Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
Esteban
Iwake up before the sun, the kind of early that makes the world feel still, like it’s holding its breath. I shift slightly, and that’s when I see her.
My beautiful Eva.
Lying there on her side, one arm tucked under the pillow, her long dark lashes resting softly against her cheeks.
Her face looks peaceful, beautiful, almost unreal in the pale morning light.
There’s a smattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks, subtle but perfect, like a constellation only meant for me.
I watch her for a few seconds. Okay, more than a few, just breathing her in. She’s got this pout on her lips, like she’s in the middle of dreaming something frustrating and sweet at the same time. It makes me want to lean in and kiss her. Badly.
But I don’t.
Instead, I smile like a fool because damn… how did I get so lucky?
What started as pretend turned into the realest thing I’ve ever felt.
I’ve got everything I’ve ever wanted. A business that’s growing, a house I built with my own hands, friends that are more like brothers, and now…
this woman. This incredible, stubborn, smart, sexy woman who somehow sees something in me.
Yeah, I’m lucky. Stupidly lucky.
I move carefully, not wanting to wake her. I slip out of bed, throw on some joggers, and head to the bathroom to get ready. When I come back, she’s still asleep, curled on her side, blanket tangled around her hips. Grabbing a notepad from my nightstand, I scribble a quick note.
Sleep in, mi amor. I made you breakfast. Have a great day!
—E
I leave the note on my pillow, right where she’ll see it when she wakes.
In the kitchen, I move around quietly, brewing coffee and making eggs and toast. I fix a plate for her and cover it with foil so it stays warm. The whole time, I’m smiling like a man who knows he’s got everything to lose and everything to fight for.
She doesn’t have to be at work early, so I’m letting her rest. She deserves that and more.
I grab my keys, glance around once more, and head out the door.
Today’s a big day for me, for Noah, for the business. If all goes well, it’ll be the beginning of something even bigger than I imagined.
We’re sitting around Austin’s conference table, dressed like we’re trying to impress a damn boardroom. Noah’s in his usual all-black, sharp as hell. I went with dark slacks and a forest green button-up that Eva said made my eyes pop. She didn’t need to say that twice.
Austin, of course, looks sharp as ever in one of his tailored suits, dark navy today, paired with a crisp white shirt and polished shoes.
The guy always shows up looking like he walked out of an architecture magazine.
Professional, confident, like he belongs at the head of any table he walks into. It’s a gift.
I wish I could say I’m relaxed, but my leg’s been bouncing under the table for the last ten minutes like it’s got a mind of its own.
Austin and Noah are talking about grading permits, or insulation suppliers, I can’t even pretend to keep up.
My brain’s stuck on the what-ifs. What if McNeal backs out?
What if the contract isn’t ready? What if we’re not enough?
Then there’s a knock at the door.
Liza, Austin’s assistant, pokes her head in. “Mr. McNeal is here with his lawyer.”
We all stand.
Game time.
Hunter McNeal strides in first, tall and confident in a navy suit, smile easy and charismatic like always. “It’s great to see you guys,” he says, shaking hands with all three of us. “This is my lawyer, Brandon Lowe.”
And just like that, my stomach drops.
Standing next to him, in a charcoal suit and shiny shoes, is Brandon. The same Brandon who showed up at the coffee shop looking like a pretentious asshole. The same Brandon who used to date Eva. The same Brandon who tried to belittle her in front of me.
Well, fuck.
Noah stiffens beside me. He knows him too. Of course he does.
Brandon looks just as surprised to see us, but it vanishes behind that plastic smile of his. He steps forward like nothing’s wrong. “Hey, Noah,” he says casually, offering his hand.
Noah shakes it, but his face is tight. “Brandon.”
McNeal glances between them, his brow furrowing. “You guys know each other?”
Brandon grins like this is some cute coincidence. “Yeah. I dated Noah’s sister for a few years.”
McNeal tilts his head. “You have another sister besides Eva?”
Noah opens his mouth. “I do—”
But Brandon cuts him off. “I dated Eva. We broke up recently.”
All the blood drains from my face. I don’t even need to look at Noah and Austin to know their reaction. It’s all over the room. The shift in energy. The unspoken questions.
McNeal looks visibly confused now. “Wait, that can’t be right. Eva’s engaged to Esteban, and they’ve been together for years.”
Brandon chuckles darkly. “Yeah, well, apparently timelines are flexible in this town.”
I step forward, voice low and firm. “I’m with Eva. We’re together.”
Brandon lifts a brow. “Yeah. You were very cozy yesterday at the coffee shop. Hard to miss.”
Noah turns to me slowly. His eyes don’t narrow. Don’t flare. But the weight behind
them is heavy as hell.
Shit.
Brandon fucking came to blow up my life.
But I can’t react. Not here. Not now. Not when we’re about to pitch the most important deal of our lives.
McNeal’s brow furrows deeper as the silence stretches. Austin doesn’t say a word. Noah just stares at me, completely blindsided.
“So…” McNeal finally says, his tone sharp, confused. “You lied to me? All this time, you told me you were engaged.”
I take a breath that barely makes it past my throat. There’s no point in pretending anymore. Not with everyone watching. Not with the truth hanging in the air like smoke.
“Yes,” I say. “I’m sorry. But let me be very clear—we’re really dating.”
McNeal remains standing at the head of the table, disappointment tightening every line in his face. “So you thought faking an engagement would… what? Make you look more stable? More trustworthy?”
I nod, the shame burning through me. “At the beginning, yeah… I thought it would make me look more reliable, more put-together. But things changed. Eva and I… what we have now is real. I care about her. This stopped being a lie a long time ago.”
He shakes his head, clearly pissed. “You let me believe in something that wasn’t true. That doesn’t sit right with me.”
Brandon scoffs, shaking his head with a bitter smirk. “Of course he lied. Guys like him always fake it to make it, latch onto whatever gets them ahead. Guess Eva was just another stepping stone.”
My hands clench at my sides, but he doesn’t stop.
Brandon lets out a cold laugh. “Plus, Eva’s always had a thing for playing house with whatever guy made her feel special that week. Guess you’re this year’s winner.”
The red behind my eyes comes so fast I don’t even realize I’m moving until my fist crashes into Brandon’s jaw.
The room explodes.
Austin’s voice is a blur as he rushes over, grabbing my shoulders, and pulling me back. “Esteban! Back the fuck off!”
Brandon stumbles back, clutching his face as he glares at me with venom.
I can feel blood pounding in my ears, but I don’t care.
I point at him, voice shaking with fury.
“Eva told me how you’ve been practically stalking her.
Don’t you ever talk about her and never contact her again.
You didn’t deserve her then, and you’ll never deserve her now. ”
At my words Noah looks at Brandon with fire on his eyes. Brandon straightens, brushing a hand over his busted lip. He turns to McNeal and mutters, “Well. That was… professional.”
McNeal says nothing, just stares at me like he’s seeing me for the first time. The disappointment in his eyes is worse than a thousand punches.
He adjusts his cufflinks and looks around the room, still stunned. “I’ll contact you both soon. I need time to think about this deal. I don’t like being lied to my face.”
And then he’s gone. Just like that. Taking our future with him.
Brandon throws me one last smirk before following him out.
The door shuts behind them, and the silence that follows is deafening.
Noah turns to me, his face a storm. His jaw ticks, eyes sharp with something close to murder.
“I told you to stay away from my sister,” he growls, voice low and dangerous. “I knew I couldn’t trust you. Why the hell did I even let you near her?”
I say nothing. What could I say that won’t make it worse?
“You promised me,” he shouts, stepping forward. “You promised me you weren’t going to touch her! Have you slept with her?” His voice cracks on the last word, fury radiating off him in waves.
I stay silent. I deserve his anger.
Austin steps in between us. “Noah, calm down, man. Let’s talk this through—”
“Don’t!” Noah snaps, pushing Austin back with a sharp jerk of his arm. His eyes are locked on me. “Say it, Esteban. Be a man and say it.”
I keep my mouth shut.
The second Noah sees it on my face, he knows. His expression twists into something I’ve never seen before: betrayal, heartbreak, rage.
“You son of a bitch.” His fist connects with my jaw before I can even blink. The hit is clean and hard, and I stumble back a step, tasting blood.
“You fucked everything up,” he yells. “You lied, you dragged my sister into this bullshit, and now we’ve lost the biggest deal of our goddamn lives. All because you had to fucking lie.”
Austin grabs Noah, pulling him back with both arms. “Enough! That’s enough, man!”
But Noah isn’t done. “I don’t want to see you again. Ever. And if I find out you so much as look at Eva again, I swear to God—”
I nod once, silent, jaw throbbing.
He storms out, the door slamming so hard behind him the walls shake. The only sound left in the room is my breathing and the ringing in my ears.
Austin lets out a slow breath. “Jesus Christ,” he mutters, looking at me. “You okay?”
I nod again, swallowing the pain in my throat. “Yeah.”
Austin rubs a hand over his face, then looks me dead in the eye. “Is it true? You and Eva?”
I don’t hesitate. “Yeah. I’m in love with her, man. I didn’t plan it… I tried not to. But she’s—fuck—she’s everything.”
Austin exhales, resting his hands on his hips. “Well. That explains a lot.”
“I never wanted to hurt anyone,” I say quietly. “Especially not Noah. But I can’t walk away from her. Not now.”
Austin gives me a long look. “You need to give him space. Let him cool down. But if you want to fix this, McNeal, the business—all of it—you’d better figure out how. Fast.”
I nod, the weight of everything crashing down all at once.
I’ve lost my best friend.
I might’ve lost our future.
But I won’t lose her. Not without a fight.