Chapter Eight
The Truth He Should Have Told
LaKeith entered the bookstore shortly after seven.
His gaze moved from Norelle to Brinelle, who had arrived after receiving an emergency text, before settling on me.
“What happened?” he asked.
I turned the laptop toward him.
“You tell me.”
LaKeith saw the document.
His expression changed.
That small shift gave my fear permission to become anger.
“You knew,” I said.
“Yandy, let me explain.”
“Did you submit a bid to work on Harrow’s development?”
“Yes, months ago. They approached my company before—”
“Did you also submit an offer to purchase this building?”
LaKeith went quiet.
“Answer me,” I demanded.
“Yes.”
The single word struck harder than it should have.
“How long have you known the building was for sale?”
“About three weeks.”
I laughed once, though nothing felt funny. “You have been in my bed, my store, and my life for three weeks without mentioning it.”
“My offer isn’t meant to hurt you.”
“You don’t get to decide what hurts me.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
LaKeith stepped closer. “Harrow contacted my company two months ago about restoration work. They gave me architectural drawings for a mixed-use project but withheld the full list of demolitions. When I learned this block was included, I withdrew my bid.”
“You should have told me.”
“You’re right.”
His agreement slowed my anger for half a second.
Then I remembered the building offer.
“You decided to buy the property instead,” I said.
“Mr. Dillingham already had an offer from Harrow. If they purchase the building, they can use the redevelopment clause in your lease.”
“So your solution was to become my landlord?”
“My proposal includes a guaranteed ten-year lease at your current rate and an option for you to purchase the storefront.”
I stared at him. “How generous.”
LaKeith’s expression tightened. “This isn’t charity.”
“It feels like control.”
“I haven’t controlled a single decision you’ve made.”
“You made this decision without me.”
“I submitted an offer on a building. I did not sign your name.”
“You knew what this place meant to me.”
“That’s why I stepped in.”
“You should have trusted me with the truth.”
“You’re right,” LaKeith repeated. “I should have told you as soon as I learned the building was at risk.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I wanted to secure financing first. I thought I could bring you a solution instead of a problem.”
“You wanted to be the hero.”
His jaw flexed. “Maybe.”
“I don’t need a hero.”
“I know that.”
“Then why did you make plans around my future without involving me?”
“Because every time I offer help, you act as though accepting it will erase your independence.”
The accuracy made me angrier.
“You don’t know what I would have done.”
“I know you stood in water beside an electrical outlet because you didn’t want anyone to think you needed assistance.”
“That does not excuse hiding this from me.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
“You withheld financial information that could affect everything I own.”
“I did.”
“That is exactly what Remell—”
“Stop.”
LaKeith’s voice was calm but firm.
The bookstore became painfully quiet.
He looked at me with hurt tightening his face.
“I came here to explain,” he said. “I admitted I was wrong. I will not accept being compared to a man who stole from you.”
“You both decided you had the right to control what I knew.”
“I made a bad decision while trying to protect something you love. Remell committed fraud for his own benefit.”
“You managed to betray me without his help.”
The words left my mouth sharp and immediate.
LaKeith went still.
The hurt in his eyes should have stopped me sooner.
It didn’t.
“I trusted someone once,” I continued. “He smiled in my face while making choices that could destroy everything I built. You knew that.”
“I am not him.”
“I thought I knew that.”
LaKeith looked down briefly.
When his gaze returned to mine, some of the warmth had disappeared.
“You have every right to be angry,” he said. “You have every right to decide that my mistake changed how you see me. What you don’t have is the right to punish me for every lie another man told you.”
My eyes burned.
“I need you to leave,” I whispered.
Brinelle said my name softly. “Yandy—”
“I need everybody to stop.”
LaKeith nodded once.
“All right.”
He turned and walked toward the door.
I wanted him to stop.
I wanted him to fight harder.
I wanted him to ignore the very boundary I had demanded he respect.
He opened the door.
“LaKeith,” I called.
He looked back.
For one desperate moment, I nearly apologized.
Fear held my tongue.
LaKeith walked out.
The bell chimed above him.
My anger collapsed the second the door closed.
Norelle folded her arms. “That did not go well.”
“I don’t need commentary.”
“You accused a man of trying to destroy your business after he created an offer designed to protect it.”
“He hid it from me.”
“He admitted he was wrong,” Norelle said.
“Whose side are you on?”
“Yours. That’s why I’m telling you the truth.”
Brinelle touched my shoulder. “You had a right to be upset.”
“I’m glad someone understands.”
Brinelle continued, “You also dragged Remell’s sins into an argument with LaKeith.”
I moved away from her. “Everyone can go home.”
“Yandy,” Brinelle said gently.
“I need to think.”
They exchanged a look but gathered their things.
Norelle paused at the door.
“LaKeith made a serious mistake,” she said. “So did you.”
After they left, I sat alone in the darkened bookstore.
The chair LaKeith used during book club stood empty.
His latest coffee cup remained beside the sink.
The shelves he installed lined my office wall.
His presence occupied the building even after he had gone.
That was the cruelest part of allowing somebody into your life.
They left fingerprints on everything.