“Maybe I should go see this Tess. Find out what she thinks about this.”
My hands were gripping his T-shirt before I even realized it. “You go anywhere near Tess and you’re done. So fucking done.”
“Yeah? What’re you going to do about it?”
“We never pressed charges against you.”
“Because you didn’t have the balls. So don’t come to me with that. You’re too proud to have your name tainted in any way, so don’t think I’m buying this act.”
“People change, Albert. You changed. I changed. Things that used to matter don’t anymore.”
Others did, and they mattered so much more.
For the first time, I saw uncertainty in his eyes, even fear. Good, because I meant every word.
“I’m not budging on the deadline,” he said.
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that. I want a written notice that you’ll extend the deadline until April, or I’ll make you very sorry for trying to steal from us. I don’t want an answer now. Think about it. Really well,” I said.
I left before he had a chance to reply. I didn’t want to hear one more word or I was liable to punch him.
I didn’t know what the hell I’d been thinking, coming here. Maybe that I could get through to him somehow because we’d been friends once? Clearly, that didn’t matter to him.
And it didn’t to me either. Not anymore. Albert was going to learn the hard way not to mess with me.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Tess
The week after Thanksgiving was slightly insane. I mean, it usually was, and not because Black Friday was the following day. Onc
e the town was full of Christmas decorations, tourists flocked to see them. All the main shopping streets were crowded, and we could barely find our ass from our elbow in the store the whole week. This year, I had a bit more on my plate than I could handle, splitting my time between the two stores while supervising the last-minute repairs at the new location.
Unfortunately, on the second of December, the furniture company announced that our order had arrived damaged. The replacement order wouldn’t be here for two weeks. No way could we open without shelves and couches and chairs.
“You know what? I have an idea,” Liam said after we both read the apologetic email. “Why don’t you have a pre-opening party with the family? That way you still have something to look forward to.”
“That’s a great idea,” I replied. “I’ll text Skye to see what she thinks, but I’m sold on it. Oooh, we could also invite our VIP clients. We can make it seem like a very exclusive event, where they also get a peek at the new collection.”
“You’re a genius.”
I grinned. “I love it when you sing my praises.”
“It’s true.”
We were at the new store in the back office. Liam was expertly massaging my neck, and I could feel my stress melting away.
“Why are your hands so amazing?” I whispered.
He brought his mouth to my ear. “I’m amazing. My hands, tongue, lips. Cock.”
I spun my chair until I was face-to-face with him. The tips of our noses were almost touching.
“How can you say that with a straight face?”
He straightened up, winking. “Again...because it’s true.”
I rolled my eyes playfully. “Did you finish your emails?”