Page 55 of From the Moment We Met

After a moment, her cold laugh echoed into the room. “How silly of me, you would never fall for someone who couldn’t help you with your master plan.”

Jacob heard the front door close, sinking into the sofa as he gulped down his whiskey. He had just prostituted himself to the devil, leaving an angel stranded at the bus stop.

∞∞∞

Jacob wondered how long he could remain drunk and still function. It might be the only way he could tolerate his arrangement with Victoria. Thankfully, he hadn’t seen his ex-girlfriend since Saturday, a blessed two days without her in his life. But it was also forty-eight hours since he dropped off Lilly, and her absence was a whole new form of torture, one with which he was totally unfamiliar.

He picked up his phone and dialed Sabina, he wouldn’t make another forty-eight hours.

“To what do I owe this unexpected phone call?” Sabina sounded anything but surprised to hear from Jacob.

“Can you give me Lilly’s phone number? I’d really like to speak with her.”

Sabina cleared her throat. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Jacob. I don’t know your current girlfriend situation, but I love my friend too much to let you hurt her. Perhaps, if you show up at the fundraising ball, you can speak to her then.”

Not a good enough option. Not by a long shot. “I need to fix this bloody mess. Can you please help me? Meet me for dinner? My treat.”

He tapped his fingers against his leg as he awaited her reply. How damn long did it take to accept a free offer of dinner?

Finally, she let out a huff of resignation. “What time are you picking me up?”

∞∞∞

“Is this restaurant acceptable? The food is phenomenal, and you said you like Japanese.”

Sabina glanced around the five-star restaurant, nodding her approval. “Certainly opulent, well worth hiring a babysitter.”

“I appreciate you coming out tonight.”

They ordered a bottle of sake before Sabina cut straight to the chase. “What are you doing, Jacob?”

“With what, specifically?” Jacob adjusted his blazer, then ran his hand over his beard.

“With the stock market…what the bloody hell do you think I mean? With Lilly, you git. I don’t get it—or you! You buy her this fantastic present and then sic your ex-girlfriend on her! Who does that?”

“I had no idea Victoria was at my house. I was as shocked as Lilly when I found out.”

Sabina scoffed, tasting her sake. “Somehow, I doubt that.”

Jacob sighed and flopped back against the chair. “How did everything get so buggered? All I want is to spend time with Lilly. I’m crazy about her, and that’s driving me certifiably insane. I’m also acting as Victoria’s escort, which is the equivalent of the ninth circle of hell. Thank God for alcohol.” He swigged down his first glass of sake, pouring another.

Sabina remained silent for a few beats, observing Jacob. “You really fancy Lilly, don’t you?”

Jacob leaned forward, his arms on the table. “More than you can possibly imagine, and it’s scaring the hell out of me.”

“Will you excuse me for a moment?” Sabina stood up, glancing around the restaurant.

“Planning your escape already?”

“Only to the loo, this is too fine a restaurant to leave early. I'm taking full advantage of your deep pockets.”

Jacob snorted, the woman was certainly candid. “Fair enough.”

Sabina returned a few minutes later and settled into her chair. “How about we start at the beginning? Tell me your situation with Victoria, and that way I’ll know if I should tell Lilly to forgive you or run for the hills.”

Jacob let out a compliant huff and filled Sabina in on the details, covering all the highlights of his relationship with Victoria. He then segued onto the topic of Lilly, and how the woman had turned his world upside down in a matter of days.

“There you have it, my last six months, the abridged version. You’re likely right to tell Lilly to avoid me at all costs.”

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