Vivienne’s POV
“Devon?” I was surprised. “What are you doing here?”
Devon grinned, handing over the roses to me.
“Gia invited me over.”
Devon was a business associate of the Terrences that had quickly become a good friend and a favorite of the twins.
“Of course she did,” I said with a smile. If I hadn’t been so busy with my meetings I would have invited him myself. “Thanks for the flowers.”
“You are welcome,” Devon’s eyes twinkled with amusement then his gaze dipped to my outfit. “You look stunning. As always.”
I rolled my eyes. I had come straight from the office so I was still in my suit. Devon just couldn’t stop messing with me.
“You flatter me,” I deadpanned. “As you do all the women in your life.”
Devon clutched his chest almost theatrically.
“Oh, you wound me, Vivienne.”
“Devon, Vivienne,” Isle said, a sly smile on her face as she, Mom, and Gia finally caught up with us.
“I hope we aren’t interrupting anything.” Isle’s words were practically dripping with innuendo.
Isle was at it again. She was always trying to matchmake me with Devon so that our businesses could have a more permanent alliance.
“Not at all, Isle,” I said dryly leaning in to kiss her cheeks but she pulled me into a hug instead.
It didn’t feel forced as it had in those early days. It felt almost nice now.
I pulled away, moving to hug Mom who kissed my forehead as though I was still a child.
“You look amazing, dear.” She smiled at me.
“So do you, Mom.”
Mom was radiant. Fully recovered from her sickness and being free of Dad had done wonders for her.
She looked ten years younger, wore brighter colors, hovered over the twins like an anxious mother hen, and spent too much time with Isle both with both of them always gossiping about heavens knew what.
“The recital is starting!” Gia yelled, drawing our attention and the group of us moved forward to our seats.
The children performed beautifully but I only had eyes for my son, Leo, who played the piano with such a somber expression that he seemed like an adult.
Gia was right, he was a prodigy.
Looking at him with his raven black hair and grey eyes reminded me of him.
No. I refused to think of him. Not on such a joyful occasion.
The recital ended.
Leonard looked straight up at me with a small shy smile on his face while Gia cheered so loud other parents slanted us baffled looks with Devon and Isle joining in and Mom laughing at their antics.
It was a beautiful moment. My life was perfect.
But the thing about beautiful moments was that they always came to an end.
“Vivienne cannot possibly be in charge of the expansion.” Colin spat out venomously.
I had never seen Isle’s nephew so red and angry before.
Hallie placed her hand over his, an obviously fake smile settling on her face.
“What my husband is trying to say is since Vivienne is new to the business,” Her gaze shifted to me. “And we all know of Vivienne’s preference of staying off the U. S. market, won’t it be better to let a more experienced person take the lead?”
Hallie was referring to my avoidance of anything that would bring me anywhere near him. She was baiting me but I could have cared less.
I didn’t even want to come for this closed-door meeting.
“Colin, you have done well managing the business thus far,” Isle’s voice was cutting, her glare merciless. “But make no mistake, my daughter will inherit my business as my son did my late husband’s.”
That was the problem, wasn’t it?
With Derek, in charge of Isle’s late husband’s business and me, her second child, missing since I was a child, Colin had no competition for succeeding Isle’s business and now Isle wanted to take it all from him.
“You are discarding me?” Colin stood up slamming his fist on the table. “After all I have done for this family?!”
Hallie paled looking between Isle and Colin.
“Colin-” She tried to intercede but Colin didn’t let her finish.
He turned to face me, his face contorted with anger.
“She doesn’t even consider you her mother but you want to pick this b…”
Colin cut off mid-sentence as though realizing what he’d just said. Then he grew even redder.
Isle pointed at the door.
“Get out, Colin.”
Colin’s hands formed fists at his side but he walked out of the room.
Hallie stood up elegantly bowing slightly.
“My apologies, Isle.” She said softly before turning slightly to nod at me. “Vivienne.”
I didn’t return her nod of acknowledgment. Hallie was just as pissed as Colin was. She was just better at hiding it.
Hallie walked out of the room leaving Isle and me alone.
“He’s not wrong, you know,” I said, meeting Isle’s gaze evenly. “The business should go to someone who actually deserves it.”
“What makes you think you are undeserving?”
Isle’s gaze narrowed. “Do you know how much money you have made us in the four years you have worked with us? Far more than Colin has made in the past ten years.”
I looked away from her. She was trying to convince me to go back. Again.
Isle placed her hand over mine drawing my attention back to her.
“You are Terrence Holdings’s future.” She said, her eyes slightly glassy with tears.
I looked away again. Isle wanted her daughter to take over her business. To grow her empire.
But I…I couldn’t do that.
“I can’t go back there.” My voice cracked over the words and I hated it.
This… weakness in my chest. I wasn’t scared of seeing him again, of how my heart would react. No, I simply had too much to lose now.
Isle’s voice tensed slightly.
“Is it because of him?” She asked casually. Too casually.
I pulled my hand out of Isle’s grasp and stood up.
“I’m done with this conversation,” I said hotly, turning on my heels to leave.
I had made it one step away when I heard the slam of something falling on the table between Isle and me.
“Reid Prescott has moved on,” Isle baited. “Why can’t you do the same?”
I shouldn’t have turned back. I should have walked straight out of that room and acted like this conversation never happened.
But I looked back.
And there on the table was Isle’s tablet open to the New York Times front page.
It was a picture of two equally stunning individuals who looked so in love with each other that it made my stomach churn.
Reid Prescott was getting married to Daphne tomorrow.
It was going to be ‘the wedding of the century’.
I trembled. With anger and fury. Not at Reid but at myself.
I had let my past limit me while Reid was living his life to the fullest.
But I was no longer the Sophia who had stupidly fallen for a man that didn’t exist.
I would no longer avoid my past.
“I’ll do it,” I met Isle’s gaze. “I’ll lead the expansion.”