Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 70180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Mark grabbed my arm the way he had that night in the bar. My memories flashed of the humiliation. The disgust on his face. The feelings of inadequacy that had plagued me for so long after. And it all came back in a rush. No one had stood up for me. No one had even said a word.
But this time, Ash did.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Ash snarled. He came between us in an instant. “Don’t fucking touch her.”
Ash and Mark were nose to nose. One wrong move would send this entire thing spiraling. I’d seen Ash fight someone before. I never wanted to see it again.
“Ash, please,” I gasped. “Please … just go.”
His eyes shot to me. “Me? I should go?”
“Yes.”
Mark snorted.
“It’s not safe, Mia.”
And I saw that he truly believed that. My cheeks heated.
“I’ll be fine.”
Mark pushed him in the chest. “You heard the woman. Get the fuck out. She’s my girlfriend, not yours. You’re not wanted here.”
Ash looked back at me with such a pleading look that I wanted to go with him. But he’d ruined our chance. He’d chosen. There was nothing he could do here. As much as I wanted to be there for him through this, my relationship wouldn’t survive me walking out of that door with him.
“Call Derek,” I told him. “I’m sorry.”
Ash shook his head once, shot a withering look at Mark, and then left. And as soon as the door closed, I knew I had made the wrong choice.
I was in too deep to do anything about it in that moment. But it was the beginning of the end.
A week later, I’d leave Mark for good and start the process of opening the new boutique in Charleston to get myself a safe way out of the mess.
25
Savannah
Present
The dress for the Foster Foundation charity event was a masterpiece. Even though I frequently sold outfits that I’d worn first, I was contemplating keeping this one to myself forever. It hung on the back of my closet door in a wave of red silk, and I couldn’t wait to wear it tonight to be recognized for my contribution to the foundation.
I’d hired hair and makeup since I’d be in so many pictures. I already felt like a goddess, just standing around in my matching underwear set. All I had to do was slip into the dress and heels and wait for Ash to pick me up.
I took a sip of my water while I listened to Sinatra croon from my record player. My phone rang, and I grabbed it, turning the music off before answering.
“Amelia Ballentine.”
“Amelia, it’s Nolan Holden.”
I froze in place. I’d been waiting for this call for weeks. I knew that this was all a hurry up and wait business, but it was still frustrating to be on the waiting end of it all.
“Hi, Nolan. It’s great to hear from you.”
“Good to talk to you. I want to make this a quick call. I know it’s late for a Friday, but I had so many meetings today.”
“It’s not a problem. I was just getting ready for a charity event.”
“That sounds fun. Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we had another clothing retailer come in and make an offer on the space we were negotiating.”
My stomach fell. “Oh, really?”
“I’m not at liberty to discuss who it is at the time, but they’re a large name brand, and they offered to pay double for the location.”
I nearly choked. Double. Holy shit. “Wow. That’s … surprising.”
“It’s been happening all over. Big corporations are coming into these lucrative spaces and raising rent everywhere.”
Which you could stop. I wanted to say it, but Nolan Holden was a businessman. It was his job to make money. Not to support local small businesses. Not when he could get double his cut just by agreeing to this. I hated it, and I knew why Marina hated it, but I understood it too. It didn’t make me feel any better.
“Well, I don’t think I would be able to meet that demand.”
Nolan sighed. “I thought you might say that. I’m really sorry, Amelia, but we’re going to have to go with the other offer. We might be able to move you into another space when one comes available. I’ll be in touch if you’re interested.”
“Sure,” I said in a noncommittal tone.
It felt like the rug had been pulled out from under my feet. And instead of falling on the floor, I fell into a never-ending pit. I made some small talk before hanging up the phone and sitting down on my bed.
The dream that I’d been working on for my empire was dead in the water. Maybe it was dramatic to feel like everything I’d worked for was over, but I couldn’t stop the feeling from taking root and growing inside of me. I had my boutique here. It was in great shape, but I wanted more. I wanted to franchise the boutiques. I wanted them everywhere in the South. I wanted them everywhere. Charleston had felt like the first step to that dream coming true. And it was the first step I’d made when I had that idea of leaving Mark behind. Now, it was gone.