Page 39 of Flawless Foundations

"She knows, Levi." Emmy's words break through my thoughts.

"I'm sorry, what?" I ask dumbly.

"I accidentally mentioned the CEO thing, thinking that you had at least mentioned that, and things just spiraled from there." Her voice is hesitant but holds no guilt.

"You told her everything?"

"Yes, Levi, which is what you should have done way before now." She tsks.

"Damn it," I hiss. "Why didn't you call me immediately last night?"

"I called you last night, you didn't answer." Her tone leaves no room for argument.

"Okay, well, I guess she wasn't happy, hence the not feeling well." I close my eyes. Stupid, stupid, Levi.

A sardonic laugh greets me on the other end of the line. "You could say that."

"Fuck," I groan.

"You need to fix this, Levi."

"No shit, Emmy," I snap.

She makes a noise in her throat that women make, I can tell an eye roll accompanies. "Okay, update me later, buttface." After slinging her favorite term of endearment toward me, she hangs up.

Shit. I've got to talk to Becca now. I gulp down my coffee as I rush around my room getting dressed. Pulling on a pair of jeans and a Henley, I meet myself face to face in the bathroom mirror. My hair is a mess, my eyes, red with lack of sleep and two days’ worth of scruff on my face. In a perfect world, I would have explained everything to Becca over a nice dinner, in my best suit, her in her sexiest dress. She would have understood, and I would have gotten down on one knee and asked her to marry me. She would say yes, then we'd get married, and I'd become the CEO of King Cosmetics. But that's not reality. That wasn't even the way I planned my impromptu way of coming clean last night, which never happened. So here I am, staring my ugly mug down in the mirror wondering about all the ways this day could go. In the end, I run a comb through my hair, brush my teeth, swish vigorously with a hit of mouthwash and try to calm my nerves as I pull on a pair of socks and slip on a pair of navy blue and brown suede Toms.

Walking to my dresser, I pick up the tiny velvet ring box. I pop it open and look at the vintage-inspired rose gold ring shimmering in the sun that shines through the window, thanks to the thin halo of tiny diamonds that surround the two-carat, flawless princess-cut diamond. Closing my eyes, I send a prayer to the big guy upstairs that I will get to pull this ring out today, and it won't be because I'm returning it.

I gently pull the ring out of the box and gingerly put it in my pocket. Looking in the mirror one last time, I channel my inner Shia LaBeouf and tell myself to just do it.

Moments later, I'm knocking on Becca's door. Seconds tick by, and the door opens a smidgen. I can barely see her, but I realize that it's not yet eight and I may have woken her.

"Levi," she mutters.

"Bex. I need to talk to you." I move toward the door, but she just stares at me. "Please, can I come in?"

She sighs. And the door opens enough for me to slide through. Once in the apartment, I walk deeper into the living room, she follows slowly behind. I momentarily forget why I'm here when I take her in. She's wearing my shirt, it hangs off her shoulder much like it did the first time she wore it, and her bare legs seem to go on for days. Her feet are sockless, and her toes are painted what I've come to learn is one of her favorite colors, navy blue. I drag my eyes slowly up her body and take in her flawless, make-up free face and messy bun. Her eyes look tired, much like my own, and they are narrowed on me, annoyed with my perusal. I clear my throat.

"You look gorgeous, baby." I try with a truth and a compliment to get the ball rolling.

She rolls her eyes and shakes her head. "What do you want Levi?"

"You know why I'm here." I drop my hands to my sides. She's all sass with her hand on her hip.

"Oh, you mean you want to talk about the fact that you've been keeping shit from me? I mean, like extremely important shit. The kind of shit that you tell your girlfriend. Is that why you're here, Levi?" she nearly shouts. I don't cower though; I deserve her anger.

"Yeah, that shit, Becca." I take a breath before explaining. "I didn't tell you for two reasons. The first is that I have been bound and determined to get this CEO position on my own merit. At first, I thought the whole wife thing was just an act my father was using to get back at me for breaking things off with Darcy. He kept telling me that I needed to show the board that I was committed, so that's what I've been doing the past few months. I didn't think it was necessary to share that with anyone."

She glares at me. "I'm not just anyone, Levi. I'm your girlfriend."

I put my hands up in front of me. "I know, I know, I'm just telling you my thought process."

"What was the second reason?" she demands, her posture still full of attitude and anger.

"That reason is more selfish," I start.

"It all sounds a bit selfish if you ask me," she mutters.

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