14. CHAPTER FOURTEEN - FANNING THE FLAMES
Chapter fourteen
CHAPTER FOURTEEN - FANNING THE FLAMES
I t had been only a few days since we returned from the cabin, and everything about me and Lily seemed to be nothing but perfection. I had never, and I mean never, felt this way about anybody in my entire life. Lily made me want to become a better person, not just for her but for myself as well.
The only thing that might grow to be a problem would be if Colton somehow found out about us. I didn’t exactly have the best reputation in town, and I was sure Colton would rather die than allow Lily to be in a relationship with me.
But as Lily would say, ‘Fuck Colton.’
I laughed at the thought, watching as she came out of her house and walked toward my car.
“You ready for this?” I asked her, as she climbed into my car.
She gave me a weak smile before clutching her purse in her hand nervously. Her eyes wavered with uncertainty and determination. “Yeah. I think I am.”
“You’ll do fine, Lil. I promise. Just trust your gut and go with it.” I grinned at her, and she glanced at me, managing a small smile.
I drove off, keeping my eyes on the road as we headed to The Coffee Corner. It was a small cafe in the heart of town and also the scheduled place for the meeting. I could feel just how nervous she was, but I knew for a fact that she would do great. Her passion for books was infectious, and Richard Ginsberg, of all people, would see that.
We got to the cafe, and as I opened the door for her, I heard her gasp softly as she stepped inside. I looked in the direction she was looking, and my eyes fell on Richard Ginsberg seated at a table a few feet away from us, his eyes trained on the huge see-through window of the cafe.
He turned his head as we approached, a welcoming smile on his face. “Mr. Alex,” he greeted me warmly, standing up to shake my hand.
His gaze shifted to Lily, and he smiled, “And you must be Lily.” he shook her hand as well, “Please, have a seat.”
“Thank you, Mr. Ginsberg,” Lily said, her voice a mix of excitement and nerves. We sat down, and I could see the determination in her eyes.
“So, Lily,” Richard began, leaning forward slightly. “I’ve heard quite a bit about your bookstore. Alex has been very enthusiastic in his praise.”
Lily blushed, glancing at me with a grateful smile. “Thank you, Mr. Ginsberg. It’s a small place, but it’s my dream come true. I’ve always wanted to create a space where people can find solace in books.”
Richard nodded thoughtfully. “I understand that completely. Books have a way of connecting us, don’t they?”
“Indeed, they do,” Lily agreed, her confidence growing. “And that’s why I’m so excited about the possibility of you doing a book signing at my store. It would mean the world to me and to the community.”
Richard smiled. “I think it’s a wonderful idea. Let’s talk details.”
“I’ve been thinking about some promotional activities leading up to the event,” Lily said, her voice steady and clear. “We could have a reading night where you read excerpts from your latest book. It would be an intimate gathering, just a few of your fans, probably create a sense of exclusivity.”
Richard’s eyes lit up. “I like that idea. It would give me a chance to interact with my readers on a more personal level.”
Lily nodded enthusiastically. “Exactly. And we could follow that with a Q&A session. People love getting the opportunity to ask questions directly to the author. It would create a lot of buzz and get people talking about the event.”
Richard leaned back, clearly impressed. “You’ve really thought this through, haven’t you?”
Lily smiled, a hint of pride in her eyes. “I have. I believe in the power of books and the connections they create. I want to bring that experience to our community.”
Richard glanced at me, then back at Lily. “You’re very passionate about this. It’s refreshing to see.”
“Thank you, Mr. Ginsberg,” Lily said, her voice softening. “Books have always been my refuge, and I want to share that with others. Your participation in this event would mean so much to us.”
Richard smiled warmly. “Please, call me Richard. And I’m more than happy to be a part of this. Your ideas are fantastic, and I’m confident this will be a successful event.”
Lily beamed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Thank you, Mr. Gins… Richard.”
Richard laughed softly and leaned forward like he was about to leave when Lily spoke up again. “I also had another idea,” Lily said, her voice shaking a bit.
Richard raised an eyebrow, settling back into his seat, “Go on.”
“I know that your books are currently published by a major firm, but I was thinking—what if we collaborated with the publishing firm where my brother works? It could be beneficial for both parties. Your books would gain even more publicity, and my bookstore would get the recognition it needs.”
Richard raised his eyebrow even higher, clearly intrigued. “That’s an interesting proposition, Lily. I’d be open to discussing it further. Do you think your brother would be on board with this?”
Lily nodded confidently. “I believe he would. It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.”
Richard leaned back, a satisfied smile on his face. “You’ve made a very compelling case, Lily. I came here today as a favor to Alex, but I’m genuinely impressed by you. I look forward to working together.”
Lily beamed, her eyes shining with excitement. “Thank you so much, Richard. This means the world to me.”
Richard stood up with a smile, signaling the end of the meeting. “Let’s keep in touch. I’ll have my assistant send over the preliminary agreement by tomorrow.”
We shook hands again, and as Richard walked away, Lily turned to me, her face glowing with happiness. “Alex, I can’t believe it. This is incredible!”
I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her into a tight hug. “I knew you could do it, Lil. You’re amazing.”
She looked up at me, her eyes filled with gratitude. “Thank you for believing in me, and for setting this up.”
“Always,” I whispered, kissing her forehead. “You deserve this and so much more.”
Lily’s eyes shimmered with gratitude. “I couldn’t have done it without you, Alex.”
“Don’t sell yourself short. You’re amazing all on your own,” I replied, squeezing her hand.
We left the cafe, our spirits high. As we walked back to the car, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride for Lily. She had faced something that was clearly a challenge for her and had emerged victorious. As for me, I realized that my feelings for her were only growing stronger.
As we pulled up to her store, I parked the car and turned to her, “I have to go back to my apartment and finish some things before work tomorrow. But I’ll see you later.”
She nodded, leaning in to kiss me softly. “I’ll be here.”
When we finally pulled apart, I rested my forehead against hers, savoring the moment.
“See you later, Lil,” I murmured.
“See you,” she replied. She stepped out of the car, and I watched as she walked into her store, smiling at the gentle sway of her hips.
I started the engine and began to drive away, my mind still buzzing with the excitement of the day. But just as I was about to turn onto the main road, my phone rang. I glanced at the screen, my heart sinking as I saw the name—Rachael.
I hesitated before picking up. “I told you never to call me unless I called you first.”
“I’m sorry Master Alex,” she said quickly, her voice tinged with urgency. “There’s a situation.”
“What situation?” I asked, irritation creeping into my voice.
“It’s your father. He’s requested your presence at the family villa.”
I clenched my jaw, my grip tightening on the steering wheel. “Tell him I refuse the invitation.”
There was a brief moment of silence on the other end of the line. Then Rachael’s voice came through, softer this time. “It’s about your mother.”
I tensed, my heart skipping a beat. “What about her?”
“He wants to discuss something important related to her. He specifically asked for you. It’s this weekend.”
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. The fact that it wasn’t immediate meant it wasn’t a dire emergency, but if it was about my mother, I couldn’t ignore it. “Fine. Tell him I’ll be there.”
“Thank you, Sir,” Rachael said, relief clearly evident in her voice. “I’ll let him know.”
I hung up, my mood darkening. Memories of my mother flooded my mind—her warmth, kindness, and the way she had always been my anchor. Then came the bitter memory of her death, followed by how quickly my father had remarried. It had been almost ten years since I left the Sinclair household, unable to bear the sight of him with another woman.
I gripped the wheel in annoyance, my thoughts swirling. Seeing my father again was the last thing I wanted, but I couldn’t ignore anything related to my mother. She had been my everything, and even though she was gone, her memory still held a powerful sway over me.
The drive back to my apartment was a blur. When I finally parked, I sat in the car for a moment, trying to calm the storm inside me. My life had taken such a turn since meeting Lily, and now this old wound was being reopened.
I needed to be strong. For myself, for Lily, and for whatever awaited me at the family villa. I took a deep breath and headed inside, determined to face whatever was coming with the same courage Lily had shown today.
Once inside my apartment, I grabbed a beer from the fridge and sank onto the couch, staring at the ceiling. My mind wandered back to my mother, to the days when life was simpler and happier. I remembered her laugh, her gentle touch, and the way she made everything better just by being there.
I took a long swig of my beer, trying to numb the pain, and then my thoughts drifted to Lily, and I had a wild idea. I was going to ask Lily to come with me to the Sinclair Family Villa this weekend.