Page 92 of So Close

“Has Kane ever told you what I do?”

I shake my head, which is more diplomatic than saying she’s a convenient vagina to fuck.

“I meet people. If I like them and they’ve got a dream I can monetize, I help them get started.”

“You’re an angel investor,” I drawl. Does she think I’m stupid?

“Yes. When you’re smart about who you choose to invest in, it’s very lucrative. Startups need help with their messaging and social advertising, as you know. I can refer those businesses to you, you’ll help them hone their brand and messaging, and that’ll be one less thing they have to worry about.”

My gaze narrows. “What’s in it for you?”

“A ten percent referral fee on their first-year spend.”

“Only ten percent?”

She smiles, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Keep in mind, I’ll also be rewarded on the other side of the transaction by accelerated growth and increased profits for my investments.”

Her hair has grown since I first saw her weeks ago and now brushes the top of her shoulders. She’s wearing stunning chandelier earrings of sapphires and diamonds. The stones sparkle insanely, catching the light at the slightest movement.

“Don’t forget the trifecta.” I take another sip, my foot tapping on the rail that circles the bar. “Baharan would profit on those contracts, and you’d get a cut of that, too.”

Something about her smile dims, arousing my curiosity and making me happy.

“Yes,” she concedes reluctantly, “there’s that.”

I debate saying anything, but why not let the cat out of the bag? I’ve been struggling for days, weighing whether I want to start over from scratch. Staying within Baharan means my hard work and talent will enrich Kane and Lily. So, the decision is easy: I’m getting the hell out.

“Well,” I begin, “you’re the first to know: I’m leaving Baharan and starting a new company.”

Lily’s brows lift as if she’s surprised, but … she doesn’t seem surprised. “A new company. That’s a bold move.”

“Listen, I’m not leaving Baharan in the lurch. What they’ve got in the pipeline is fine, it’s just not great, and I’m going to fix it before I focus on new ventures.”

“Why abandon Social Creamery, though? All that work, the brand, the past clients.”

I run my finger along the lip of my glass, wondering if this is what she’s been fishing for all along: getting me to say aloud what an idiot I was when I signed those papers and effectively signed over my company. “Don’t you know how acquisitions work?”

She shrugs, and the kimono slips off one shoulder in a move so perfectly seductive I wonder if she’s practiced it. “Of course, but I’ve read your agreement with Baharan. I don’t see why you wouldn’t take advantage of your exit clause. No, that’s not true. I understand wanting a fresh start. I can’t imagine working with Aliyah has been pleasant.”

I straighten on the stool, forcing myself to loosen my grip on my glass before I snap the stem. “What are you talking about?”

Her smile fades, and her brow furrows. “Which part?”

I let go of the glass entirely because I feel like throwing the contents in her face. “The fucking exit clause part!”

The frown lifts into arched curves of surprise. “Amy, don’t you know the terms of your agreement with Baharan?” she asks, slowly and carefully, like I’m a bomb that might go off at any moment, which is exactly how I feel.

I look away. I’m unpleasantly surprised to see Hornsworth, that office-stealing asshole, having drinks with a woman too pretty for him. I look away, disgusted, and feel a jolt when I find Rogelio, Baharan’s Chief of Security. He’s having drinks at a table with a guy sporting the same military crew cut, possibly another Baharan employee, but I can’t tell. And one of the girls from Accounting is having dinner with three friends.

I rein in my temper. God forbid Aliyah hears reports of me losing it again publicly.

Taking another drink, followed by a deep breath, I reply, “It’s been a while. And at the time, I didn’t think I’d ever decide not to be part of the family business.”

Lily also takes a sip of her martini, as if there’s no reason to hurry with enlightening me.

“You have the option to reclaim the Social Creamery brand twenty-four months after execution if it no longer functions as a separate entity. It’s a unique clause, very interesting really, but advantageous for you. I assumed your legal team inserted it to protect you, or perhaps Darius saw to that?”

I feel the color drain from my face. The room spins like a merry-go-round. It’s like I’ve had those four martinis and am halfway through a fifth.

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