Billionaire Blaze, page 38
I got to my feet again, intending to run out and go straight to the restaurant again. I wasn’t going to leave anything to chance that I could help. I didn’t get more than a few yards away when Daniel reappeared. He gave me the thumbs-up as he hurried toward me.
“You’ve definitely got your work cut out for you, but she agreed to hear a pitch in a week’s time as long as I’m the one to set it up for her.” Daniel looked more than a little smug and I knew I should thank him a lot for his help. He had saved my bacon yet again.
I pulled him into a massive hug, aware he could break me in two if he wanted to. Once more, I was grateful he’d decided to help me despite my mistakes. “I’m going to see who is left on site and talk to any potential investors while I can.”
“Oh, in that case, let me accompany you. I would love to see you having to network and make friends for once, instead of people coming to you with all the fun projects.” Daniel smiled again and I got the impression he was enjoying watching me squirm over this one.
Although I rolled my eyes, I was grateful he was coming with me nonetheless, and by the time we set off again, Henry was with us as well. With any luck Sarai would assist me some more as well, and by the time Kit came back to Chicago in a week’s time we would have a plan in place to get her on another project.
Despite knowing I could help her career, I still ached deep inside my chest, somewhere beyond soothing. This was only one part of fixing my mistakes. And it wouldn’t guarantee I would ever have her back in my life. If I was going to make everything up to her, I needed to go even further.
This would have to be a thought for another day, however. I could only make one thing happen at once.
CHAPTER NINETY-TWO
Kit
It felt good to get away with my friends for a few days and relax. We had visited places I’d always wanted to see, and I had been able to let go of the stress and difficulty of the last few weeks. It was everything I had needed it to be.
No one had mentioned Lukas, but I thought about him every day. Sarai had also messaged every day to keep me informed of how things were going. Almost all of it had been excitement at how well the project was now running and she said they were already getting booked up enough that the investors were happy.
After spending so long on one project, I was excited to see it being successful as well, but financially, I was no longer involved. I’d splurged a little with the money I’d been given, treating my friends to a few activities and some meals at more expensive places than we would have otherwise chosen, but they were good people and hadn’t let me pay for anything beyond that.
I appreciated that we had come out here and I’d been able to go on pony rides, see the Grand Canyon and many other sights. I’d ignored anything that would pull me out of feeling happy and not read a single news article, despite Sarai sending me links and photos of many of them.
Now I was heading back, however. Sitting in the back of a car, surrounded by my friends, I was going to be in Chicago in only a few hours. Already that morning, I had gotten several messages from Sarai asking me if I was still willing to listen to a project pitch, and I knew she must have been scheming with Daniel, because he’d sent me almost the exact same request.
I got the impression someone else was involved, and possibly Stacy as well, because she had spent the last hour or so on her phone messaging someone and had asked several strange questions throughout the last week about me and details about my preferences and past life.
The whole thing had me on edge, but I knew I would be anxious anyway. I didn’t think it would matter how long I was away from Chicago for. I was going to be nervous about running into Lukas every time I came back.
Not that I necessarily intended to ever come back again. I had only promised to listen to a pitch, not accept it. Since I was going back for that purpose, I knew I ought to see what the press had been saying about the project.
This was the first time I had received this level of scrutiny, and I was prepared for some of them to decide they didn’t like it no matter how well the project went. Some critics just liked to slate creativity.
I pulled open my messages and scrolled back to the start, wanting to read the older articles and then work my way to the here and now. Sarai had been kind enough to give me a summary of some of them and a warning if they weren’t completely positive, but I still read through them.
Most of the articles talked about the idea, praising Lukas for the layout and the exterior and Sarai and Richard’s company for the general concept. All of them had a few lines about the interiors, and for the most part it was positive, one even going so far as to say the genius that had gone into the exterior of the buildings had extended into the vision of the interior designer and into every element from start to finish.
I saved the article, took a screenshot and sent it to my mother. If nothing else, she could be pleased about it. With every mention of Lukas and his track record, I grew agitated and then slowly more and more numb. Most of them parroted the same sorts of information about his past projects and awards.
They all said very little about me except I was “up and coming” and from the UK. It was code for, “we’ve never heard of her, but these folks liked her and chose to take a gamble.” One even said the whole project was a big risk that appeared to pay off.
The latter part had never occurred to me when I had been asked to get involved. It hadn’t seemed like some big venture that had a high chance of failure. I’d been wrapped up in the bubble of talent and enthusiasm and taken along for the ride. Most of the time, I’d even loved it.
I sighed as I closed yet another review that basically said the same sort of things. Not all of them appreciated every section, some of the huts being accused of being kitsch. But the majority were positive, as Sarai had declared.
Finally, I reached one that had only been published two days earlier. Sarai hadn’t said much about it other than it was mostly about me compared to the others and she was going to hunt down some print copies of the magazine if I wanted it.
The thought made me panic, but I’d managed to read enough of the articles that I didn’t think one more could hurt. I regretted it as soon as I opened it. There were photos of me and Lukas from the showcase front and center.
An ache I had hoped was gone for good settled back in my chest and I had to bite my lip to keep from crying. We looked good together, his arm around me and smiles on our faces. It must have been taken as I had leaned in slightly, reacting instinctively to being close to him once more.
The article talked about Lukas working with me and mentioned me as if I was a protégée he had discovered and worked well with on this project.
It spoke of it not being the first time Lukas had collaborated on a large project with someone outside of his team and mingled this with personal life. I frowned. I’d had no idea Lukas had been in a relationship with a business partner before. Of course, I hadn’t expected him to have no exes. But to find he’d worked with one…
I skimmed the rest of the article, most of it being about me, as Sarai had suggested. I knew who had written it without needing to read the name tagged onto it. This had been the one reporter who had bothered to ask different questions and come back to me. In some ways, he deserved a different, more in-depth story.
As soon as I finished reading it, I pushed it from my mind. It had focused on me and the possible love story angle, but hadn’t confirmed anything the reporter couldn’t be sure of. The only difference it had made for me was to make me curious about the person Lukas had worked with and dated in the past.
For the first time since being off Jack’s island post his wedding to Juno, I searched for Lukas on the internet and tried to learn as much as I could about him. Who had this woman been and why hadn’t I realized she was in his life before?
The rest of the journey ticked by as I struggled to find out who it could have been. Lukas hadn’t been photographed with any woman but me, it seemed, in the last several years. And to see if there was anyone he’d worked with was even harder. Sometimes his projects were much more out of the limelight.
It didn’t help that there wasn’t some long list somewhere of what he had been doing. Eventually, I found it. An article written in a not-too-dissimilar style from what I’d just read, about Lukas and a highly attractive socialite. She hadn’t been an interior designer but some kind of public figure and fashionista.
Lukas had clearly been in a relationship with her as well. They had been photographed holding hands and they had impacted each other’s careers for sure. And then it had suddenly ended. No one had spoken of it and I had no idea what had happened.
If I was going to see Sarai and Daniel today, maybe I could ask them. But I knew it would show I wasn’t over the man. Did I even care at this point?
CHAPTER NINETY-THREE
By the time we pulled into the parking lot, I was a bundle of nerves again. I’d barely been able to stop wringing my hands together for the last ten minutes, to the point that Stacy had reached across and taken my fingers in hers.
“You’ve got this. Just trust that the business part will go okay, and we’ll take care of the rest. You don’t ever have to do anything you don’t want to, and no matter what, we’re all still here for you.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. As we got out of the car, Sarai came rushing out of the information center. No doubt she had been waiting for me. Before I could utter a word, she pulled me into a big hug.
“It’s so good to see you. It has felt strange not talking to you every day. Please tell me we’re okay with each other.”
As her panicked words came out and she studied me, I grimaced. I hadn’t considered what not really replying to her messages might have done to her. She had worried about me.
“Sorry, I didn’t think. We’re good. Always have been.” I hugged her again, giving her a squeeze that I hoped would show how I felt about our friendship.
I eventually let her go and she acknowledged the rest of my friends. To my surprise, Stacy gave her a hug as well. I wasn’t going to deny it felt good to see the friends I had made in one place getting along with friends from another, but I didn’t expect it to make me want to tear up in a good way.
As everyone piled out of the second car as well, Sarai waved us all over to the restaurant. “I’ve kept one of the side tables free for you all. Daniel is already waiting for us, but there’s no pressure to begin anything. Are you all hungry?”
There was a chorus of agreement from most of my friends, but I couldn’t utter a word. While I knew Daniel wasn’t Lukas, I was more aware of missing him just by being back here. The site held memories of him, and so did these people.
The pain was different from before, however. It was almost like I was comfortable with it. I wanted to see Lukas here. The place looked wrong without him. This project had been fun because of Sarai and him. Without him, it just seemed like a different place.
After processing this thought and the awareness of why I felt the way I did, I relaxed a little. Maybe I would be able to see him and not feel so bereft.
I couldn’t see Lukas inside the restaurant, and I had known it would be unlikely. While I was missing him, given what I knew of him, I doubted he was missing me.
Sarai pulled a waitress over to us, the woman one I didn’t recognize. There had been a lot of staff due to start working here while we were gone, so it didn’t surprise me, but no sooner had I sat down than Daniel hurried over from another group. I was soon on my feet again to give him a hug.
This time Daniel hugged all my friends as well, and greeted them all like he cared for them as much as me.
“I haven’t eaten yet. Please tell me you’ve all agreed to have some lunch. I’ve got the tab, and I have some great recommendations if you haven’t tried everything here before your road trip.”
I chuckled at his endless enthusiasm, and for a few minutes we talked about nothing but food, drinks, and how much we might want to consume. My stomach still protested at the idea of food, but I wasn’t about to stop everyone else’s excitement. My nerves would calm as soon as we got to business.
Thankfully Daniel seemed to anticipate my desire to get on with the reason I was truly here and as soon as our order was placed and Sarai had joined us, he cleared his throat.
“Right. I understand your friends have requested they’re present for this pitch, to make sure it’s in your best interests, but I believe it will be so I’m going to get on with it. We want your help with something you’re highly qualified to do.”
“What’s that?” I asked, trying to not snap at him despite my irritation that he already appeared to be waffling.
“We’ve been looking at the viability of a project themed around everything British. This place has a little bit of everything in the entire world, but from the customers at the showcase, what I know of the people in my world and Sarai’s experience, our country is fascinated with everything British, Irish, Scottish, and Welsh far more than any other nations.”
I frowned, knowing he was about to ask me if I would be a part of something like this. But I had barely any details, and it could only be more of the same. On top of that, I knew Sarai didn’t have the time or funding yet. She had already made it clear that she wanted to be able to get this site up and running before she moved on to another project.
Daniel studied me and his shoulders lowered. He could tell I wasn’t excited. For a few seconds he thought about this more.
“You like working with Sarai, correct?”
“Yes,” I replied, grateful I could be honest about that part.
“And you liked this project in and of itself?” He spoke slowly, as if he was choosing his words carefully, which made me more reluctant to confirm his words.
“The project was enticing enough, but it also wore me out. I couldn’t do another like it right away.”
Daniel nodded like this was an answer he’d expected.
“It takes time to get another project up off the ground and ready for an interior designer. You wouldn’t be asked to do another right away if you worked with us.” Daniel made a good point and he knew it, but I was more distracted by another element.
“Us?”
“Yes...” Daniel scratched his jaw, fidgeting for the first time. “I have decided to be involved. Not majorly, but as a small investor. Someone to help bring publicity more than anything.”
Of all the responses I had hoped or expected to get from him, this hadn’t been one of them. I’d expected him to confess Lukas was also going to be involved. The thought had made my heart rate spike and I had to focus not to show the emotions I felt at considering his name again.
“Are there enough investors?” I asked. “How likely is this to get off the ground?”
“There are some.” Sarai took over at this point, the drinks arriving before I could ask any more about it. For a minute or so, I could concentrate on breathing and let the waitress steal the attention.
When she left, I still didn’t respond. I didn’t know what to say. I’d loved working with Sarai, and even being in pain, I had to consider I might not be by the time they wanted to start. But if I was going to get any closure before then and begin to heal enough, I had questions. Was now the time to ask them?
“Although I wanted to be committed to one project at a time,” Sarai was the first to continue, breaking into my thoughts, “we had a great team on this and it’s already doing better than I hoped. Richard has agreed he can put in more work here and free me up to get the ball rolling on another, similar project. Somewhere where it will go down well with the general public. Early research is suggesting New York State might be a good plan.”
I lifted an eyebrow. Sarai really had put effort into this.
“And you, Daniel? That’s a long way from home.”
“I know,” he replied. “I will have to join you now and then, but I trust all of you. I really won’t be involved much. Not really. I’ll just help bring in the money after it’s done.”
“I’ve also had the investors agree you would get a small cut.” Sarai spoke so seriously that it almost didn’t sound like her. My friends gasped.
“You’re really throwing everything at me to get me to do this, aren’t you?”
Both of them nodded.
“Why? What’s in it for you? I’m decent, clearly, but you could pay many interior designers a flat fee for something like this.”
Daniel swallowed and looked over at Sarai. There was something they weren’t telling me, or didn’t know how to explain.
“I don’t understand how the investors would be happy with you giving me a cut. Unless it’s coming from somewhere else, or they are getting a benefit they think is worth it. What have you promised them?”
As I stopped speaking, I already suspected I knew the answer. Still neither of them said anything.
“Who will be the architect?”
“The investors want it to be Lukas. We haven’t officially agreed to it yet, but they want exactly the same team. If we’re bringing you on board, they are insisting on him as well.”
I frowned. It was exactly what I feared.
CHAPTER NINETY-FOUR
“How can you ask that of Kit, after everything he’s put her through?” Stacy looked appalled at Sarai’s recent announcement and I was pretty sure I agreed with her. How could they ask this of me?
“Because it’s his cut that’s being forfeited to bring you on board, and he’s promised to stay out of your way if you want him to. He won’t appear anywhere you are, won’t contact you, and won’t be involved as far as you’re concerned.” Daniel exhaled as if he hadn’t wanted to tell me that, either.
The whole situation had me confused, but it was clear I needed to know more about Lukas. Why was he doing this? If he was the one behind this entire offer, then what the hell had he dumped me for?
“While I was away, and after that article about my personal life came out, I looked into one of the statements it made. He dated someone he was working with in the past.”
