Page 40 of No Way Forward

He grumbled.

“But Elon understands that it’s not happening. The other guy, who knows. He might be terrified after yesterday. Maybe he changed his mind, but I didn’t talk to him afterward. Zaid, I want to tell my dad the truth. I want him to know how much I love you and that we plan to be married. There’s no way he can get in the way.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“He might feel better about it after that mess yesterday. At least he knows you’re the one who can protect me. The way you swooped in and took care of business—you’re my hero.”

He flushed. “I was already on my way there when you texted me. I thought I would wrap my car around a pole trying to make it in time. I won’t ever allow you to be put in such a situation again.”

“What do you mean?”

He rubbed his jaw. “I don’t want to tell Richard about us yet. What I’d rather do is suggest that I take you away somewhere to keep you out of harm’s way just until the danger is past. He’ll be aware of where you are at all times and be able to call to talk to you. If he’s more worried after the shooting than he ever was, maybe he’ll agree.”

“Just the two of us together.” She could hardly keep the excitement from brewing over. “That would be amazing.”

“There’s nothing I want more than to be alone with you. But if we’re going to pull it off, he can’t know about us. I have to present it in a way that he’ll accept. I’m just looking out for his best interests. Can you agree to that?”

“Definitely. Let’s do it your way.”

Chapter 18

Azalie let out a small scream of frustration before she got a hold of herself. She looked around, but no one was nearby, thank goodness. Anger ate her alive, and she seethed so much she thought she would explode.

How dare Novette talk to her like she was common trash? Azalie had put in years of pretending she gave a crap about Novette when all she wanted was to be higher than her, better than her, and most of all richer than her. Then Novette gets mad and throws her out?

I’m going to make her sorry.

Azalie refused to leave the mansion. Instead, she walked around the grounds, trying to calm down. It wouldn’t be a good idea if she didn’t figure out how to make up with Novette. Richard loved his daughter, even if he was way overly obsessed with her. If Novette went crying to Richard about Azalie, she would find herself uninvited to the mansion.

As Azalie stomped over the lawn and ducked into the trees surrounding the property, she scoured her mind for a solution. This time, she had pushed Novette too far and made her lash out. Every time Novette got mad, Azalie was always able to make up with her.

She stopped walking in front of a familiar tree. Etched in the bark was her name and Novette’s, and the message following was BEST FRIENDS FOREVER. A sense of loss came over Azalie. She recalled sweeter times between them, a time when she liked Novette and vice versa.

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Smoothing her hand over the words, she wondered when everything changed. A part of her wanted to go back to the real friendship. Temptation to stop playing games and putting on fronts came over her. Could it even happen? Could they go back? It wasn’t like Novette was a bad person.

“No, I’ve been the bad one. She’s been loyal to me, and I know she’s not stupid either. She’s not fooled, but I keep trying convince her I’m for real.”

The tree gave her feelings and memories she didn’t want to experience, so she moved on. Regardless, she kept thinking about Novette. After letting that investigator know that Zaid had found Novette and that he was about to go get her, how could she and Novette be genuine friends again?

“She doesn’t know that though. I might be able to make it right if I just keep all that to myself and do better. I know I can do better. And the money…I can get it some other way. Heck, I’m smart too.”

Voices brought her out of her head, and she ducked behind a tree. She recognized Zaid and Novette and made her way to where they sat on the bench. The two were so into each other, neither of them noticed her. She didn’t dare sneak closer in case she snapped a twig or whatever and Zaid heard.

Straining to hear, she caught Zaid’s words. ““I don’t want to tell Richard about us yet. What I’d rather do is suggest that I take you away somewhere to keep you out of harm’s way just until the danger is past.”

All thought of real friendship with Novette evaporated. Not only was Novette rich, she had the hottest guy Azalie had ever met. A few years back, Novette had confessed her interest in him. Azalie saw the love in Novette’s eyes at the time. Worse, because she knew men, she recognized how Zaid tried to hide his feelings for Novette as well. Jealousy had risen up so strong in Azalie, she’d been trying to seduce him ever since. It never worked.

Now, she found out they moved past hiding their true feelings from each other. They thought they were going to carry on a secret love affair? Not over her dead body. The two of them cooked up some type of scheme to fool Richard. Well, they were in for a rude awakening.

Azalie’s stomach stirred with disgust and anger as Zaid and Novette kissed and murmured their love for one another. While they were lost in each other’s arms, she crept away. She couldn’t make it back to the mansion fast enough to find Richard, but when she discovered he had already left for his office, she phoned him.

He answered on the third ring. “Azalie, what can I do for you?”

She heard irritation in his tone. He must be busy. No matter how busy he got, he never talked to Novette like she inconvenienced him. Azalie ran the conversation between Zaid and Novette through her mind again to stir up indignation.

“Sir, you asked me if Novette is interested in anyone, and I wanted to get back to you.”

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