“You know, Jaco and I were good friends. Supposedly good friends. But there was an undercurrent to it that I always ignored, thinking it was just the way he was and it didn’t matter. It wasn’t until I started dating Lindsey that things escalated. I think he couldn’t handle seeing how happy I was. That’s what I assume, anyway. And he turned against me. We had a massive business opportunity we were working on together, and he shut me out completely and took everything for himself. At the same time, he seduced Lindsey. He stole her from me, and I lost notonly a shit load of money in the deal, but I also lost my best friend and the girl I believed I was in love with.”
Bardil sighs, his brows knotted as he listens. Neither he nor Marlen says anything, so I carry on.
“I was angry. I was angry; I wanted him to pay. I couldn’t let it go, so I started planning revenge against him. I started tracking his movements, stalking his men, gathering information. I started piecing my vengeance together, and step by step, I moved closer to carrying it out—to bring him down,” I explain.
“You fucking did all of this behind our backs!” Marlen snarls in anger. “How could you be so fucking naive to think that this wouldn’t backfire somehow and reach his family. A neutral family that we donot want trouble with!”
“I know, I know,” I stammer, holding up my hands in defense. “I see now how reckless it was. I was so locked onto my target…”
“It wasn’t all his fault!” Blair bursts into the boardroom, and we all turn in surprise to look at her.
“Blair! I told you to stay at home where it’s safe!” I growl.
“No, I had to come here and explain,” she snaps.
“Explain what?” Marlen demands, leaning back in his chair and glaring at her.
“Simon’s plans were going perfectly. He had everything on track until I accidentally stumbled into the picture. He had to stop his plans to track me down because I became a witness he had to something I shouldn’t have seen…”
I close my eyes, wishing like hell she hadn’t come here, but also stirred with an intense warmth that she did come all the way here just to defend me.
“Simon’s plans would have gone perfectly if I hadn’t been there that night. Everything would already be over, and none of the families would have gotten involved!” she insists.
Blair stands tall, her arms at her sides and her fists clamped into tight balls as she locks eyes with Marlen, determined to defend me.
I can’t believe it.
Little Blair. Shy with men. Often choosing to remain quiet instead of facing conflict. Sweet and innocent.
Not right now, now she is like a firecracker, ready to explode, ready to stand in front of me and take a bullet for me by the look on her face.
I don’t think I’ve ever had someone defend me so fiercely in my life.
“You’re saying this is all your fault?” Marlen asks, standing up and clasping his hands behind his back as he walks slowly toward Blair. She doesn’t back down as he towers over her. Her defiance gets stronger.
“It is. You can’t be angry at Simon.”
“But Simon was going after Jaco for a feud that started long before you came into the picture, Blair.”
“I understand that. But what I’m saying is that his plan would have worked. I ruined it,” she says. “I am the reason the Marcas family is now involved.”
My heart is exploding as I listen to her, mesmerized by her willingness to take the blame for this just to protect me. But she’s not right. It isn’t her fault.
