’s not sure he heard that correctly.

“Girlfriend?” Brett says, throwing silent daggers over at Abby.

“Yeah, they’re pretty cute, right?” Silas folds his arms, grinning, eyes darting between us.

Abby’s jaw won’t close.

She blinks a few times, as if slapped across the face, stunned by Silas’ words.

Brett turns to Silas. “Torres has been dating your attorney?” he asks, looking gobsmacked.

“Let’s all go out to celebrate your new partnership offer, Abs — what do you say? My treat? I’ve been wanting to catch up with you ever since Dax mentioned you’d seen each other over in New York. I always thought there was more to you two than what you had back in law school.”

“Silas, stop talking,” I say under my breath, but it’s too late.

Abby’s whole face has gone white.

Brett’s gone silent, but his face now resembles a big, angry tomato.

“ What ?” Silas asks, turning to me, genuinely unaware of the mess he’s just unleashed into Abby’s life.

Just as everything was finally sliding into place for her.