Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 96404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 482(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 482(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
“What do you know about him?”
“Ethan or Akira?”
“Akira.”
“He’s successful. He works with different conglomerates around the globe and is their entryway into Japan and many other Asian countries. He recently financed a South African man with no background or business ventures under his name. But guess who that man is?”
“Who?”
“Friedrich Jacobs.”
“The man who discovered a diamond mine?” I read about that once in the news.
“Yup, that’s the one. And he didn’t discover just any diamond mine. It’s one of the few in the world that produces black diamonds. Akira is now the sole exporter of those goodies worldwide.”
“So he’s rich. Anything else you know about him?”
“He comes from a powerful traditional family in Japan. He never invites people who aren’t close family members to his house, from what I’ve heard.”
“How about his wife?” The words burn in my throat.
His wife.
She shouldn’t be his damn wife. Fuck that guy again.
“This is the first time I’ve seen her. I think she has her own business ventures that are separate from her husband’s. Both of them are private, that’s for sure.”
Private.
Of course she would be fucking private.
After all, I couldn’t find her, no matter how much I looked in the beginning. I hired a PI in Japan and begged Nate to use his connections to search for her, but it was like she’d never existed.
Turns out, she’s been under her husband’s private umbrella all this time.
“You know her, though.” Daniel’s voice brings me out of my thoughts.
“What makes you think that?”
“I don’t know, your stiffened posture and chatty self, maybe?” He pauses, his eyes widening. “Wait a minute. Is she the girl who broke your heart and stole your soul, leaving a grumpy asshole behind?”
“Fuck off.”
“She is!” He taps the bar table, grinning. “How does it feel to see her again? Please share your thoughts with your invisible fans.”
“I don’t feel anything.”
“Fucking liar. Forget cat lady syndrome. Your face is turning into a serious case of granite. Are you in a mood because she’s married to a man who’s richer than sin?”
“It’s because she came back,” the words leave me in a low whisper, forcing me to taste bitter acid.
“What?”
“She should’ve stayed away.”
“I don’t understand what that means, and no thanks, I don’t need an explanation. What I do need, however, is deets.” He slides closer and wraps an arm around my shoulder. “Tell me some deep, dark secrets I can use to make her husband my client.”
“He’ll be my client.”
“Wait, and I mean this in the most sodding way, what?”
I take a long drink. “I’m making Akira Mori my client.”
“But you don’t do international law.”
“I do corporate. That’s enough.” I stare at him. “Besides, no offense, but you can’t handle him.”
“And you can, motherfucker?”
“I will.”
Daniel opens his mouth, probably to curse me, but Knox cuts him off, grabbing us both by the shoulder and jamming himself between us. “Are you having a moment without me? Do I need to sabotage you and ruin your careers?”
“Vindictive bitch suits you, Knox.” Daniel jabs him.
“What can I say? I love digging graves.”
I stare at him. “Help me dig one then.”
His mouth moves into a Cheshire cat grin. “I like that. I’m in.”
“Don’t be.” Daniel tsks. “It’s a bad idea.”
“I love bad ideas.” Knox squeezes my shoulder. “What did you have in mind?”
I stare back at where I left Naomi and Akira. She still has an arm wrapped around his as they mingle with the attendees.
She’s still fake-smiling and putting on a show.
The Naomi I knew would never fake anything, but that’s the thing.
I don’t know this Naomi.
And I sure as fuck have no clue why she married Akira. It couldn’t be the money since she must have plenty of her own.
Was it by chance? Did she meet him and not feel suffocated? Did he save her when I fucking couldn’t?
One thing’s for sure, she chose him and I’ll make her unchoose him, even if it’s the last thing I do.
I tip my chin toward them and speak to Knox, “Get me all the dirt on the Mori couple.”
As if feeling my gaze on her, Naomi turns her head in my direction.
Her smile falters and her dark eyes glint, but it’s only due to the lights, not the life that used to spark through her every movement.
Maybe this whole thing wasn’t a coincidence, after all.
Maybe I’m meant to yank that part of her to the surface again.
18
Naomi
I thought the night would never end.
I imagined myself stuck in a loop, stumbling and tumbling out of my depth until my mind cracked.
Whenever I looked at Sebastian, my body shook. Whenever my eyes met his, I could feel my soul being sucked from my body.
Or what remains of it, anyway.
I had to tell Akira I was tired so we could cut the night short. He didn’t mind since we were having guests come over for a late dinner.