Page 35 of Best Laid Plans

Bailey shifted uncomfortably beside me, her face mutinous like she was a goddamn toddler. "It was adequate. We need to be careful not to let flashy presentations sway our judgment."

I could sense the unease in her voice and the underlying anxiety. This was Bailey's attempt to save face with the others, who looked at her for what she was, a nepotism hire. I had not wanted to do it, but the alternative was for me to support Bailey and her family, which I'd really hate doing. Maybe I needed to make a choice. If I wanted a woman like Bailey, I’d have to let go of my desire to be with someone who was independent and her own person.

"Flashy or not, the proposal had substance." I kept my tone neutral. "The Savannah Lace team addressed potential issues with detailed solutions, and backed their claims with solid data. I'm happy to approve the proposal, and go to the next step."

The appetizers arrived, and we began to eat. The Caprese salad was fresh and vibrant, the tomatoes bursting with flavor, complemented by creamy mozzarella, and fragrant basil.

Bailey drank some of her Diet Coke. "I just think we need to consider all angles." She sat up straighter. "We don't want to rush into any decisions."

I wished she'd shut the hell up, but I knew she'd want to press her point to get Diego and Zara on her side and against Nova.

Good luck, babe.

Diego glanced at her, a hint of irritation in his eyes. "I'm going to be blunt, Bailey, I don't understand your stance. It's obvious to me that you don't understand the—"

"Diego," I cut in. I wouldn't allow him to embarrass Bailey, no matter how much she deserved it, no matter that Bailey had tried to shame Nova, albeit unsuccessfully, at the meeting. "This project is critical for our future. We need to ensure we're making decisions based on merit and potential."

"Isn’t that what we're doing?" Zara didn't exactly snap, but it was close.

Bailey looked at me militantly, silently demanding that I defend her. I had no fucking defense. She was incapable of understanding the nuances of the project, and couldn't read the room if her life depended upon it. She couldn't see or didn't allow herself to see that neither Diego nor Zara was on her side; hell, she was blind to the fact that even I was on Nova's—no, Savannah Lace's side.

Before the main courses arrived, Zara got a call. She stepped away to take it. Bailey went to the restroom, leaving Diego and me alone.

I held my hand up before my friend could rip me a new one.

"Her family is under a mountain of debt. Her father died. I had to help her." I took a sip of water.

Diego growled. "She's a fucking nitwit."

I winced. No filter on this guy! But this was why I was friends with him. "Careful, Diego, she's my fiancée."

"How are you engaged to this woman?" he demanded, shaking his head.

"None of your fuckin' business. Stay out of my personal life."

Diego cocked an eyebrow. "Then keep your personal life out of my professional one. She can't work on this project. It's too important. Give her some paper pusher job."

I wanted to ask him to remember who the CEO of Larue Homes was, but I'd brought Diego in because I knew he'd give it to me straight. I trusted him implicitly. Also, he wasn't wrong about Bailey.

"Okay," I agreed.

"You sure about this woman?" Diego asked. He'd met Bailey years ago when he'd visited me in Savannah. He didn't know her well, but he obviously could see what was clear to a blind man—Bailey Hyatt wasn't the sharpest bulb on the chandelier.

"No," I told him honestly. Since I'd seen Nova again, and especially now after seeing her in that meeting room, the idea of marrying Bailey was untenable.

"Why did you get engaged to her if you're not sure?"

"Familial pressure. Familiarity. It was easy. She pushed hard. Take your pick." I listed the reasons why I'd stupidly gotten engaged to Bailey.

Diego looked around to make sure Bailey and Zara were not close by. "And I'm assuming that Nova is the Nova?"

"Diego," I cautioned, "Let it go."

"She didn't look like a thief to me."

"She was young and desperate." As soon as those words were out, I realized the truth of them. So, what if she had stolen? She'd been so fucking poor. She was all alone in the world. Maybe it was a mistake she made. It wasn't who she was. Still, she could've just asked me for money, and I'd have given it to her. She didn't have to steal jewelry that she'd have to fence. The fact that she even knew how to get rid of jewelry told me that she'd been planning it all along, waiting to get into the Larue mansion, and make her play.

"She's not young or desperate any longer," Diego noted. "In fact, she's fucking stunning. Both professionally and as a woman."

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