Chapter 94
~LAYLA~
“I’m just thinking about how much has changed in such a short time p>
“What do you mean?” I asked.
Axel leaned forward, cradling his coffee cup between his hands, the roses on the patio highlighting his strong features. “I mean, look at you,” he said. “Just a few months ago, you were the perfect Watson daughter, playing by their rules. Now you’re outmanoeuvring Cassandra, running Eclipse Beauty like a queen, and driving an armoured SUV like you were born for it p>
I laughed, stirring my coffee. “You make it sound so glamorous. I’m just trying to survive p>
His eyes softened, holding mine. “You’re doing more than surviving, Layla. You’re winning p>
The waitress served our pancakes: blueberry for me and chocolate chip for him. We started eating, and the warm, sweet flavours helped melt away the tension from the past few days.
These are amazing,” I mumbled through a bite.
“Told you,” Axel said, smirking. “Best in the city p>
I tilted my head, teasing. “What else don’t I know about you, Mr. Axel O’Brien? Secret pancake connoisseur p>
He chuckled. “Stick around, Mrs. O’Brien. I’ve got plenty of secrets p>
The way he said it sent a shiver through me, memories of his lips on my neck flashing back. I pushed the thought aside, focusing on the food.
“So what’s the biggest secret?” I asked. “Besides your pancake expertise p>
“That would ruin the mystery p>
“Come on, give me something. One secret p>
He considered for a moment, his expression turning thoughtful. “Alright. I hate board meetings. Absolutely despise them p>
“That’s not a secret. Everyone hates board meetings,” I said.
“True. But I specifically schedule mine for Friday afternoons so people want them to end quickly p>
I laughed. “That’s genius, actually p>
“What about you? What don’t I know about Layla O’Brien p>
I thought for a moment. “Well, I’m terrified of birds. Like, genuinely afraid of them p>
“Birds?” Axel said, his eyebrows rising. “You’re joking p>
“I wish I was. Pigeons, seagulls, even those tiny sparrows. They all freak me out p>
He laughed, clearly delighted by this information. “The woman who just stood up to Cassandra and Charles Watson is afraid of birds p>
“Hey! They have beady eyes and they move unpredictably p>
“They’re like two inches tall, Layla p>
“Size doesn’t matter when they can fly at your face p>
He was still laughing, and I couldn’t help but smile despite my embarrassment.
“Okay, your turn again. Another secret,” I demanded.
We fell into easy conversation, trading stories about our childhoods, our first business ventures, the moments that shaped us. It felt natural and comfortable, as if we’d known each other far longer than a few months.
“We need to talk about the case,” I said eventually, bringing us back to reality. “Cassandra’s arrest is a start, but Charles is still out there p>
Axel nodded, his face hardening. “I plan on getting an inside man in Watson Holdings… one that’s high enough up the chain. And also see if we can pin the crash stunt on him too p>
“You think he knew about it p>
“I think he encouraged it. Cassandra doesn’t make moves that big without his approval p>
“So we go after both of them p>
“Exactly. Cut off the head and the body falls p>
My phone buzzed on the table with a text from Erica: Heard about the accident. Can I come by? Need to see you’re okay.
I showed Axel. “She’s up to something p>
He read the message with narrowed eyes. “Let her come. We’ll watch her closely p>
“You think she’ll slip up p>
“Everyone does eventually. Especially when they think they’re being clever. We just need to be able to confirm with concrete proof that she’s working with Cassandra p>
“What if she’s actually just sketchy in her own way p>
Axel reached across the table, taking my hand. “Your instincts have been right about everything else. Trust them p>
I nodded, typing a quick response: Sure. Come by tomorrow afternoon.
Her reply was immediate: Perfect. See you then.
“She answered too fast,” I said.
“Noted. We’ll be ready p>
We finished eating, the sun warming the patio, and despite everything hanging over us: Cassandra’s arrest, Charles’s threats, Erica’s suspicious behaviour, I felt hope. Maybe we really could outplay them all.
As we headed back to the car, I pulled out the keys to the new SUV, then tossed them to Axel. “Can you please take the wheel? I want to see how it handles from the passenger seat p>
He grinned, catching them smoothly and sliding into the driver’s seat. “Your wish is my command p>
“Don’t crash it,” I teased, buckling in.
“No promises,” he replied, starting the engine.
“Just do you. If you crash it, I’ll just tell my husband to buy me another,” I shot back, laughing.
“Your husband sounds like a generous guy p>
“He has his moments p>
Axel pulled out of the café parking lot, and I watched him drive, noting how comfortable and confident he looked behind the wheel of the massive vehicle p>
“So what happens now?” I asked. “With Cassandra, I mean p>
“She’ll be arraigned, probably tomorrow. They’ll set bail, which Charles will pay. Then we wait for trial p>
“How long does that usually take p>
“Could be weeks. But we have the evidence. The dashcam footage is irrefutable p>
“What about the miscarriage? Won’t that complicate things p>
Axel’s expression darkened. “It might generate sympathy, but it doesn’t change the fact that she deliberately caused the accident. Her own reckless actions led to that outcome p>
“The press is going to crucify me anyway p>
“Let them. We’ll release our own statement with the footage. Once people see what really happened, the narrative will shift p>
I hoped he was right. The thought of being painted as the villain in Cassandra’s tragedy made my stomach turn.
“What about Eclipse Beauty? Have you checked the numbers since the news broke p>
Axel pulled out his phone, checking quickly while keeping his eyes on the road. “Actually, orders are up. Slightly p>
“What? How p>
“People are defending you on social media. There’s a whole movement calling out Cassandra’s history of manipulation. Someone even dug up the video of her slip-up about the fake data breach p>
Relief flooded through me. “So we’re not completely destroyed p>
“Far from it. If anything, this might have actually helped. People love an underdog story p>
We drove in comfortable silence for a while, the city passing by outside. When we pulled into our driveway, I felt exhausted but oddly content.
“Thank you,” I said as Axel put the car in park. “For today. For everything p>
“You’ve thanked me three times now. I’m starting to think you’re going soft, Mrs. O’Brien p>
“Don’t get used to it,” I said, but I was smiling.
He turned to face me with a serious expression. “I meant what I said earlier. You’re not just surviving anymore. You’re building something real. Something that’s all yours p>
“Ours,” I corrected. “We’re building it together p>
Something shifted in his eyes, an emotion I couldn’t quite name. “Yeah. Together p>
The moment stretched between us, charged with the same electricity as the night before. I found myself leaning in, drawn to him like a magnet. His hand came up to cup my face, his thumb brushing my cheek.
But before our lips could meet, a car pulled into the driveway behind us.
Not again.
We both turned to look.
Erica’s silver sedan and the guards’ SUV behind her.
“What is she doing here?” I asked, pulling back. “I told her tomorrow afternoon p>
Axel’s expression hardened. “Guess she couldn’t wait p>