Eastern Lights (Compass 2)

“I’m fine,” I coldly stand, wrapping my arms around my body. “Can I come in?”

“Yes, of course.”

She stepped to the side, allowing a pathway for me, and I walked into her home. Over the past few years, I’d spent a lot of time inside those walls. I dreamed of all of the family gatherings we’d share together in said home. I thought about all the holidays we’d have together. Funny how it was best sometimes when dreams didn’t come true.

If I would’ve ended up marrying Jason, my world would’ve ended up being a true tragedy.

“Can I get you something to drink? Water? Tea?” she offered. Her hands were shaking, clearly her nerves were eating at her. A part of me felt a flash of guilt, but I couldn’t feel bad about her being uncomfortable. I needed her to be uncomfortable for what I was about to request of her.

“No. I’m fine.”

She fiddled with her fingers and pushed out a smile. “I didn’t know if I’d be able to speak to you again, after the last time. And when you were rushed to the hospital, I wasn’t able to get in contact with you.”

“Of course, you weren’t. Only friends and family were allowed.”

That stung her.

“Well, what did you want to speak about? Do you want to continue our conversation?” she asked.

“No. Not now. I’m not here for me. I’m here for Connor.”

“Connor? What does he have to do with anything?”

“He has everything to do with this. Walter is threatening to take over Roe Real Estate, and I need you to stop him.”

“What?

“Don’t play dumb, Marie. We know everything. Walter told Connor about how he was planning on taking over the company and buying Connor out down the line. I need you to tell him not to do it.”

“I’m sorry, Aaliyah, I have no clue—”

“I never asked you for anything,” I cut in. “I never asked for anything, and you used me to get what you wanted these past few years. So you owe me. I need you to do this for me, Marie.”

“Wait. How would Walter be able to take his company? None of this makes sense to me.”

She looked completely stunned by the situation at hand, but I couldn’t tell if she were just acting surprised. That was the thing about catching people in lies—once they told the truth, you’d always doubt it.

“Is he here right now?” I asked.

“Yes. He’s in his office. I can’t believe that he’d do that to Connor, though. Even with everything that happened between you and Connor and Jason, I can’t believe that Walter would do this.”

“How well do you know your husband?” I asked.

There was a hesitation in her eyes as I asked her the question. She parted her lips to speak and paused for a moment before she cleared her throat and hollered, “Walter. Can you meet me in the living room?”

“Woman, you know I don’t like you hollering in the house like that. What is this about?” Walter grumbled, walking into the living room. The moment he saw me, his eyes narrowed. “Aaliyah. What are you doing here?”

“Trying to settle an issue,” I explained.

Marie turned to Walter and stared at him, seemingly baffled. “Is it true you are trying to take over Connor’s business?”

Walter’s thick eyebrows furrowed. “You called me in for this nonsense? I don’t have time for this, Marie.”

Her mouth dropped, stunned. “Why would you do that? Why would you try to take something that boy created?”

“I created him. Anything he has is because of me, which gives me the right to take it away, too.”

“You didn’t create him,” I snapped toward him. “Connor created everything about Roe Real Estate. You simply profited from him being good at what he did.”

“He might have been good, but I’m better, little girl. And honestly, I don’t even know why you are here having this conversation, seeing how it has nothing to do with you.”

“It has everything to do with me. I love him, and I am here to fight for him.”

Walter rolled his eyes. “You love him for now. Wait until I take everything from him. You think I don’t know what kind of woman you are? You’re a poor girl who falls for rich men to find an easy way out of life.”

“That’s not true, Walter. You know Aaliyah’s a good woman,” Marie said, backing me up.

“I thought that before she was so quick to jump into bed with another man after my son,” he spat out.

“He stood me up on my wedding day! After cheating on me God knows how many times. And somehow you are making me the bad person for falling in love with a man who treated me right?”

“He couldn’t have treated you that well if he only wanted you after you had a new heart,” he said coldly.