Page 27 of Tormented Billionaire Romance Series

“Thanks, honey. I can't tell you how much this means to me.”

I smiled warmly. “It's my pleasure, Jen. I'm here for you.”

She reached across the desk to take my hand. I held hers gladly, feeling the radiance of her gratitude. I squeezed her hand. We sat like that for a moment until she let go, but the warmth remained. It could have been the sun shining through the window or the fact that my office was slightly stuffier than usual. But overall, I felt hopeful.

And I hoped to hang onto that.

CHAPTER7

Levon

I was nestledon the couch with a cup of coffee in my parent's living room. Everything looked the same much like the rest of the town. The fireplace was still the same cream white it had been since my youth. The mantle was decorated with all the finest items Mom could find that resembled dolphins. Our pictures were framed and neatly set between statues of sea creatures. There were seashells everywhere—they were mother's favorite.

I smiled as I absorbed my surroundings. Although the decorations and style hadn't changed, it still brought me joy. I sipped my coffee and studied the curtains, the large French windows, the smudge-free panes, and the modern furniture.

A knock came from the living room door.

I perked up to find Jen. “Hey, sis.”

“Hey, bro.”

“Care to join me?”

She nodded and wandered into the room, taking one of the lounge chairs near the fireplace. She sank into it and tucked her knees up to her chest.

I frowned. “Is something wrong?”

“Well, this might not be the best time.”

“Best time for what?”

“It might not ever be the best time, so I'll just come out with it.”

I arched my eyebrow in her direction while setting my coffee mug on a coaster. “Alright, spit it out.”

She took a deep breath and blew it out forcibly as if expelling negative energy from her body. She rubbed her eyebrows, dragging her fingers horizontally toward her temples. After another few seconds of silence, she shrugged.

“Well, you're going to have to walk down the aisle with Clara.”

I blinked slowly. “What?”

“It was the only way to switch the bridesmaids without everything going all to hell.”

“Jen, you can't be serious.”

She gave me a sharp look. “I ammorethan serious, Levon. I'm going to need you to be a team player here.”

“That's a terrible idea. There has to be another way.”

“There isn't another way.”

I shook my head forcefully. “No, therehasto be an alternative that doesn't match Clara with me. Can't you just give me someone else? Switch Clara with another girl and give me that girl.”

“It's not that easy, Levon.”

“Itisthat easy! You're the one in charge of everything. You already knew my feelings about the situation. Why are you making this so difficult?”

She sighed. “This is my wedding, Levon—mine. So, I get to call the shots at the end of the day. I'm not going to be a tyrant about it, but I would like some respect for the decisions I make.”

---