Emily sat beside Lyvana openly staring at Julian like he was an exhibit.
"So," she said slowly, "you’re the temporary boyfriend."
Julian blinked once. "I guess."
Emily nodded, as if that explained everything. "Hmm."
She leaned closer.
"What do you do?" she asked
"I do a bit of business," Julian replied smoothly.
Emily’s eyes narrowed. "Business," she repeated. "That’s very... vague."
Julian smiled. "It’s a big field."
"And your hobbies?" she asked.
"I travel. A lot. I like sailing when I get the chance. And I collect paintings."
Emily blinked.
"Wow," she said slowly. "Sounds aggressively boring."
Julian raised an eyebrow. "They’re not boring."
"Oh, please," Emily said, rolling her eyes. "Sailing? Collecting art? You’re like a walking brochure for Sophisticated Billionaires Monthly."
She paused, her eyes narrowing as she did the math in her head.
"Wait a minute. Are you like, a billionaire?"
"Emy!" Lyvana chided, reaching out to grab her arm. "Stop it. Julian and I don’t talk about our personal lives like that, much less our finances. It’s none of our business."
"It’s a fair question," Julian said smoothly. "But Lyvana is right. I prefer to keep things... private."
"Private is just another word for ’I have a vault,’" Emily muttered, though she was grinning now.
Julian chuckled, then turned to Lyvana.
"Actually, since your friend is so curious about how I spend my ti," he said, "perhaps she’d like to see my suite in Singapore this weekend? I was planning on taking you, but I think Emily would love it there as well."
Emily’s jaw dropped. "Singapore? This weekend?"
"Yes, you two can go sightseeing while I handle so business."
"Julian, no," Lyvana said. "I have work. I have a project am working on, and I can’t just fly across the world on a whim."
Emily turned to Julian, giving him a wink. "Ignore her. She’s in shock. She’ll be available. I’ll handle the convincing part. By Friday night, she’ll be sitting on that plane with a sleeping mask on, whether she likes it or not."
"I like her," Julian murmured to Lyvana, nodding.
"Of course you do," Lyvana sighed. "She’s just as manipulative as you are. You two are a dangerous match."
Emily giggled already tapping away on her phone. "Liv, I need to make a video call. I will see you in the morning."
Lyvana nodded. "Ok."
She got up heading to the bedroom then glanced back at them. "Now you two can... plot. Or flirt. Or whatever you were doing."
The bedroom door shut behind her.
"You’re corrupting my best friend," Lyvana said.
Julian chuckled. "I think she’s corrupting ." He leaned in. "What do you say? Singapore this weekend?"
Lyvana tilted her head, a playful smile tugging at her lips.
"I say... you’re pushing your luck."
"That’s a yes, then?" Julian asked, a slow, confident smirk spreading across his face.
"It’s an ’I’ll think about it,’" she corrected. "Don’t get ahead of yourself."
"What’s this project you are working on... If you don’t mind asking?"
Lyvana shrugged.
"Just so new designs I have my lead designer working on. We’re trying sothing... different."
"In that case, Singapore is exactly what you need," Julian countered smoothly. "The architecture there is practically art, and I happen to know a few people who own the kind of boutiques most designers would kill to be featured in."
Lyvana laughed, shaking her head. "Are you trying to bribe with career networking now?"
"I’m a businessman, Lyvana," Julian said, his smirk returning, sharper and more charming than before. "I don’t bribe. I provide... strategic opportunities."
This made Lyvana laugh.
A sound that made Julian’s chest tighten. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He wondered if she even knew the devastating effect she was having on him.
"We need a plan," Lyvana said, bringing him back to reality.
Julian just nodded.
"We’ll talk about that later, perhaps on our trip."
....
Lyvana woke up to the sound of her bedside alarm. She groaned, swung her legs over the edge of the bed, and forced herself to stand.
Then she hurried to the bathroom. She had to get to Aurora and then stop by the hospital for Dr. Aris’s final checkup.
Once she freshened up, she made her way to the kitchen, where Emily had already prepared a breakfast of eggs, bacon, and a steaming cup of coffee.
Lyvana rubbed the sleep from her eyes and sank into the chair at the kitchen table. The aroma made her stomach growl.
"Morning," Emily greeted, sliding a plate toward her. "Figured you’d be hungry before running around."
"Thanks," Lyvana said pouring herself so coffee. "You’re a lifesaver," She took a sip of the coffee, feeling the caffeine kick in.
Emily grinned, plopping down beside her. "So, what’s the plan for the day?"
Lyvana checked her phone, scrolling through her schedule. "I will be at Aurora this morning."
Emily frowned, munching on a piece of bacon. "Isn’t that like, Mark stuff."
Lyvana nodded. "It used to be, but things are different now Emy."
Emily shrugged. "I forgot."
Just then, Lyvana’s phone buzzed.
She picked it up, and saw Julian’s na on the screen.
"Hi" she muttered, answering the call.
"Hey." Julian’s smooth voice ca through the line. "Morning, Lyvana. Hope I didn’t tire you out too much last night?"
"Not really," she lied, leaning back in her chair.
"What does your day look like?" he asked.
"Busy," she said. "You?"
Julian chuckled. "Productive. I’m actually on a flight heading to Italy. I’ll likely be out of reach all day."
"I see. When are you coming back?"
"Tomorrow night," Julian said. "I’ll send a car for you the mont I land. But expect a call from tonight once I’m less busy."
As soon as she hung up, a call ca through. It was Bertha.
"Ms. Lyvana, I am so sorry to disturb you this early," she said sounding frantic. "But I’m afraid there has been a serious incident at the studio."
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