Page 80 of The Innovator

“You have ten kids in Paris?” Kiera asked.

“No.” I smiled.

“Are you a serial killer?” Michelle inquired.

“No.”

“Are you pregnant?” Audri eyed me. “You know ‘golden angle’ and all.”

“No.” I shook my head as tears rolled down my cheeks.

“You girls are the best. I’ve never had friends like you.” I paused and inhaled a breath. My hands trembled under the table. “I’m so sorry I haven’t been completely honest with you.”

Audri gave me a clean napkin for my tears.

“My real name is Natalie LaRue.” I dabbed my tears away.

Kiera held up a hand. “Wait a minute. LaRue, as in House of LaRue, the fashion brand?”

I nodded and told them the story of why I was in Providence.

“Sweetie, you should’ve told us sooner. We would’ve helped you,” Audri said. “But I understand. You didn’t know us well enough to trust us then.”

“Are you mad?”

“Of course not,” Michelle and Audri said simultaneously.

The knots in my stomach loosened.

“I am.” Kiera flipped her brown hair over her shoulder, looking angry. But then a smile formed. “I’m mad you didn’t tell me sooner so I could get a discount on that label!” She clapped her hands together, laughing.

I shoved at her playfully.

Reaching for the gift bag at my feet, I pulled out sweaters for each girl.

“Oh, wow. Iloveit.” Audri held up the aqua-colored cashmere sweater made from textured yarn. “I can’t wait to wear it.”

Michelle got a lilac sweater, and Kiera got a meadow green one.

“Thank you, Natalie!” They both shouted.

My phone buzzed with a message from my mom. She hardly texted me. It was usually a phone call.While the girls reviewed their gifts, I replied to my mom.

Natalie:Everything okay?

Mom:Can you make a trip back to Paris? It’s urgent. Call me when you can.

CHAPTERFORTY

GRAYSON

Natalie was leaving for Paris tomorrow, so I was spending as much time as I could with her today. I wanted to come with her, but she told me to remain here. I had several projects that needed my attention, but I wanted to go with her. She had become more important to me than my enterprise. Before Natalie, I’d always prioritized my projects. But things had shifted. That was something to think about later.

Rage had boiled in me seeing Rafael’s hand gripping her throat and the unforgettable fear on her face. I had asked the PI to send an anonymous tip to a few investors I knew at Caputo Holdings. They saw an image of Rafael with two young kids. He looked unconscious in that photo, but that was enough to create chaos within the company. Investors didn’t like anything that could tip the scale the wrong way in their business. The stocks on Caputo Holdings had been declining, which made me smile. Rafael was probably staying under the radar for now.

No one fucked with me or my woman.

Inside my office, I walked over to my desk and picked up the model for The Prism that sat next to a blueprint I’d taken home for review. The mini model wasn’t needed on the landmark display at work because it wasn’t part of Three Point Park any longer. I planned on giving the model to Natalie for a keepsake because The Prism belonged to her.

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