Love so Hot (Misfit Millionaires #1)

Chapter 54Lawrence

Chapter Fifty-Four

Lawrence

The sun sets, casting its light through the bay window, stretching shadows across my Norfolk house. I returned yesterday, unable to stay in Greenwood Hollow. I told my staff to return as well, keeping only a skeleton crew at the satellite office.

I sit in silence, interrupted only by the crackle of the fireplace. Each flicker of the flame brings back memories of Willow—her laughter, her touch. The room feels empty without her. I feel empty without her.

A sudden knock breaks the quiet. Startled, I get up from the armchair, my muscles stiff from sitting. With slow steps, I approach the door, expecting neighbors or a forgotten delivery.

But when I open the door, it isn’t sympathy or packages. Roman, Victor, and Sebastian stand there, their smiles a welcome relief.

“Surprise!” they shout in unison, their voices familiar and comforting.

Roman’s eyes sparkle with mischief, as always. Sebastian's steady gaze shows his understanding, and Victor's nod acknowledges the difficulty of my situation.

“Guys, what—how did you—” I stammer, caught off guard.

“Told you I was gonna find a way to come see you,” Roman says, walking in casually. “You made it easier by coming back to civilization, and I thought you could use some company.”

“Couldn’t let you wallow all by yourself now, could we?” Sebastian adds with a smile.

Victor claps a hand on my shoulder. “We flew in to lift spirits. Yours, specifically.”

I step aside, letting them in. They're already all familiar with my house and they make themselves right at home. Roman heads right to the bar to pour drinks, and Victor and Sebastian each lounge on the sofas.

The clink of ice against glass punctuates the silence as Roman pours out whiskey for each of us. The familiar scent of aged whiskey mixes with the coastal air from the open windows. We all settle into the leather couches, the room bathed in the light of the setting sun.

“Cheers,” I say, raising my glass. They echo the sentiment, and we drink in silence for a moment before their expectant looks prompt me to speak.

“Remember when you guys warned me about Willow? How getting involved under false pretenses was a recipe for disaster?” I say, tracing the rim of my glass. “Well, you were right.”

Roman leans forward. "I never really thought you needed a recipe for disaster, Lawrence. You always seemed to just eyeball it."

Roman's got a look on his face that betrays just how proud of himself he is for that joke, and the other guys are trying to hold back their laughter, probably for my sake.

"Thanks for that, Roman," I say, rolling my eyes.

"Alright, being serious now," he says. "Tell us what happened."

“It started as a lie, but it became something real for me,” I admit, my voice cracking. “Willow ended things. She saw our futures diverging while I only saw them together.”

“Man, that’s rough,” Roman says, shaking his head.

“I fell for her, against all logic,” I say, feeling the weight of my words. “And now, here I am, trying to figure out how to move on.”

The room is silent, each of us understanding the pain I’m feeling.

I down the rest of my drink and make my way to the bar to get another. Ice clinks against glass as I refill my drink, spilling a little over the edge. The silence is heavy, broken only by the occasional sigh.

“Look,” Victor says, “I know you’re hurting, but sometimes the best thing to do is just move on.” His gaze is direct, challenging me to consider it.

Roman shakes his head. “No, if you really love her, fight for her.” He crosses his arms, his tone passionate.

Sebastian looks at me thoughtfully. “It’s not just about what you want,” he says quietly. “Think about the consequences and the impact on both your lives.”

Their advice swirls in my mind, each piece heavy with its own weight. I stare into my drink, feeling pulled in different directions.

“Guys, I want her back,” I confess, my voice barely above a whisper. “But how do we bridge such a gap? Our worlds and wants are so different.” My honesty hangs in the air, leaving a heavy silence.

They exchange looks, faces full of empathy, but no one has an immediate answer. We sit quietly, four men facing a complicated issue with no simple solution.

The silence stretches before I break it, my voice steady. “There’s something else. Billy Hargraves—the one I’ve been trying to get on board with the pipeline investment? That’s her father. I didn’t realize until I was sitting across from him in a conference room.”

Roman blinks, surprised. Victor’s eyebrows rise, and Sebastian nods slowly, taking in the new information.

“Man, that’s a tough spot,” Roman mutters.

Victor runs a hand through his hair. “That’s... quite the coincidence.”

“Or fate,” I say, not sure if I believe it but feeling its weight. "Billy says he'll invest if I can get Willow to speak to him again. She's been estranged from the family for years."

Sebastian is quiet for a moment, then asks the question that hits home. “What’s more important to you, the pipeline or Willow?”

His words hang in the air, challenging me. My chest tightens as I think about my motivations and desires.

I look away from their expectant faces, staring at my reflection in the window. The Norfolk landscape is dark against the twilight sky, a calm scene compared to my inner turmoil.

“Seb, I...” I trail off, grappling with the enormity of the situation. The pipeline represents years of work and a chance to make a real impact. Willow is the unexpected force that has changed everything.

“Damn it, I don’t know,” I finally admit, feeling vulnerable. In that moment, I realize that some questions don’t have immediate answers, and this is one of them.

Roman breaks the heavy silence with a clap of his hands. “Alright, enough of this. Let’s play some poker. What do you guys say?”

I blink, caught off guard by the suggestion but grateful for the distraction. “Sure, why not?”

We gather around the dining table. Roman retrieves a deck of cards from the cabinet and begins shuffling, while Victor and Sebastian arrange the chairs. The familiar routine of setting up the game brings a sense of normalcy.

As we start the first hand, Roman grins. “Remember that time we played poker at Victor’s place and he accidentally set his rug on fire?”

Victor groans. “Do you have to bring that up every time we play?”

“It’s a classic!” Roman insists, dealing the cards. “You were so drunk that you tried to put it out with orange juice.”

We all laugh, the memory lightening the mood. “Yeah, and the smell was so bad,” I add.

The game continues, with Roman leading the charge in sharing embarrassing stories from our past. Each tale is met with laughter, the tension in the room dissolving with each round.

“Speaking of embarrassing,” Victor says, glancing at Roman. “How’s the latest girlfriend, Roman? Or should I say girlfriends?”

Roman rolls his eyes, but there’s a smile playing on his lips. “At least I’m not like Stone Cold Victor over here, too icy to bother with women.”

Victor chuckles. “Hey, I just haven’t found the right one.”

Sebastian joins in, a rare grin on his face. “And yet, you’re always the one giving romantic advice.”

The banter continues as we play, the camaraderie of old friends bringing a warmth to the evening that had been missing for a long time. The game progresses with friendly competition, the pile of chips shifting between us.

In the end, it’s Sebastian who wins. He leans back with a satisfied smirk. “Luck of the draw,” he says, collecting his winnings.

We laugh and start packing up the cards and chips. It's late, and the exhaustion of the day begins to set in.

“We should get some sleep,” Victor suggests. “We’ve got early flights tomorrow.”

One by one, we head to our rooms. As I lie in bed, I feel a sense of peace that has been absent for weeks. The visit from my friends, their support and laughter, has lightened the burden I’ve been carrying.

The next morning, we gather in the kitchen for a quick breakfast. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee fills the air, mingling with the smell of toast and scrambled eggs. Roman is at the stove, flipping pancakes with an exaggerated flourish, while Victor sets the table. Sebastian sips his coffee, reading the news on his phone.

“Morning, everyone,” I say, joining them. I pour myself a cup of coffee, the warmth of the mug comforting in my hands.

Victor looks up with a smile. “Morning. Sleep well?”

“Better than I have in a while, thanks to you guys,” I reply, taking a seat at the table.

As we eat, the conversation turns to lighter topics—upcoming projects, travel plans, and the latest sports scores. It’s not long before Roman, ever the instigator, brings the focus back to my situation.

“So,” he says, pouring syrup over his pancakes, “have you figured out what you’re going to do about Willow?”

I chuckle, taking a sip of my coffee. “You mean after all the conflicting advice you guys gave me last night?”

Victor grins. “Yeah, we did kind of throw a lot at you.”

“I think I have a path forward,” I say, keeping my tone light. “Despite your best efforts to confuse me.”

Roman leans forward, his eyes twinkling with curiosity. “You chose my suggestion, didn’t you?”

I shake my head, smiling. “Let’s just say it’s better left unsaid for now. I need to work out a few details first.”

Sebastian raises an eyebrow. “Mysterious as always.”

We finish our breakfast, the easy camaraderie of old friends filling the room. As we clear the table, there’s a sense of finality, knowing that they’ll soon be heading back to their respective lives.

In the entryway, we exchange hugs and handshakes. “Thanks for coming, guys. It really means a lot,” I say sincerely.

“Anytime,” Victor replies. “Just remember, we’re only a phone call away.”

Roman claps me on the back. “Take care. And don’t forget to keep us updated.”

“Will do,” I promise.

Sebastian gives a nod. “Stay strong. You’ve got this.”

I watch as they head out the door, their laughter and banter trailing behind them. The house feels emptier, but also lighter, as if their visit has lifted some of the weight from my shoulders.

I head to my office and pick up the phone, dialing Emily’s number. She answers on the first ring.

“Emily, it’s Lawrence. I’ll be coming into the office today. We need to meet.”