Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 97199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
“What was that?”
I shake my head. “Opal told me that Percy and I are just as bad as TJ. I have no fucking idea who that is, but if it’s a man and he hurt her, I just piled more pain on top of that.”
“TJ is Thaddeus Lincoln Junior.”
“How the hell do you know that?”
A small smile slides over her lips. “You pay me to dig deep into our clients’ backgrounds and even deeper into the lives of the women they’re destined to be with. TJ was engaged to Opal until he fucked that up by screwing her best friend.”
I push the chair back and bolt to my feet, frustrated that I’m just hearing about this now. I know all about the Lincolns and their social hold on this city. I’ve ignored the gossip chatter about them because they are the epitome of wealthy people who do nothing for anyone but their family members.
“The best friend got pregnant.” She goes on, “Apparently, TJ claimed it wasn’t his until she announced his impending fatherhood to everyone at his and Opal’s rehearsal dinner. That’s when he finally admitted the affair.”
“Jesus,” I whisper, a stab of pain shooting through me at everything she’s been through. It’s no wonder she insisted on a casual relationship after being put through an emotional wringer like that.
“It was all over social media,” Sheila explains. “I didn’t put two and two together until I stumbled on some old posts that Opal was tagged in.”
“You didn’t tell me any of this.”
“I found it out the day you ripped up the contract with Percy,” she says. “The file on them closed then, so I didn’t mention it. I thought it was moot.”
“She sees me as just another lying bastard.”
Her hand lands on my shoulder to give it a reassuring squeeze. “So prove her wrong. Make her understand that you’re nothing like Percy or TJ. You’re William Knight. You’re one of the good ones.”
62
Opal
My left foot nervously twitches as I sit in a café I’ve never been in. I would have gone to the coffee shop around the corner from Turquoise Crown, but that came with the risk of seeing Chelsie. It’s also a place William frequents, and seeing him this morning is not something I want to do.
After what he told me yesterday, I’m not convinced I’ll ever want to see him again, even though Aunt Hildy spent most of last night reciting every reason he deserves another chance.
Since she helped me facilitate this meeting that’s about to take place, I didn’t argue with her about William, and I didn’t refuse when she invited me to stay the night in one of her guest rooms.
A comfortable bed to cry myself to sleep in was exactly what I needed.
I also needed the change of clothes I’m wearing now. Aunt Hildy is an angel on earth. I dropped my tote on her couch before retreating to the bedroom she directed me to. She took the opportunity to borrow my apartment keys from it. A quick trip to my apartment early this morning meant I’d have new clothes to wear after my shower.
Her signature fashion flair is now a part of my outfit since she chose white jeans, a pink and yellow top, and a pair of red boots I haven’t worn in years. I never would have thrown this all together, but when I spun in a circle after getting ready, she clapped and told me I looked like sunshine.
I feel like a muddy puddle.
I’ve cried as many tears since last night as I did when I found out my best friend and my fiancé were fucking like rabbits for months before I was supposed to marry the bastard.
I thought I loved TJ, but I was wrong.
What I felt for William far surpassed that.
“Opal.”
I glance up when I hear my name and find Percy standing near the table where I’m sitting. He looks as beaten up as I feel. His suit isn’t pressed, and his button-down shirt has a small coffee stain right above the third button.
“Sit,” I say, not bothering to add any pleasantry to it.
I have questions, and although he may not hold all of the answers, he has some.
He glances briefly at the barista counter. “I need a coffee first. Can I get you a refill?”
I look at my almost empty mug. If I consume another drop of caffeine, I’ll be bouncing off the walls, so I shake my head. “I’ll take a tea.”
“What kind?” he asks.
I’ll never look at a cup of orange tea the same way again, so I pass on that. “Green is fine.”
He nods briskly before he turns to walk toward the counter. I’ll use the brief reprieve to gather my thoughts. I want to know what the hell has been going on the past few weeks between him and William, and I’m not leaving here until he tells me.