Chapter 9
The morning sun streaming through my office windows feels like a blessing–just like that day three years ago when I walked out of the courthouse as a free woman
“Following your heart is always the right choice.” Mom’s words from that painful night still echo in my mind sometimes. She was right. Walking away from Mason was the best decision I ever made.
After the divorce, everyone kept asking if I was okay, if I needed time to heal, if I wanted to talk about it. The truth? I felt nothing but relief.]
“Lily, you’re too young to give up on love,” my friends would say. But I wasn’t giving up on anything–I was finally focusing on what actually mattered.]
“Ma’am stop daydreaming and look at these numbers!” Chloe bursts into my office, waving a stack of financial reports. “We’re officially in the black”
I can’t help but grin. After the wedding disaster, Chloe quit her old job without hesitation. “If you’re starting over, I’m coming with you.” she’d said. “Besides, working for someone who smashes wine bottles over assholes‘ heads? That’s my kind of boss.”
We started Vixen Industries with my savings and a lot of caffeine fueled all–nighters. Everyone said we were crazy–two women trying to break into the fashion industry during a recession
Turns out, surviving public humiliation gives you a pretty good sense of what people actually want to wear.]
“The fashion show prep is driving me insane though,” 1 admit, rubbing my temples. “Mr. Williams better not screw us over, or I
swear-
“You’ll what? Throw another wine bottle? Chloe grins.
“Don’t tempt me.”
My phone buzzes. Mom’s calling. She’s been on this weird kick lately about me “getting back out there” and “not letting one bad experience ruin everything.”
“Hey Mom.”
“Lily, sweetheart, your father and I were just saying how proud we are of you. The business is doing so well!”
“Thanks, Mom. Is that why you called?“]
“Well… we met the most interesting family at the Hamilton charity dinner. The Andersons. Very successful, very respectable=”
“Mom, please don’t start with the matchmaking again.“[]
“I’m not matchmaking! I’m just saying their son seems lovely. Runs the Empire Group, very accomplished for his age-“]
I’m only half–listening because Chloe’s frantically waving fabric samples at me, and I can see Mr. Williams hasn’t delivered the accessories we needed yesterday.[]
“We thought maybe you could meet him. Nothing serious, just=“||
“Ma’am! Crisis! The Empire Group, YJ Group and Bolton’s all want to attend next week’s show!” Chloe’s practically hyperventilating
“Mom, whatever you think is best. just… handle it, okay? I trust you. I really have to go–we’re drowning in work here.“[]
“Oh! Well, if you’re sure… I’ll call Mrs. Anderson-
“Great. Love you Bye.”
I hang up and immediately forget about the conversation. There’s a fashion show to save.[]
“Chloe, get me Williams on the phone right now. And start calling backup suppliers. If this show fails because some designer can’t deliver on time, I’m going to lose my fucking mind.”
“On it! Oh, and your dad called earlier about some hotel business problem?“]
1 throw my hands up in defeat. “Why is everyone trying to stress me out today?”
If I’d known that casual “handle it” would lead to anything more than a boring dinner, I might have paid more attention. Bur honestly? I was too busy building an empire to worry about my parents‘ social scheming.
Three years of freedom had made me careless.
I was about to learn that lesson the hard way.[]
