Chapter Eight
Mikkel
“Where there is love, there is life.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi
T he fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, washing the stack of profiles in a sterile glow. I traced the edges of the papers absentmindedly, but my thoughts were miles away.
The thought of her sent a charge through me, sharp and electric. From the moment I saw her, the rest of the world faded. Her twinkling green eyes held a thousand secrets—ones I ached to uncover.
In my thirty-three years of life, no one had ever done this to me.
I’d only seen and interacted with her three times, yet she consumed me. Completely.
Insane. Obsessive. But if losing my mind meant feeling this alive, I’d gladly unravel.
“ Contrólate , Mikkel, 9 ” I muttered, trying to focus, but it was useless. Red’s image lingered in my mind, her laughter echoing in my ears.
A familiar voice cut through the haze. “Mr. Suarez? You look distracted.”
I looked up to see Sapphire standing in the doorway, her brow furrowed. She’d just returned from Chicago, and I was surprised to see her back in the office so soon.
“Everything’s fine,” I said, forcing a smile that felt hollow. “Did you need something?”
She stepped inside, her heels clicking against the floor. “Actually, yeah.”
“Go ahead.”
“We’ve got a problem with Alexander Williams,” she said, exhaling sharply. “No response on client follow-ups.”
I clenched my jaw. “I’ll take care of it. How’s everything else?”
“All our drivers are out and assigned. No complaints so far, sir.”
Exactly what I wanted to hear. I let out a breath, my chest easing. “Great. I’ll be out for a week or two starting tomorrow, so it’s the usual protocol until I’m back.”
“Okay, sir. Safe travels.” She hesitated. “I met some potential hires in Chicago. One stood out—Laura Ellison. Strong background in logistics and tech integration. Could be a major asset.”
I leaned forward, intrigued. “Did you go over our goals with her?”
“Yes, and she’s already full of ideas to improve efficiency. I also scheduled meetings with local tech firms to explore partnerships. If it works out, we’ll streamline operations significantly.”
That was exactly the kind of initiative I valued. “Perfect. Keep me updated as things progress.”
“Of course, Mr. Suarez. Everything will run smoothly while you’re away, and I’ll have the documents ready for your approval.” Her confident smile left no room for doubt.
“Good. I’ll expect a detailed report when I return.”
She turned to leave, but I stopped her, grabbing the folder from my desk. “I reviewed the profiles. Some candidates look promising, others not so much. We’ll get a clearer picture during the in-person interviews.”
She took the folder with a nod. “Got it.”
As the door clicked shut behind her, my phone lit up with a string of messages from the group chat.
Reyes : I’m headed to the gym, who’s coming?
Alex : i’ll be there.
Dill : Busy, sorry.
Ro : i’m coming.
Me : Wrapping up at the office. I’ll be there soon.
Luci : i’m with my wife, so no.
Ro : we KNOW you’re married, fratello 10 .
Ro: stop rubbing it in.
Luci : Never.
Reyes : Perfect.
Dill : Why do you all go to the gym anyway?
Ro : we go to your gym.
Dill : I don’t recall asking that. I was alluding to the fact that you are all in perfect shape but never mind.
Ro : oh. love you.
Dill : I truly wish the feeling was mutual.
Ro : you’re missing out.
Dill : Sure I am.
Dill : Have fun working out.
I swiped out of the group chat just as Morison walked into my office, a thick folder in his hands.
“You’ve got that meeting with the investors in Chicago after you leave California,” he said, dropping the folder on my desk. “Final list came in.”
I leaned back in my chair, glancing at the folder but not reaching for it yet. “Anyone I need to worry about?”
Morison smirked. “Damon Ashford’s there, along with Cataleya Nguyen. And Marissa Lyle, from Sterling Ventures.”
That caught my attention. “Lyle? She’s in media and tech. Why’s she suddenly interested in transport?”
“She’s pivoting,” Morison said, crossing his arms. “Wants a foothold in transportation. She’s got big money and is itching to spend it.”
I picked up the folder, flipping through the profiles. Ashford, Nguyen, and Lyle—they weren’t small players. This was the type of crowd that wanted more than just numbers; they needed a guarantee that our expansion wouldn’t fall apart.
“They’re going to push hard,” Morison continued. “Ashford especially—he’s big on timelines. He’s already questioning whether we can pull it off with everything else on our plate.”
I set the folder down, looking up at him. “We’ve dominated New York. They know that. They just want to see if we can scale.”
“Just be prepared. They’ll look for cracks, Mr. Suarez. They want security.” Morison’s expression was steady, but there was a hint of concern in his voice. “You know how these guys operate. They’re not just here to invest—they’re here to control.”
“Taking orders has never been my thing.” I smirked, leaning back in my chair. “I’ve handled worse than Ashford. Lyle’s the real key. If she’s serious about transportation, we get her on board, and the others will follow.”
Morison nodded, though his brow stayed furrowed. “You’ve got this,” he said, heading for the door. “Just keep your cool, and most importantly, don’t lose your temper, sir. ”
I leaned forward, my gaze sharpening as I watched him leave. “I won’t,” I muttered, though the fire in my gut was far from cold. I’d make this work, and if anyone tried to stand in my way, they’d regret it.
Once he left, I spent the next hour perfecting the pitch and had to call in the team to fix an issue—nearly losing my temper when some of the numbers didn’t add up.
By the time I made it to Equinox, the familiar scent of sweat and determination filled the air as weights clanked and treadmills hummed. I spotted my friends already deep into their workouts.
“Suarez, over here!” Ronan called from the bench press, sweat glistening on his forehead.
“Took you long enough,” Arnoldo smirked, effortlessly repping pull-ups.
I dropped my gym bag beside them, rolling out my shoulders. “Traffic. And perfecting an expansion pitch.”
Arnoldo groaned. “You need to get that perfectionism under control.”
I shot him a dry look. “Says the guy who rewrote a contract clause eight times last week.”
Ronan snorted as Arnoldo muttered, “Not the same thing, and you know it.”
Alex racked his weights and turned to me. “Suarez.”
“Arm day or freestyle?” I asked, already stretching.
“Leg day,” he said, loading plates onto the squat rack. “You’re just in time.”
I exhaled sharply. Fantastic. My least favorite.
As I stepped forward, I noticed Alex’s phone on the bench. “Did you not see the company calling you?”
“Nah. Just got that phone,” he muttered.
“What happened to the old one?” Ronan asked.
“Mara threw it at me.”
Arnoldo and Ronan burst into laughter.
“What the fuck did you do?” I asked.
Alex groaned. “A flight attendant messaged me about an upcoming flight. Mara didn’t like it. So she broke it. ”
“Stop irritating the pregnant woman,” Arnoldo teased, still laughing.
Alex gestured around. “How am I the bad guy?”
Arnoldo clapped a hand on his shoulder. “When a beautiful woman, especially your wife, tells you that you’re wrong, then you’re wrong.”
Alex huffed a laugh, nudging him. “That’s rich coming from you, Reyes.”
Arnoldo just shrugged. Then, turning to me, he said, “Speaking of work, you know the Astar family?”
“Yeah. Didn’t you represent them?”
“Still do. Their parents need a personal driver for their daughters. I recommended Elite Rides. Just a heads-up.”
I nodded. “Appreciate it. I owe you a beer.”
He waved it off. “No big deal.”
“By the way, I’ll be out of town for a week.”
Reyes raised a brow, smirking. “Honeymoon?”
I chuckled. “Engagement party.”
“Ahh,” he said, his tone playful. “Have fun. Oh—about the expansion? Morison sent me the investor list.”
I stretched my arms, my mind shifting back to business. “We’ll be good.”
“Never doubted you.” Arnoldo grinned. “Keep me updated.”
“Same time next week?” Arnoldo called out as we parted ways, each of us heading off to our post-gym routines.
“Maybe,” Alex said. “We’ll see.”
“I’ll be out of town,” I reminded them. “But after that, sure.”
“Great. See you.”
When I got home, I wasn’t expecting to find Emilia standing outside my door, Elijah fast asleep in her arms and a bag at her feet. Her eyes were locked on her phone, brows furrowed like she was lost in thought.
I dropped my gym bag. “Why are you out here? ”
She looked up, slipping her phone into her pocket. “Waiting for you.”
I frowned, unlocking the door. “Why didn’t you just go in? Management knows to let you inside.”
She shrugged. “I don’t barge into people’s homes.”
“You’re my sister.” I pushed the door open, holding it for her.
She didn’t respond, just picked up her bag and stepped inside, the silence thick between us.
Emilia had always been different—lighter, more at ease in a way I never was. Our parents were affectionate, loving, but they clung to their traditional Caribbean values, even more so after we moved to the States. The language barrier had hit me hard. They never pressured me, but I still felt it—the weight of expectation, the responsibility of being the oldest.
So, I made sure everything was perfect. My grades. My behavior. If I kept everything in line, maybe they’d ease up on her, let her be herself. But the need for perfection never faded. It sat under my skin, tightening every time things slipped out of place.
I exhaled, snapping out of my thoughts as I found her standing stiffly by the couch, glancing around like she wasn’t sure where to settle.
“The chair isn’t going to burn if you take a seat, Em.”
She looked at me, hesitated, then shifted her weight. “I don’t want to just… make myself at home.”
I frowned, walking over. “Emilia, you’re my sister.” My voice softened. “Mi casa también es la tuya. 11 ”
She hesitated, her gaze flickering with uncertainty, but after a moment, she gave a small nod and sat down, settling Elijah beside her.
I walked to the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of water, but as I reached for the fridge, I glanced back at Emilia. She looked out of place, like she wasn’t sure if she belonged, and it tightened something in my chest.
Then I heard it—the soft, steady breathing of my nephew. His tiny fingers curled against her shirt, and she instinctively smoothed a hand over his back. The tenderness in her expression was something I’d never seen before. Motherhood had changed her, softened the sharp edges, and for a moment, all the stress lining her face disappeared.
I took a sip of water, letting the moment settle before clearing my throat. “We leave at nine in the morning, so we need to be at the airport by seven-thirty to check in. There’s a two-hour layover in Salt Lake City, and we’ll get there around one in the afternoon.”
She lifted her gaze from Elijah to me. “Muchas gracias. 12 ”
“You don’t have to thank me.” I studied her for a beat before asking, “You okay?”
She nodded, her voice soft. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
“I don’t believe you.”
She exhaled, finally meeting my gaze. “I’m fine, Mikkel. Really.”
I let it go, though something still felt off. Just as I turned back toward the fridge, she reached into her bag and pulled out an envelope.
I frowned. “What’s this?”
She held it out, avoiding my eyes. “I told you I’d pay you back for the ticket.”
I sighed, shaking my head. “It’s not a big deal.”
She frowned. “I ca—”
“Emilia.” My tone left no room for argument. “I’m not taking money from you.”
She hesitated, fingers tightening around the envelope before slipping it back into her bag. “Alright, but I’m paying you back someday.”
I leaned back against the counter, arms crossed. “You know I’ll always be here, right? For you and Elijah. Doesn’t matter how old we get or whatever happens, hermanita . 13 ”
She glanced at me, her expression softening just a little. “I know. I just... I have to do this on my own sometimes.”
I nodded, my voice quieter now. “I get it. But if you ever need anything, I’ve got you, Emilia.”
Her fingers toyed with the hem of her sleeve, like she wanted to say more but couldn’t find the words. Then finally, after a pause, she spoke.
“Thanks, Mikkel.”
I gave her a small smile. “De nada. 14 ”