But I wasn’t leaving. At least, not yet. I was in search of one person. The person I had to find and apologize to immediately and hope she didn’t hate me.
Marika.
When I ran into the restaurant, I only found the cameramen breaking down the lights. When I asked where she’d gone, they told me they didn’t know.
I continued on my search, looking in the room with the other contestants and then finally Rock’s office. Mia, his assistant, stopped me before I could go in.
“Rock isn’t seeing anyone right now.”
“But I’m his brother.”
She gave me a sad smile. “We all screw up sometimes. I get it. I have boys. They can act first and think about consequences later.”
“Story of my life,” I mumbled.
“But when you’ve made a mistake and really hurt people, give them room to breathe. Rock needs that. He can’t see you.”
“Is Marika in there?”
Even if I couldn’t see her, Mia might get a message to her. Let her know I want to apologize to her.
“No, Marika left. I know because I helped her to her car.”
My head fell into my hands. What had I done? Monty was right, I should have talked to someone before any of this.
“Did she say anything about me?”
Mia sighed and nodded. “Marika said if she sees another VidTuber in her life, it would be too soon.”
I screwed everyone today, including the woman I loved.
Chapter 23
MARIKA
“So, I was watching VidTube—”
I placed my hand over Susannah’s mouth. “Remember, we don’t mention that name in my presence. Not the site or anyone associated with the site.”
“What about Bernard? He’s on Vid—” My father almost finished what he was going to say, but I plugged my ears with my fingers and sing-songed la la la.
He ignored me and continued drinking his coffee at the closest table to the counter at the café.
Susannah moved closer to me and pulled my arms down. “It’s been a week since the contest fiasco. And that site shouldn’t be punished because what James, uh . . . I mean, what that man did was stupid.”
I had never been so humiliated in my life. The one person I thought would want me to win so I could help my business ruined everything.
The backlash was incredible. I had to close the shop for several days because the only people who came in angrily told me I was a cheat and a liar.
Our new uptick in business dried up instantly. I had to let the part-time employee go, and I knew it wasn’t long before I’d have to do the same to Susannah.
“Maybe I should just give up. Close up shop.” I glanced over at my father and hoped he wasn’t too disappointed.
“Why? So you can let them win?” My father pointed out the window.
“Who win? This isn’t about winning or losing, it’s about surviving. I think the hardware store is hiring. Maybe Susannah and I can get a job there.”
“That’s where muscled-up Jack works. I’d rather give him my nail collection and tell him his nails are better than mine than work with him at the hardware store,” Susannah said as she examined her pink polka-dot nails.
“Then the flower shop. We could work there.”
“I have allergies.”
“The grocery store.”
“The lighting is terrible there. They couldn’t pay me enough to work under that condition.”
I threw my hands up in defeat. “Then you will be out on the street because I’m closing Hard Grind.”
She gasped, and my father shook his head, sighing as he put down his coffee cup.
It felt as if something had ripped my heart from my chest and put it through the coffee grinder. As angry as I was at James, ultimately this was my fault. I should have been a better business owner. I should have planned for dips in income. I didn’t, and now I had to break everyone’s heart.
“We have just enough money to last a month, and I don’t think this will blow over in that time. I’m sorry, I don’t know what else to do. It would take a miracle for this place to stay open.”
Right at that moment there was a knock at the door. Susannah left behind the counter and went to the door.
“Looks like the miracle might be here,” she said as she unlocked and opened the door.
I had closed the café after one o’clock since we hadn’t had one customer today. Shorter hours were the only way to prolong the inevitable.
In walked the man who caused all my irritation and heartache. James.
His usual slightly ruffled dark brown hair, as if he wasn’t trying but I knew he was, was even more out of place. He really hadn’t tried today. And he had lots of stubble with bags under his eyes.
The man was a mess. There was dirt all over his clothes.
My eyes narrowed at him while my heart cracked all over again. “What are you doing here?”
The humiliation had been a shock, but it was how he didn’t seem to care. I felt like I was being ripped up into insignificant pieces and all he did was wink at me at the end. He had told me he loved me, and I knew I had fallen in love with him, but he carelessly destroyed the contest and my chances at the future of the café.
I remember the look in his eyes and that stupid wink he gave me. It was the same look my mom gave me. She would act like it was no big deal whenever she flaked on her promises or forgot about me.
But hurting people, the people you loved, was an enormous deal.
“I came here to apologize.” James stood by the door as Susannah moved closer to my dad.
I folded my arms and said, “I got your texts and the emails and the letters. Plus, the countless voicemails. I heard your apologies. You don’t need to be here.”
Every day, James had barraged me saying he was sorry. He even tried showing up at my dad’s house and here, but I made sure I wasn’t around. I’d hide in a bedroom or the back until he left.
I side-eyed Susannah. She knew to give me warning if James showed up. She shrugged like a traitor.
“But I haven’t been able to do it in person. I wanted to give you this.” He moved farther into Hard Grind and placed a tiny bottle of honey on the counter.
“Why are you giving me honey? And don’t say it’s because I’m so sweet.”
“There goes that idea.” He frowned before he continued, “Actually, it’s the honey from the bees that chased us several weeks ago. I collected and bottled it.”
Heat crawled up my neck as memories of what we did together after the bees chased us flashed in my head. I reached for the bottle. There was a label on it that read Diaz Honey.
I smiled and traced the line from the z in Diaz to the little cartoon bee that was part of the label. “You’re a bee farmer?”
“You know you can get stung doing that. A lot,” my dad stated the obvious.
“Yup, been stung a few times. But I hired someone who knows about bees to work with me. Teach me. And while the farm is being built, I am learning about bee farming. I haven’t collected much yet.” He waved at the tiny bottle in my hands.
“That’s great, James. I’m glad you discovered which type of farmer you want to be. But that doesn’t mean I forgive you.”
I was happy for him, but that wouldn’t stop the pain in my heart. He was selfish and impulsive, and I wasn’t about to deal with people like that in my life anymore.
He held up a finger and reached into his back pocket, pulling out an envelope. “But there’s this too. It’s also my way of saying sorry.” He slid it over to me on the counter, and our fingertips brushed. I hated that the spark I felt every time he touched me was still there. And it went straight to my clit.
Ignoring the heat in his eyes and between my legs, I set about opening the letter. My eyes widened as I read the amount of the check I pulled out. It was for one hundred thousand dollars.
“Is this from the contest? Did Rock change his mind?”
Something I hadn’t felt in a w
hile fluttered to life in my chest—hope. I held that check to my heart and smiled at James.
“No. That’s from me. It was my fault you didn’t win, so I’m making it up to you.”
The hope quickly died, and my mouth felt dry. I tried to swallow, but it was difficult.
“Oh . . . I see.”
James had hope in his eyes, and I was jealous that money could so easily solve all his problems. And it could solve mine too. He didn’t have to work his ass off to wave the money at whatever problem came up to solve it. I did, and sometimes even when I worked hard, the money wouldn’t be there.
Why was he different? Why did he get to coast through his adult life while I struggled? A bitterness bubbled up from my heart, and I pushed the check back toward him.
“No. I don’t accept this. Your money won’t solve the pain you caused.”
“But I have it, and you need it. I don’t see the problem.” James glanced at Susannah and my dad with confusion.
Neither of them would look at him because they knew. They understood that money didn’t solve problems. It caused them. It created difficulties knowing it was the only solution. And people like James, like all those wealthy people at The Blue Spot, bought into that idea.
They could keep running circles for the false power of money, but I wouldn’t do it anymore.
“It’s too bad you don’t see it. The reason people won’t come here to get coffee is because I don’t sell exceptional coffee like your brother. It’s not the luxurious setting of Blue Bean that keeps them coming back; it’s that amazing coffee. The one product I am known for selling can’t compete. All the money in the world won’t solve that problem.”
“Then we’ll find you better coffee. I’ll search the world for the best—”
“But this isn’t your business. You have a bee farm to run.”
“I can do that too. I’ll tell my brother to change his coffee. I’ll ask for my investment back if he doesn’t.”
I sighed, realizing James wasn’t getting it.
“I don’t want to hurt another business just so mine can succeed. Sure, your brother makes lots of money with other things besides selling coffee at Blue Bean, but I would never ask him to change his business for me or anyone else.”
“I would,” James said with a tight jaw.
“You need to talk to your brother. Not about his coffee, but about your relationship with him. You hurt him too, and family is more important than anything.”
James was quiet for a moment, then said, “If I do that, will you give me another chance?”
“He’s your brother. It’s not about me. How can you expect me to forgive you or for anyone to forgive you if it’s obvious relationships mean so little to you?”
“Rock’s my brother. He always will be. We have fights like all siblings. We’ll make up, eventually. It’s the normal cycle for the Diaz brothers.”
“If you say so.” For both their sakes, I hoped that was true, but something in my heart knew things needed to change.
“I’ll head over to The Blue Spot right now to talk to my brother. And while I’m there, I’ll ask him to reconsider his decision about you not being the winner. Would you like that?”
There was so much optimism in James’s eyes. That boyish twinkle in his eyes almost broke my heart. It was time to state the reality he refused to see.
“No. James, it’s over.”
The smile fell first, and then the color drained from his face. Instantly, all the light and anticipation evaporated. James took a step back but stopped. He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out.
He squared his shoulders and turned, leaving the café without a word.
And I fell to my knees with tears streaming down my face. I knew I would never see James again.
Chapter 24
JAMES
“You know you aren’t allowed to be here,” Monty said as he came into his office and shut the door.
I was sprawled on the floor in the middle of his office staring at the ceiling, counting the wooden square molding. “It’s over. I’ve been trying to apologize to Marika for a week, and when I finally saw her today, she ended it.”
My brother came and stood over me, looking down at the pathetic heap I had turned into. “Did you really expect her to happily take you back because you said sorry?”
I sat up, placed my elbows on my knees and said, “Yes. Absolutely. I mean, I thought the check for a hundred grand really would have smoothed it all over. But she wouldn’t take the money.”
My brother sat cross-legged on the floor with me.
“You’re telling me that a woman you humiliated on VidTube for the entire world to see wouldn’t take money from you as an apology? And it wasn’t like you were a stranger. You knew her. You loved her, and still, you made her look a fool. But a hundred grand should have solved everything.” Monty’s voice was thick with sarcasm.
“When you say it like that, it doesn’t sound great. But that was the prize money. She was willing to humiliate herself with Steele on that ridiculous date for that money. Why not take it from me?”
I fisted my hands. The thought of Steele touching her still upset me.
“Because that was her decision. Remember how I was talking to you about her decision on whether or not she wanted to be kissed by Steele? That it wasn’t up to you, but her. The same idea applies here. It was her choice to enter the contest, knowing she would go on a date with a billionaire. And besides, I talked to Coleman about the kiss. He was to kiss her hand. That’s all. I think Steele, being Steele, had hoped for more.”
As my brother’s words sank into my brain—which I realized as the week went on was probably the size of a pea—I felt like a total asshole. I might even be up for the asshole of the year award if there were such a contest.
While I wouldn’t like Steele kissing Marika’s hand, I wouldn’t have ruined an entire contest because of it.
“But she needs the money. I just wish she’d take it.” I threw my head into my hands.
“Why? So she can feel better, or so you can feel better?”
I groaned, hating when Monty pointed out something I never wanted to admit.
“I think I know why she won’t take it, James, but you will not like hearing it.”
Lifting my head, I said, “I don’t care, tell me. I have to know.”
He sighed. “Did getting that money from the construction accident that killed Dad cause you to forgive them? Did it solve your problems or any of our problems?”
I winced. I was the construction company in this scenario. I was the monster.
“We got out of that rundown townhouse,” I mumbled, knowing it wasn’t a good enough reason.
“That was worth Dad dying? Getting a better house?”
I shook my head. It wasn’t. I’d give back my money if I could have Mom and Dad back.
“No, of course not. Monty, I feel like crap. I really messed everything up, and I have no idea what to do.”
“Good.”
“Good?” I spit out.
“Yes, good. You need to understand where Marika is coming from in order to even have a chance to get her back.”
“What are you two doing on the floor?” Rock opened the door and stood with a man I didn’t recognize behind him.
“Accepting the fact that I’m an asshole,” I said with a frown.
“Finally! I have waited your entire life for you to admit that,” Rock said as he moved farther into the room.
Monty stood and said, “It’s not like you’re perfect either, Rock.”
“I never said I was.”
I got up and went over to Rock, throwing my arms around him. He stiffened, but after a moment, he hugged me back.
“I’m sorry, Rock. Sorry for all the times I’ve acted out and caused you problems. And I am sorry for ruining the contest.”
“Apology accepted.” He stepped back and continued, “I wouldn’t say you ruined it. What you did wasn’t planned, but
it brought us more business. So it worked out.”
I sighed. “If only that was the case for Marika. She might have to close the shop. I overheard her today at her coffee shop telling people she might have to close in a month.”
I was eavesdropping. Before I knocked on the door, I pressed my ear to it to see if I was interrupting anything. I heard her tell Susannah and her dad about the problems I had caused.
“Coffee shop?” the man behind Rock asked.
“Yes, my girlfriend . . .” I hesitated and corrected myself, “I mean, ex-girlfriend, runs a coffee shop in town called Hard Grind. But she can’t compete with the coffee sold here at Blue Bean.”
Rock's eyes went wide and quickly shifted to the man asking about Hard Grind.
“So, the exclusive contract that I have with The Blue Spot is putting a local coffee house out of business?” he asked my brother directly.
“I’m sorry, but who are you?” I asked, unsure why this was any concern of his.
He held out his hand, his brown eyes shining as he smiled. “I’m Mica Angrov. I own Fire Lake Coffee, the coffee Rock sells here.”
I shook his hand a little too aggressively while telling him my name. Monty also shook his hand and introduced himself.
I had never been so happy to meet a guy who made coffee in my life.
“That’s great. How can I get you to sell some of your coffee to the owner of Hard Grind?”
I’d do anything, even run naked down Fitzlee Street while bees chased me.
“He can’t.” Rock folded his arms in front of his chest. “Mica sells his coffee only to us.”
I smirked at my brother, knowing he was trying to bully his way into me backing off. The man often forgot that I knew his tells. We all shared a bedroom growing up. I knew when he was scared and how he compensated for it by puffing up his chest.
“Technically, that is true, but I thought I was here to renegotiate my contract. I thought you told me you needed more from me.” Mica folded his arms and puffed out his chest too.
Dating Disaster with a Billionaire (Blue Ridge Mountain Billionaires, #1) Page 14