Page 12 of Exposed

“No, I'm from New York like Lauren. We’ve been best friends since middle school. I am an accountant and am in the process of starting my own business, and I help Lauren sometimes when she needs me,” Novah answered.

Novah was funny as hell, and I liked her personality. She was laidback and cool, unlike her spoiled friend.

“Was she always like this?” I asked.

“Yep.” Novah and I busted out in laughter at her statement. Lauren grunted, mumbling under her breath.

“Novah, the last thing I need is him in my business,” Lauren said.

“Novah, make sure the princess gets home safely. Following right behind you guys,” I told her and jogged to my car. Emmanuel already left an hour ago with most of the team. It was only me to finish off any last-minute details. Novah honked her horn, and I flicked my lights on and off, letting her know I was ready for her to lead the way. It wasn’t too late, so I could make it home in time to cook and finish watching a movie. I sighed. I liked my life simple without interruptions. No longer in the navy, I still went by a regimen from the time I got up until it was time for me to go to bed. As I drove behind Novah, my phone started to ring. I clicked the Bluetooth in my car before answering the call.

“When are you coming home?” Devan questioned.

“Soon, why?” I answered, turning left to get on the freeway.

“I wanted to know if you could bring me something to eat.”

That’s Devan, my little sister, spoiled and last minute with everything. She waits until the day is half done to say something about being hungry. I had food in my fridge, she was just too lazy to cook.

“Where are you?” I hesitated to ask but knew the answer by the background of the surrounding sound of the speakers.

“Your house,” Devan answered.

“Didn’t you just move into your own place, little girl?” I fussed.

“I did, but I was bored, and I wanted to hang out with my big brother. Desmond wasn’t doing much, and the kids were fighting over the remote, so I left. Please, D, bring me some food,” Devan pleaded.

“Devan, there’s food in the fridge and I’m exhausted and not going back out for the rest of the night. Hold up. Let me call you back,” I said, not waiting for her to reply back. I hung up as we pulled into the parking lot of Lauren’s apartment complex. Getting out of my car, I headed to Novah and Lauren to walk them to the door.

“You didn’t need to walk us to the door, D,” Novah said. I tilted my head in surprise at her calling me D.

“I overheard Danielle calling you that. I hope it’s okay?”

“It’s cool. You ladies have a good night,” I said, starting to walk away.

“Do you want to come in for dinner? I know Lauren was planning on watching some new horror film, which I will probably fall asleep to. But she could use the company.” Novah hinted at trying to get Lauren and I alone together. I chuckled at Lauren’s eyes, which rose in surprise at her admission.

“Novah! Stop trying to push that boy on me.”

“Novah, I’m good, and Lauren?”

“What!” she huffed, sticking her foot in the door, about to walk inside.

“Nothing about me is a boy. Stay safe, princess, and I’ll see you tomorrow,” I commented, as I lifted her chin, stared into her eyes, before I winked and headed to my car.

Chapter Eight

Dominic

Last night, Devan kept me up until two in the morning watching movies. I found out she’d just broken up with her boyfriend and didn’t want to be alone. Something all of my siblings and Elias will do. Come over and bug me when something in their lives is wrong. Now, as I sat in the meeting with Danielle and Elijah, doing a video conference with Mark and Zoe discussing the lab’s latest findings as well as potential security updates, I realized that I was exhausted.

“So Dominic, do you think we should wait to launch or continue as planned? We have a lot of money wrapped up in advertising from commercials, billboards, and social media campaigns,” Zoe asked.

“The early numbers show that only one batch with around one hundred containers was tampered with. We do have the advantage since it hasn’t leaked to the media. I believe we can keep it under wraps,” I replied.

“But, for how long?” Elijah questioned.

“That I can’t answer.”

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