Ever After Awaits (Layla) novel Chapter 29

Chapter 29: Layla POV

We’re seated at the table under the bay window when Cade comes storming back into the kitchen. He looks as mad as a raging bull with a storm cloud that hangs around him that could suffocate the whole room.

“What happened, bro?” Hunter asks as he notices Cade’s clenched fists and tight jaw.

“Fucking Xavier and his childish bullshit, that’s what.”

Before I can get up to go to him a door slams, and we hear muffled curses. Secretly I hope Xavier has slammed his hand into said door as punishment for his douche–ness.

Moira gets up, presumably to go and find Xavier, but we all stop when we hear the garage door opening and I instinctively know that this conversation will have to wait because we’re about to be served a shit sandwich.

AJ and Hunter get up from the benches and cross the kitchen to Cade, I’m quick to follow, wanting to see them off and delay whatever this is, even if it is for a few minutes.

Michael steps through the inside door to the garage first, dragging his luggage behind him. When he spots the guys, he nods in their direction with a neutral, “Boys.” directed at them. When his eyes settle on me, I see a subtle shift in his stance and a smirk crosses his face.

“Sweetheart how are you?” he asks me as he comes closer.

I immediately feel uncomfortable, but I don’t want to draw unnecessary attention to our interaction, so I keep still, smile at him, and answer, “I’m good, thanks. I hope you enjoyed your trip?”

He stops a couple of feet before me, way too close for comfort, but I decide not to call him out, at least not yet. He leans his hip against the island, crosses his arms across his chest, and licks his lips as he gives my body a leering inspection.

“The trip was good, but it would have been better with you there.”

Eww! Did my new stepdad insinuate that I should have joined them on their honeymoon? Creep alert!

Before I can answer his sleazy comment, I notice over his shoulder that my mom has stepped into the kitchen and is scowling at me – probably hearing Michael’s comment and assuming I flirted with him first. Again, eww!

“Layla, help me with my bags,” she spits at me.

Before I can make a move or tell her to carry her own damn bags, the guys step over to her and each grabs a piece of luggage.

“We’ll do that, Mrs. Reed. That way, our training in the gym isn’t just to make us look pretty,” Cade says as

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Chapter 29: Layla POV

he winks at her, and she giggles, honest to God.

As I feel the irritation rising inside me at Cade’s audacity for flirting with my mom, he glances over his shoulder and blows me a surreptitious kiss. Instinctively, it becomes clear that he did that to get her off my case by stroking my mom’s ego. Clever guy.

Mom saunters up to Michael and wraps herself around him as if to stake her claim on her husband in front of her daughter. Delusional much, mother? I wouldn’t touch him with a 10–foot pole while double–gloved.

Michael’s reaction to her clinginess is surprising though, because he subtly stiffens, and a tick appears in his jaw as if he is holding himself back from telling her to get off him. Interesting.

–

“Where’s Xavier?” Michael asks me irritably. “I texted him earlier giving explicit instructions that he needs to be here when we get home.”

His sudden brashness when speaking about Xavier raises my hackles and an inexplicable urge to defend

Xavier awakens in me.

“He is around here somewhere, just like you asked,” my clipped tone of voice apparently doesn’t sit well with Michael, and along with the tick in his jaw, a vein pops up on his forehead. Internally, I do a happy dance at being able to get under his skin.

As Michael goes to say something, I feel Xavier entering the room and he comes to a standstill next to me. “You summoned, Father?”

Xavier’s body is strung tighter than a guitar string, making my own anxiety kick up a notch. Instinctually, my fingers brush lightly against the back of Xavier’s hand in a small show of solidarity in addition to trying to calm his frazzled nerves. Hopefully, my small act of kindness doesn’t make him want to strangle me later. Fingers crossed.

Xavier doesn’t react to my touch, but as if our emotions are connected, I feel the shift in his demeanor, the stiffness in his shoulders loosens a fraction, and the tightness around his eyes relaxes.

“Layla, the house has been sold. The lawyer is coming over tomorrow with the paperwork, make sure you sign them,” Mom suddenly blurts out and I’m momentarily stunned.

“What? When? To whom?” I blabber, completely thrown for a loop, and having trouble constructing

coherent sentences.

“What does it matter? It’s done, so just make sure you sign the documents,” she says haughtily. I’m so stunned that I don’t even question her further. Her next command makes me pause though, “And there’s no need for you to read it, just sign so we can move on with our lives.”

My suspicions are immediately triggered. She’s planning something, and it doesn’t bode well.

Without answering her, I nod my head. She sure as shit can forget about me not reading every word.

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8:07 pm DD

Chapter 29: Layla POV

“Xavier, I’ve decided you will be changing your major. You won’t be starting your own business after your studies are done. You need to take over my company when the time comes.” Micheal throws out and my jaw almost hits the floor.

The effect on Xavier is almost instantaneous and I’m too scared to look at him, afraid that the rage I can feel coming off him in waves will consume me if we make eye contact.

“What?” Xavier growls at his dad. If it weren’t for the circumstances that we find ourselves in, it would have been sexy as hell. Geez Layla, inappropriate much?

“You heard me,” he bluntly decrees before swinging his head towards me. My back stiffens and I know his next words are going to piss me off.

“Also, one of my business partners wants to merge with me to secure the future of both our companies. We’ve decided that an arranged marriage between Layla and his son is the best way to secure such a merger. So, Layla, we will have a little party next weekend where you’ll be introduced to your future fiancée.”

Motherfucker!

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Visitor

well that definitely keeps things interesting

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