Page 37 of Flawless Foundations

Wait. What?

I shake my head. "What do you mean? Isn't CEO the job Levi is stepping into?" Emmy looks up at me, startled.

"Oh, hmm. Yeah, that's supposed to be his job, it's always been the plan, but my dad is, per usual, making things difficult." She dips her spoon into the nearly empty bowl.

"What's the issue? Why is he holding out?"

"Uh," she stumbles, and I know there's something she isn't saying. The tips of my ears heat as I'm pretty sure there is something big going on that Levi never bothered to mention.

"Emmy King, you tell me what's going on right now!" I demand setting down my wine glass harder than necessary. Just then the server walks by, offering to refill my glass, I nod but never take my eyes off Emmy. She gulps while she waits for him to pour us both wine. He nods, oblivious to the heavy conversation about to happen.

With a deep breath, Emmy launches into what the hell is going on. "Unbeknownst to anyone, when Levi broke off his engagement to that horrible woman Darcy, he simultaneously lost his place as the next CEO of King Cosmetics."

I gasp. My eyes widen and my jaw hangs loose. "Oh my God, Emmy. Why?" I cover my gaping mouth with my hand.

"Honestly, I don't know the reason my father is using, but he's been telling Levi for months that if he's not married, then he's not becoming the next CEO." She's an equal mix of anger and sadness.

I shake my head. "I just don't understand why it matters."

Emmy shrugs. "Me either."

"So what, Levi is just going to sit back and lose all he's worked for?" My brows narrow, why hasn't he told me any of this?

"No, he's been working his ass off trying to prove to my father and the board that he's the right person for the job, but I really don't think it matters. I was there when he first found out about the stupid marriage caveat, Levi was livid," she says, but I'm deep in thought.

I chew the inside of my cheek, has he known the whole time we've been dating? This is huge, why would he keep this from me? "When did he find out?" I ask, focusing on Emmy again. Gone is the anger, the only emotion left on her face is guilt.

"I think, before you two started dating," she says softly.

"So, he started a relationship with me after finding out he needed to be married or he was going to lose his company?" I pull my lip through my teeth as I start to understand.

She only nods.

"And you knew about this and didn't say anything?" I snap.

Leaning back in her seat, she defends herself. "I overheard a conversation months ago. I didn't find out you two were a thing until a couple weeks ago. I talked to Levi and told him he needed to tell you when I found out about the two of you."

I mash my lips together, my eyes searing a hole into the table in front of me. Emmy remains quiet as I think about everything I just found out. A thought occurs to me, it must show on my face because I see Emmy lean forward.

"Bex, don't go there," she scolds.

"No, it just seems awfully convenient, doesn't it? He needs a wife, then suddenly starts dating me?" I look up at Emmy, and she's shaking her head vigorously back and forth.

"Noooo, no way, Bex. Levi really cares about you. He wouldn't do this. I talked to him, and he said that wasn't why he was with you." She's in panic mode, trying to save something that she didn't seem all that keen about to begin with.

Leaning forward, I hiss, "He asked me to move in with him less than two months into our relationship, Emmy. Tell me that isn't convenient and downright suspicious?"

"You said it yourself, things are right between you, it's not too soon if you two are in love," she whisper-yells back at me.

"Are we, though? I mean, I thought I was, but now I have no fucking clue since he's been hiding all this," I snap. Then I realize why she was trying to control her voice; we are starting to garner some looks from nearby tables.

"Becca, you need to talk to Levi about this. Let him clear things up," she pleads.

"He didn't tell me, why do you think he'll be honest with me now?"

"I honestly think he didn't tell you because he wasn't going to cave to the demand for a wife. He was trying other things to prove himself. New and big projects and ideas."

Then I think about my new job at King.Shit.Was I already a piece in the game he was playing against his father?

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