Chapter 76
I may be skilled at my craft, but I wasn’t exactly great at managing people. That’s why days like these felt so overwhelming to me,
Dusk fell. I was about to clean up and leave when Jean called.
“Where are you?”
“At work. The office,” I replied, exhausted.
“Seriously? It’s the weekend! Why are you grinding instead of relaxing at a spa or something?”
“I’ve got no one to rely on but myself these days. Things haven’t stabilized yet.”
Ever since some of my friends became my investors, the pressure had only increased. The last thing I wanted was to be the investment that made my friends lose money.
“Enough about that! Time to relax and have fun, sister. I’ve got something planned for you, and you’re gonna love it–guaranteed!” Jean promised.
“What are you talking about?” I asked.
“Nuh–uh. You’ll find out when you get there. I texted you the address. Be there or be square!”
Jean was really insistent. She even texted me after the call ended.
Jean: [Get your ass here quick!]
I checked the address and realized it was for a premier club in the city.
Honestly, what would I even do if I returned to my rented unit? Sit there alone? I’d been carrying too much on my shoulders lately, and maybe it really was time to unwind.
Jean texted again as I left the office, this time insisting I take an Uber instead of driving.
It was as clear a hint as any–drinking heavily was part of the plan.
I wasn’t opposed to that at all. My brain could use some alcoholic numbness to forget all the things weighing me down.
I was stunned when I arrived at the club and entered the room Jean had reserved. The event was even more lavish than I’d expected.
Jean wasn’t alone. She’d invited my closest friends–the same ones who had heroically bought shares in my company to help me raise the money for Sarah’s case,
Now that I thought about it, I really should’ve thrown them a party as a thank–you.
My friends were all affluent–either as children or grandchildren of business magnates. They were in their element, already halfway drunk, dancing, and singing along to the music.
Jean waved me over. “Taylor’s here! C’mon, sit!”
Alex, who had been singing, paused and turned to me as I sat down. “Did you settle your family business?” I nodded. “Yeap, and it’s all thanks to you, sisters. Tonight’s on me!”
Chapter 76
+25 BONUS
“Now that’s music to my ears!”
“Be a good CEO, Tay–Tay, so we can all make good money!
“Of course! I won’t let any of you down!”
The chatter quickly picked up. It didn’t take long before the conversation turned to Soren.
Even though he’d managed to scrub the Internet clean of any scandals, the Metropolis elites were always in the
know.
They were focused not on the details of the story but on our supposed relationship–or more specifically, when I’d officially become “Mrs. Kenway.”
I’d been working so hard to erase him from my mind lately I came here specifically to forget about him, and now, everyone was talking about him again!
For a moment, I couldn’t help but wonder if my friends had invested in my company because they thought Soren was somehow backing me. Was that their real reason?
“Don’t believe whatever rumors are out there, you guys,” said hastily. “I borrowed money from him to defend my pride! There’s no way I was letting Maddison get that bracelet, you know?”
“Who the hell lends 40,000,000 dollars to a random girl? There’s gotta be more to it than what we’re seeing on the surface!”
“Wait, that’s not
“Oh, you don’t have to hide it, sis. We get it. The Kenways don’t like attracting attention, right?”
Nothing I said could convince them otherwise.
Jean’s phone rang, interrupting the conversation.
After a quick exchange, she hung up and turned to me. “We’ve got a new member joining us tonight! You might not know her, but she’s helped you before!”
“Who’s that?” I asked, grateful for the distraction.
