Chapter 6 - MILES MADE HIS SECOND MISTAKE
Miles came to Nora’s apartment that night.
He did not know I was inside.
That was his first mistake.
His second was talking.
Nora wore a small recording device Rachel had recommended.
Legal under South Carolina rules when one participant consents.
Miles stood in the living room.
“You embarrassed me.”
Nora stared.
“That’s your opening?”
“My family looked ridiculous.”
“You tried announcing an engagement without asking.”
“You knew where this was going.”
“No.”
“We’ve known each other ten years.”
“That isn’t consent.”
Miles paced.
“My father is furious.”
“Good.”
“He thinks Cole is manipulating you.”
“Interesting.”
“He is dangerous.”
“So everyone keeps telling me.”
“He uses people.”
Nora almost smiled.
“I paid him.”
Miles stopped.
“What?”
“Never mind.”
He stepped closer.
“Nora, come back to reality.”
“This is reality.”
“Your mother’s company collapses without my father.”
“Then it collapses.”
Miles stared.
“You don’t mean that.”
“I do.”
“What about your mother?”
“She survives.”
“What about your grandmother’s estate?”
“She keeps it.”
His jaw tightened.
“You don’t understand what Magnolia House costs.”
“Neither do you. It isn’t yours.”
“It could benefit everyone.”
There.
Nora let silence work.
Miles continued.
“My father has investors.”
“For what?”
He realized too late.
“Nothing.”
“Riverfront hotel?”
No answer.
“Marina?”
No answer.
“Residences?”
His eyes changed.
Nora had guessed correctly enough.
“You were going to marry me for Grandma’s voting interest.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Then why does the loan forgive two million if we marry?”
Miles froze.
He had not known she knew.
“Where did you get that?”
“Answer.”
“It was my father’s structure.”
“You agreed.”
“Nora—”
“You agreed.”
He shouted:
“Yes!”
Silence.
Even from the next room, my body tensed.
Nora did not.
“I agreed because it made sense!”
“Makes sense to whom?”
“To everyone!”
“Not me.”
“You would have had security.”
“I already had a life.”
“You wanted to bake pastries!”
His contempt was finally visible.
Nora looked at him.
“Yes.”
He laughed.
“That’s what you’re throwing all this away for?”
“No.”
She stepped closer.
“I’m throwing you away because you think my dreams become childish when they interfere with yours.”
Miles stared.
Then he said something incredibly stupid.
“Do you know how easy it would be to destroy that bakery before it opens?”
I stood.
Walked into the room.
Miles went white.
“Evan.”
“Keep talking.”
He backed up.
“You were listening?”
“Nora was.”
I looked at her.
Her decision.
She held up the recorder.
Miles stared.
“You recorded me?”
“You threatened my business.”
“I didn’t threaten—”
“You said destroy.”
“Figure of speech.”
I smiled.
“Bad figure.”
He glared.
“This has nothing to do with you.”
“Correct.”
I stepped aside.
“Nora?”
She opened the door.
“Leave.”
Miles looked between us.
“You think he’ll marry you?”
Nora’s expression hardened.
“That isn’t the goal.”
“He’ll get bored.”
“Leave.”
“He’s using you against my father.”
Nora did not react.
Miles turned to me.
“You know what Charles will do.”
“Yes.”
“Then you know this ends badly.”
I smiled.
“For someone.”
He left.
Nora locked the door.
Then leaned against it.
Her hands began shaking.
I moved closer.
Stopped before touching her.
“Do you want me here?”
She nodded.
I held her.
Not seduction.
Not strategy.
She buried her face against my chest and cried.
“I hate this.”
“I know.”
“I hate that my mother did this.”
“I know.”
“I hate that part of what Miles said about you scares me.”
That one hurt.
“It should.”
She pulled back.
“You could ruin them.”
“Yes.”
“Will you?”
“If you ask me to?”
“No.”
“Then no.”
She stared.
“That simple?”
“No.”
I smiled faintly.
“But the answer is.”
Her hand touched my face.
“Why are you helping me?”
I answered the truth.
“At first?”
“Yes.”
“I was curious.”
“And now?”
I looked at her.
“Now it would hurt to stop.”
She kissed me first.
May you like
Nothing fake about it.
---
