“Two weeks, Broderick. Two weeks,” he finally said. There was no missing the threat.
“I won’t need them.” My voice lowered. “And I’m warning you—do not interfere in this. I will do this my way.”
“We’ll see.” That was the last thing he said before the line went dead.
Fuck. I squeezed the phone in my hand. It took every ounce of willpower I had not to send my phone sailing through the air.
Broderick Wolfe Sr. thought he was the epitome of success.
Believed his efforts were what Wolfe Industries was built upon.
When in truth, the man was nothing but underhanded deals and greed.
Those were footsteps I refused to walk in.
I worked relentlessly for what I wanted.
Chased it.
Hunted it until I had it in my clutches.
And when I won? It was because I was actually the best at what I did.
I buttoned a single button on my jacket and shook out the cuffs. Lifting my chin, I grabbed my case and strode out the door.
I had work to do.
And I was going to love every second of it.
Chapter Two
Lillith
“So help me God, if he even looks at me wrong, I will snap. I think there’s a legitimate chance someone will have to keep me from strangling him, Nikki. Gah…he’s so infuriating.” With my phone pressed to my ear, I tipped my face toward the sky and sucked in a few breaths of cold air as if it might stand the chance of cooling some of the anger still boiling in my blood.
Never had I hated a man as much as I hated Broderick Wolfe. That snarky, arrogant voice made my skin crawl. Of course, it was a voice I’d never actually heard. What was most frustrating was the fact that even in its silence it skated my skin like sex and sin.
No question, that was what this man was.
Sin.
Wicked and immoral.
Ten minutes ago, I’d left a meeting where we were planning exactly what strategy we’d take tomorrow when the big dogs from Wolfe Industries descended on our city.
I needed a few moments to vent.
My best friend Nicole laughed through the line. At least someone found some humor in the situation. “Oh, I seriously doubt you’re going to actually strangle him. You might have spent the last five months fantasizing about it, but I know you, Lily Pad, and you are the pillar of self-restraint. But if the stories are true and he’s as gorgeous as everyone says he is, you have been fantasizing about all the wrong things.”
The winter air was chilly, and I tightened the belt of my coat, my black patent heels clicking on the gray-bricked sidewalk that ran the quaint downtown street. I strode beneath the trees, their barren branches stretched over my head like a shield of protection. Rays of sunlight darted through the spindly limbs, creating a pattern of warmth on the ground.
Gorgeous old buildings rose up on each side of the street. Most of them were one-to-three stories high, the upper floors apartments and the bottom floors family-run and independent stores.
Many had been there since long before I was born.
So yes.
I could admit many were run down and in dire need of repair.
But that didn’t make the histories held within their walls any less important.
Our city had always stood for something—family and community and coming together when things got rough.
There were parades on almost every holiday, and our parks and lakes were meticulously maintained—a safe place where children could run and play—all thanks to the residents who devoted their time and efforts to make sure the public areas were cared for. And when someone was in need? Those same residents came together with fundraisers and food drives to help ease the burden.
That was something I would do everything in my power to protect.
“Believe me, Nikki. There is absolutely no fantasizing on my part other than imagining his complete demise. The man is an arrogant slime ball. I don’t care if he looks like Charlie Hunnam—I’m talking SOA here—I don’t want anything to do with him other than to run him out of town as quickly as I can.”
Nikki gasped as if it were the most horrific statement I’d ever made. “That is some serious hate, Lily. SOA? Are you sure you’re really going there?”
I sighed, and a tumble of nerves rolled in my stomach as I approached the storefront at the heart of it all. My gaze traced the plate glass windows with the store’s name and logo printed in white.
Tindall’s Thimbles.
“You think that hate is undeserved?”
Nikki hesitated, and I could almost see her chewing furiously at the tip of her thumbnail, as if she weren’t sure what to say. Her voice dropped. “Is there really anything wrong with revitalization? The city could use the jobs.”
A sigh filtered free. “Of course we could use the jobs. But you know this is different. They’re forcing this without consideration of the people who have been here all along. They’re steamrolling people out of their homes and out of business without a second thought other than the number of dollars that will line their pockets. It’s not as if they actually care about Gingham Lakes. You know the second they sign on the dotted line, they’re out of here.”
“You’re probably right.”
“If you were to read the emails I’ve shared with them, especially him, you’d understand, Nikki. This is all about the money. Any bullshit they’re feeding us about pumping fresh blood into the community is just that—bullshit.”
A tease made its way into her tone. “And we all know the bullshit stops with Lillith Redd.”
Memories of when I couldn’t see through people’s bullshit barreled through me, and I pushed out the words on a whisper. “God, I hope so.” I shook them off before I got too lost to them. “All right, I need to get inside.”
“Okay, but I’ll see you tonight at seven, right?”
Shit.
I’d forgotten about that.
“Of course,” I muttered noncommittedly.
I could almost see Nikki raising her eyebrow at me. “Do not bail on me, Lily Pad. You need to unwind. I don’t care how busy you are or what you need to prepare for, you are getting a night out. Do you understand me?”
I puffed out a breath. “Fine. I’ll be there.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
“Okay, see you then. Don’t make me show up at your office to drag your ass out.”
A short laugh rumbled free. “I wouldn’t dream of it. I’ll see you then.”
“Bye.”
I ended the call and slipped my cell into my bag. Sucking in a breath, I reached out and pulled open the door. A bell dinged from above, the light tinkle ushering in a thousand more memories.
The overwhelming relief I’d felt every time I’d stepped through this door.
The warmth and the comfort.
The hope when the only thing I’d felt was fear and defeat.
Movement pulled my attention to the far corner where an arch led to the back room filled with sewing machines and fabrics and tools. On the opposite side of the sewing machines were racks full of hanging garment bags waiting to be picked up by their brand new owners or to be reunited after a repair or tailor.