Imperfect Match (Elixir Bachelor Billionaires #1)

It’s also been a week’s time to the day I broke the news of my pregnancy to Charles.

Also the day he walked out after saying I love you.

That date would be bold and highlighted in the brightest color if I wrote a daily journal.

Yet nothing has changed.

The divorce papers I requested are still MIA.

I remain employed at Hawthorne Holdings, even though I haven’t set foot inside the building for seven days and am completely oblivious to any potential corporate fires.

In the grand scheme, we’re living like strangers, and officially, we’re still bound together.

“Daisy! You coming?” Violet’s loud holler jerks me out of my mental freight train.

When I reach the living room, there’s a colorful and healthy spread of breakfast on the table like every other day this week. My friends have taken the notion of “they’re with me in this” to a whole new level. At least one of them, if not all, is constantly by my side.

We haven’t had this much girl time since our school days.

I plop down on the couch, and a familiar face stares back at me from Willow’s laptop screen.

“Why are you checking out Raymond Teager’s professional profile?”

Willow’s lips press together and eyes squint, but she doesn’t say anything.

“You are giving that look, Wills.” I raise an eyebrow.

“What look?” she deflects, avoiding eye contact.

“The one that says you’re mentally cursing the guy without a filter,” Violet chimes in from her spot on the floor.

“Exactly that one!” I exclaim.

“Oh, hello, Mr. Teager. You look pretty hot in this picture.” Violet shifts the laptop for a better view, waggling her brows.

The Teagers and Elixir Inc. are as well-known in Cherrywood as the Hawthornes.

“Really? I thought he looked more like Satan or one of his demons.” Willow snags a piece of cheese from the platter Elodie is still arranging.

“And all the cute videos of puppies and kittens were unavailable this morning, so you were entertaining yourself with demonic men?” Elodie doesn’t break a smile, and I purse my lips to hold back my own.

Willow responds with a deep exhale, puffing out a heavy breath.

“Are you sure you’re not developing some secret crush on Daisy’s brother-in-law? No one would blame you if you are. Raymond is the hottest of them all.” Violet folds her arms over the edge of the table before resting her face on top.

Not from where I’m sitting. There’s never been anyone more handsome than Charles for me.

“Vi, give your gossipy journalist brain a break! Since you all seem to be so wrong, let me tell you. I’m searching for his weakness, okay?”

“What did that handsome man do to you?” Violet pushes a grape into her mouth.

“That Lucifer hiding behind an apparently pretty face is the man backing my cousin Gus to take away my grandfather’s land from me.”

“What?” Three gasps blend into one another.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I…I could have helped you.” I turn to face Willow properly now.

“All’s under control, girls. I’m already talking to a lawyer. I’m not going to let those assholes steal what’s mine.”