Page 87
Mercedes purses her lips, thinking it over. “I think a mix of the two. That way we cover more readers. I’m thinking I give you a budget and you do the design and hire people to do the work. You’d document every step of the process and throw in some DIY stuff that could save our thriftier readers some money.”
I nod, anxious to get started on the project. “That sounds great.”
“Good. We can do a walk through on Monday if that works for you.”
I scan the calendar pulled up on my computer before nodding. “Yeah, that will work for me.”
“Perfect. Let’s meet on Monday morning to go over the floor plan before we see the space. We can talk design then, too.”
“You want me to have something ready by then?” I ask, panic setting in. Three days is not a lot of time to put a presentation together.
“Oh, no! I just meant we can talk about what I’m looking to do with the place and what I want…”
“Carly,” someone says from my office door, interrupting Mercedes, and I glance up, my stomach flipping at the sight of Julian Henshaw standing in my doorway. He smirks and the expression makes me uncomfortable.
“Julian Henshaw?” Mercedes asks and he turns his attention to her. His face lights up like he wasn’t just giving me the smuggest look known to man.
“Mercedes! It’s great to see you again. I didn’t realize you worked here.”
Liar.
“I own it actually. How have you been?”
He smiles and I try not to let my disgust show. “I’m great. I’d love to catch up and tell you all about it, but do you think you could give me a moment alone with Carly?”
She nods, her gaze bouncing between the two of us. “Of course. Come find me when you get done.”
“You got it.”
Mercedes flashes me a smile before leaving me alone with Julian and I drop the act, arching a brow at him.
“What do you want?”
He places a hand over his heart, pretending to act offended and I want to punch the pretentious prick in the face. “Now, is that any way to talk to your future brother?”
“You might marry my sister,” I hiss through clenched teeth. “But you will never be my brother.”
Don’t think for a second I won’t try to put a stop to the wedding.
Julian smiles, looking more animal than man and I wonder how he conned my sister into being with him. “What’s with all the hostility, Carly? Here I thought we got along so well at dinner.”
I shake my head, an image of Julian slapping my sister across the face popping into my mind. “I saw what you did to her that night and I saw the bruises. You can’t fool me.”
He laughs, a big booming sound that immediately puts me on edge. I just told him I know he’s beating my sister and he laughs?
“Oh, sweet Carly. You don’t know nearly as much as you think you do but that’s not what I’m here to talk about.”
“Then, by all means, get on with it.” The sooner I get this snake out of my office, the better.
“Unfortunately, I haven’t brought good news. Your sister was really upset by your behavior at dinner and she asked me to come speak to you.”
My brows knit together as I watch him. “And why wouldn’t she just talk to me herself?”
“Because she doesn’t want to speak to you ever again,” he says casually and it cuts deep. Ivy doesn’t want to speak to me ever again?
“What? No, that can’t be.”
“Yes, I’m afraid so. She also asked me to inform you that your invitation to the wedding has been rescinded.”
