Page 48 of Enemies, Lovers & A Valentine's Baby

“This is for Sue, and my godbaby,” I whisper to myself till the words become a mantra.

Somehow I’m going to find out what Greg has been up to, even if I have to force the words out of his mouth.

If this ball is going to go off without a hitch, then we need to get started planning it ASAP. Two months seems like a long time, but if there’s one thing I’ve learnt in all my years of planning events, it’s that you can always use more time. Without Sue here, I might as well be on my own.

I doubt Cole would be of much help.

So, Cole and I have a meeting today to start the preparations. I wistfully think of all the fun I’m going to miss not doing this with Sue.

The sound of my phone ringing has me pausing my makeup prep momentarily to take it out of my purse.

“Hey,” I say to Sue as soon as I pick up the phone.

“Morning, sunshine. You about ready? Cole says he’s waiting for you at the office,” Sue informs me.

“Yeah. I have the address, should be easy enough to find.” I respond.

“His assistant, Allie, is expecting you. One more thing…Lila?”

“Mm?” I mutter distractedly, focused on looping my earrings through my ears.

“You know I can always have him come to you, right? You don’t have to go meet him,” she says. I can hear the concern in her voice.

“I barely agreed to do this, Sue. You really think I want that jerk in my apartment?” I chuckle dryly.

“Fine, then maybe meet him at a restaurant or some—”

“Last thing I want is for it to be mistaken for a date,” I cut her off.

“How about our favorite coffee shop?”

“Absolutely not!” I almost yell. “I’m not tainting our favorite place with his presence.”

“Besides, the atmosphere of his office will drive home the point that this is only business that we’re forced to do together for our friends,” I say sternly.

“Then how are you going to get him to tell you anything about Greg? He needs to feel comfortable around you to eventually be able to talk about his friendship. How are you going to get the information that we need, if you can’t relax around him?” she asks, stress causing her voice to crack.

“Sue, you told me that I’m the smartest woman you know. How about you just trust me and let me figure that part out?” I tell her.

“I do trust you. I just want everything to go as planned,” she sighs.

“It will. I promise.”

She sighs again, still not sounding convinced, but eventually conceding.

“Fine. Just let me know how it goes. And Lila?” she calls.

“Yeah?”

“I know you don’t like him, but don’t lose your cool. Please.”

Her voice is small and weak. She needs this to work.

For her, I would kiss Cole’s cheek if that’s what it takes.

“Trust me.”

I take a final look in the mirror and spritz on some perfume before heading out.

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