Page 51 of Shattered Oath
I opened the door and walked out, leaving him standing there with his apology and his roses.
The boutique had transformed while I was gone. The runway was being dismantled by efficient crew members, chairs folded and stacked against the walls. My staff moved efficiently through the space, returning it to its intended purpose: a place where beautiful things were sold to people who could afford them.
Xavier stood near the champagne table, scrolling through his phone with practiced disinterest. He looked up when he saw me, and his gaze immediately flicked past my shoulder, tracking something behind me. His expression didn't change, but I knew. Femi had followed me out.
"There you are." His tone was light, but his eyes were sharp.
"Where is everyone?"
"Aria dragged Kim to look at dresses. I’m hoping by the time they get back Kim would have picked something. She’s uncomfortable when I try to spoil her." He pocketed his phone. "Mom and grandma are somewhere in the back, probably critiquing everything. And Sebastian had to take a call. Some crisis at the Singapore property."
"Of course, there is."
"There's always a crisis at the Singapore property." He smiled, but his eyes were still doing that thing—darting between me and whatever was behind me. "You okay?"
I heard footsteps coming our way. I knew who it was immediately.
"Isabelle." Femi's voice, closer now. "Can we please talk about this properly?"
"No."
Xavier straightened. His whole demeanor shifted—not aggressive, but present. Alert. "Femi!" He stepped forward, all easy charm. "When did you get in? I didn't know you were coming."
Femi blinked at the interruption, momentarily thrown. "I flew in this afternoon. Wanted to surprise Isabelle."
"Mission accomplished, I'd say." Xavier clapped him on the shoulder, already steering him away from me. "Listen, you have to try this champagne. It's from that vineyard I was telling you about last month, the one in Tuscany. Absolutely brilliant stuff. Come on, I'll pour you a glass."
"I was hoping to speak with Isabelle?—"
"She'll still be here in five minutes. The champagne, however, is disappearing at an alarming rate." Xavier was already walking, his hand firm on Femi's back. "Did you eat on the plane? The catering here is excellent. There's this little thing with figs and prosciutto, you wouldn't believe?—"
Their voices faded as Xavier guided Femi toward the far end of the boutique. I watched them go, my shoulders dropping with relief.
A moment later, Xavier reappeared at my elbow. "You're welcome."
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it." He leaned against the wall beside me, arms crossed. "So. That's happening again?"
I let out a long breath. "I don't know."
"You don't know if it's happening, or you don't know if you want it to happen?"
"Both. Neither." I pressed my fingers to my temples where a headache was beginning to bloom. "It's complicated."
"It always is with you two." He was quiet for a moment. "Can I ask you something?"
"Since when do you ask permission?"
"Fair point." He turned to face me fully, his expression unusually serious. "What do you actually want, Isabelle? Not what you think you should want. Not what makes sense on paper or looks good to everyone else. What doyouwant?"
The question landed somewhere deep in my chest. I didn't have an answer ready.
"I don't know," I admitted. "I thought I knew. When Femi came back into my life, it felt like fate. Like the universe was giving us a second chance to get it right. But now..."
"Now?"
"Now I'm not sure we ever wanted the same things. I'm not sure we want the same things now." I looked at him, searching his face. "What do you think?"
