Page 7 of Conquered Obstacles

Oh, and fruit parfaits with whatever fruit we had leftover or in bulk from Heitor’s next shipment. Those couldn’t be ordered but were always sold out the moment we made any.

Also, some of the items we planned to have for all of spring and started selling like the blueberry acai bars, strawberry icebox cake, lemon lavender cupcakes, and such that I would have to get into later.

But like tomorrow later since it was almost spring and we would also sell these during Easter and figure out what to offer Costco for the whole season.

So there was a lot. There was always a lot.

Too much even.

I sighed as I glanced around. At least everything was out and ready now for me to call PJ to come take pictures. She was the art student who was struggling to pay for her tuition and had taken the employee photos for us and done such a great job. We kept using her now for shots to help Mary out since she was so busy.

Plus, she did a much better job than the ones Costco took and used otherwise if we didn’t provide them. They would still have some of their own, but I liked PJ and hoped she could do more to help out Mary and take things off her plate.

Luckily, she was available and excited for the work. I waited until she arrived, offering her some of the leftover takeout I’d ordered as well. Then I said I was stepping up to my apartment for a bit and decided to handle something else that had been on my plate too long.

Namely, another threat.

I appeared in front of the beady-eyed man who had shown up at my bakery full of lies and tried to sue me after and almost burst out laughing. “You are such a pissant useless asshole that I honestly do not know your name. We always just refer to you as the ‘coffee cart guy.’”

He jumped to his feet and stormed over to me. “I don’t know how you got in here, but I’m glad you were finally stupid enough to come find me yourself and alone.”

“Child, you are not the predator here,” I chuckled darkly, smirking when his hand went right through my arm when he tried to grab it. “I tire of playing fair when no one else is and I have to hide. I will not allow you to hurt my employees. You had enough of your fun. It’s now my turn.”

I made him confess to his plans to beat up Isiah’s guys working the food trucks and who he’d already paid, when it was going to happen—all of it. I recorded it all with my phone so it could be undone. Then I made him believe the police knew about it so he was desperate to undo it all, let those men know the police were watching, and go into hiding.

Oh, and that loan sharks were coming after him for money he owed. So he should sell his business and never, not ever return to the East Coast. Maybe even flee all the way to South America and take up swimming in deep waters recklessly.

That should work out well for him. I couldn’t have someone else targeting me die suddenly and publicly so soon after Moran.

But if he did in a few months after running… That would work.

At the last minute, I remembered Colton had bugs in the man’s apartment and said he should remove them before they were found by other parties when the man fled.

Then I returned to my apartment, sent the recording to Isiah and Gina so they were looped in, and returned back to PJ. I thought that was fair since they had people who covered the food trucks after all.

I felt accomplished when Jamie texted me that he was ready to come back and I was making us dinner. He was excited and had a lot to tell me, wanting to head back to the mansion after we ate and he filled me in.

It was when he joked about filling it with more treats that I frowned.

“I don’t like being so selfish with you,” I muttered, feeling awkward. “I… Things will blow up if I keep getting lost in you instead of handling what I should.”

He cupped my cheek and made me look at him when I tried to turn away. “I’m not just some rebound for Cole that you will toss aside when you’re done, Arabella. You cared for me before it all blew up. I also know what’s going on and you’re not hiding anything from me.”

“No, I won’t lie to you,” I whispered, still feeling guilty.

“I talked with Demarcus,” he admitted, nodding when my eyes went wide with shock. “He said he made his bed and fucked up, so he will sleep in it. Does he want things fixed and you guys be okay? Yes, but he fucked up. He understands that and how much you are overwhelmed with. So does Isiah. They can wait.

“You didn’t break up with them, so they can have their time-out while you get a bit of peace and smiles.” He brushed his lips over mine. “You are trying to give the world the karma it needs and help so many people it’s ridiculous. You get to be selfish right now. I’m giving you permission to be selfish with me. Only I get that vote, okay?”

I searched his eyes. “What about what you need?”

“You’re giving it to me,” he immediately answered, nodding when I couldn’t hide my shock. “Arabella, you are giving me so much that you don’t even understand. You are trusting me with something huge that most would never at my age. You saw how much I wanted this and—you’re giving me a lot. You’re even giving me…”

“What?” I asked, moving my hand to his chest when he couldn’t seem to get his mouth to work.

“The way I lost my virginity was a bit traumatic for me. Nothing like what you went through—I don’t want you to think I’m remotely—”

“No, of course, you’re not saying that,” I quickly agreed. I felt his worry and immediately understood. “A stronger wolf pressured you.”

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