Page 40 of Revelation (Love Isn't What It Seems 3)

He nodded his agreement. I would make them regret the day they stole from Layla and stole from me.

Daniel glanced at his watch. “Ah, I have a date with lovely Layla Cambridge. I’ll go get us a table.”

I growled at him. “It is an interview, not a date.”

He just grinned, unperturbed. “This or that, same thing.”

“You better watch it, or you might lose some teeth,” I ground my teeth in response. He just laughed and strode away. Fucker. I planned on catching up to Layla once Daniel’s interview was done and taking her to lunch. I overheard her refuse his lunch offer.

Chapter Fifteen

Layla

The interview with Daniel was pleasant. I liked him very much. He was easy to talk to, funny, and smart. Kind of scary too. His tall frame was strong, devastatingly handsome. His coal black hair and dark eyes that saiddon’t fuck with meon a perfectly beautiful face somehow contributed to the air of danger he portrayed. He wore an expensive, custom suit, looked polished but reminded me of a cobra. I got the sense that he was fair but could be brutal and ruthless if you crossed him.

I had no intentions of ever crossing him, but that alluring aura of danger was hard to ignore.

“So, Maxim tells me you are also interested in the Troubled Teens foundation.” I nodded in confirmation. He leaned back in the chair, seemingly casual, but he wasn’t fooling me. He was evaluating my every word, watching my every move. “Tell me what interests you about it?”

“Hoping to make a difference in a kid’s life before things get too bad,” I told him honestly. “One day I want to create my own foundation. Kind of like you and Maxim have the Wounded Uniform foundation.”

“Why not now?”

I met his dark eyes. Yes, definitely a cobra. “Well, I’d need capital to start. Lots of it. And I need more experience in the business.”

“So you feel like you don’t have enough experience in this type of business?”

I smiled. “Now I didn’t say that, did I?” I really wanted this job. More than I've wanted anything in a long time. It was important that I get it. It almost felt like a ticket to freedom.

He smiled back, and my shoulders slightly eased. I didn’t realize I tensed till that very moment when he smiled back. This man, despite his slightly scary looks, was gorgeous, especially when he smiled.

“True, you didn’t say that. Did you have troubled teenage years?” I stiffened at his question. Honestly, until the night of the accident, I didn’t have any issues with following the rules or experimenting with drugs. “I’m trying to gage where the interest came from. Usually people that went through it or know someone that went through it are passionate about this cause.”

“Is that why you are passionate about the Wounded Uniform project?” I knew I was being brassy, too ballsy. But how was I to explain my interest in troubled teens without divulging what happened to me on that night. I had a sense this man would know the moment I uttered a lie.

“Yes, it is. Maxim and I served together.”

I sensed he didn’t want to talk about it. It surprised me that he answered the question. The cause was just as important as the Troubled Teens' cause. And the help it provided for men and women that served their country and their families, was priceless.

“Teenage years weren’t the easiest,” I ended up muttering. It was the closest I dared to come to the truth. “I imagine they are even harder today.”

He nodded, and I had a feeling he truly understood. “Last question, and feel free to refuse answering if you feel it is too personal.”

I chuckled. “Ruin my chance right at the end. No, thanks.”

“You mentioned you needed capital to start your foundation. I’m well familiar with the Cambridge family and their wealth. Why is the capital a problem for you?”

He was right, I wanted to refuse to answer. I glanced down to my tea that remained untouched. I’d been twisting the cup, left and right, but the conversation flowed so seamlessly that I forgot to drink it.

“Whatever my grandparents have, it is not mine,” I finally answered. “I’d rather not use anything from them to start anything like that.”

“Fair enough.” He seemed pleased with my response. “So when can you start?” My eyes snapped to his gaze, our eyes locking.

“Just like that?” I couldn’t believe my ears. It couldn’t be this easy. Nothing was this easy.

“Yes, just like that,” he answered, his lips tilting into a half smile. “Unless you are not interested.”

“You obviously know I’m interested,” I beamed. I almost couldn’t believe my ears. “I can start whenever. Tomorrow? Next week?”

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