Page 11 of Midnight Secrets

“I never, in all my life, thought I’d see one of the glamourous Black sisters covered in flour.” Xavier stood with his hip braced on the doorframe with a smile playing on his lips.

“You came!” I automatically moved into his arms and held on tight. You never knew how much you needed help until it arrived in your home.

“Always, little cousin. That’s what I’m here for.”

It was only then that I realised that the kitchen was filled with more than just my cousin. Ash and Jordan were sitting at the table watching me.

“Hey, guys,” I said, straightening my apron, suddenly aware of my appearance.

“I hope there’s enough for us,” Jordan teased, nodding toward the oven.

I bit into my bottom lip, my shyness reappearing.

“You know these guys come as part of the deal,” Xavier said. “If you need something, then we’re here to help.”

His hand landed on the bottom of my back to push me toward the table.

“Why don’t you tell us what’s up,” Ash said and my attention fell on him. Every time I saw him he stole my breath and made my heart skip over its beat. He was the only man who commanded me with his presence. Sofia told me that Mama always said she knew from the first time she saw Papa that she loved him. Maybe it was a genetic fault?

I slowly lowered myself into a chair and clasped my hands together in my lap. Xavier sat beside me, his presence reassuring me.

“Spill,” he commanded.

“I don’t know where to start,” I confessed.

“The beginning helps,” Ash said and the tone he used made me look at him.

I was lost, his blue eyes blazing into mine. My teeth chewed the side of my mouth. “One of my suppliers is being difficult because I’m a woman,” I blurted out.

“What?” Xavier shouted in my ear. “Please tell me you aren’t involved in drugs!”

“What? No!” I spun to face him before returning to Ash. “I make jewellery and had a diamond consignment with my name on it. The supplier keeps selling to someone else.”

His gaze moved to Xavier for a split second before his eyes bored into mine again. “Does he keep upping the price before he does it?”

I nodded, tears building up behind my eyes.

“That’s a common tactic. There is no other buyer. He’s trying to see how much he can get out of you.” Ash placed his hands in front of him on the table and continued to stare at me. His fingers were long and tanned, his nails short and neat. “What time is the meeting tomorrow?”

“Ten,” I whispered.

“I can’t believe you thought Lucy had a drug problem,” Jordan bickered in the background.

“Fuck off,” Xavier retaliated. “I’m allowed to worry.”

“Are we going to see this jewellery?” Ash asked. He was the only one to take an interest in my original problem.

My tablet was on the table from when I’d been using it earlier. It contained pictures of all my pieces on display. I opened the file and handed it to him, my stomach tying itself in knots as he scanned through the images.

“These are good. Do you have a marketing team?”

“No,” I confessed. “Just a few jewellers I approached.”

“That’s why the suppliers are taking advantage of you. No businessman does everything himself. It’s the reason the three of us work together. No one actually knows who owns our businesses. It also means one of us can play hardball for the team.”

I started to relax as he took control.

“Jay, are you still in contact with that web designer?”

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