It wasn’t the most detailed version of my life, but it was part of it.
“Well enough that I didn’t have to focus too much on where I wanted to go after that, so I made sure I got my master’s in business, and I now want to use what I’ve learned to help others. Others like you. I want to help women and those in need to finance what they want to do. Part of my business is owning our tech company and working towards the future, and the other part is going to the future in a different way. I want to make sure that small businesses can get off the ground without the huge worry that they can compete in a man’s world. Because despite however far we’ve gone, we’re not there yet. So I want to help you. Women-owned businesses need to be out there. They need to be at the forefront. We want single moms not to have to choose between working for themselves and ignoring their children and working for someone else and not paving the road for their children in the first place. So I’m going to help you. And I get a vampire café at the end of it.”
Diana wiped tears away. I hadn’t meant for her to cry.
This was my job—to make sure that I paid it forward. I made sure that others had the chance I was given.
By the time Diana left, I was smiling and I knew that I’d made the right decision accepting her proposal. There were a few more proposals I had to go through, as well as my own tech business to do. But I was doing well. I also happened to own a stake in the next generation of Montgomery Ink Tattoos with Montgomery Ink Legacy, so I wanted to stop by there later and meet up with my family.
I worked enough hours, had enough jobs that I didn’t have to worry about going home to an empty house.
Because at least he wouldn’t be there.
I shuddered, and as I closed the door, the delivery man dropped a ream of paper. It echoed in the building and I froze, sweat sliding down my back as a metallic taste slid over my tongue. My hands shook, and I was grateful no one could see me. I gently closed the door as I fought to suck in breaths. But nothing would come. My airways closed, and I staggered over to the bar area and poured myself a glass of water from the pitcher, sloshing some over the rim as I forced myself to drink, to breathe.
Close your eyes, Lake.
Count to ten.
One.
Two.
Three.
I didn’t even have to get to ten before I could breathe.
That wasn’t bad, that time. I was getting better.
But I texted my therapist and told her about it anyway. We would talk about it in the morning for my next session, and I would find a way to get over it.
Because I had to.
I couldn’t help others if I couldn’t help myself. So I needed to get over it.
There was a knock at the door, and I quickly looked in the mirror, making sure I looked presentable.
I looked fine. Not sweaty or pale or as if I just had another panic attack for no reason. I looked like Lake Montgomery, kick-ass CEO who could do no wrong.
And that’s what the world needed to see.
“Come in,” I called as Desiree walked in.
Her eyes were wide as she handed me an envelope.
“What is it?”
“I think I have an idea, but I need you to open it.”
I frowned, but I pulled the gold envelope from her hand and nearly dropped it.
“Elite? Wait, what day is it?”
“It’s the day you think it is,” Desiree answered.
I quickly opened the envelope. Odd that they would send letters like this rather than emails or phone calls.
Because I knew what day it was and exactly what this should be.
Lake Montgomery, we invite you to the Elite 40 Under 40 retreat of the year. You are our 40 Under 40. CEOs who have set an example for the world and are our future.
RSVP.
There was more information, but I just stared at her.
“I can’t, seriously? How is that even possible?”
“You know how that’s possible. You are the best boss ever and are Elite.”
“I just can’t believe they picked me. I mean, I do kick ass. We kick ass,” I emphasized as I looked between us both, and Desiree beamed.
“Well, you kick ass, and I know you’re thinking about the fact that there’s only ever been a handful of women invited.”
“Bingo,” I mouthed. “There’s probably what, one or two women each year for how many years now? I can’t believe I’m one of them. I can’t believe I just said that as if that’s a good thing,” I growled.
“It is a good thing. You can’t say no to this. You have to go.”
I nodded tightly. “I know I do. It’s good for the company. It’s good for our future. It’s good for the women that I can help. And hell, I guess it’s good for me.”
Desiree grinned, talking a mile a minute, as I looked down at the invitation again and looked at what I had missed the first go-around.
Lake Montgomery plus one.
As in, I needed to bring someone with me.
And I couldn’t go by myself, not as a woman, to a male-oriented event. And not as a woman who most recently hid from the world because she hadn’t been able to see the monster beneath.
And I had no one to take. No one because I wanted no one.
I had made the wrong choice before, and I wasn’t going to do it again.
But I couldn’t go alone. Not to something like this.
And once again, I felt like a fraud.
Because a Montgomery would know what to do.
Chapter 2
Nick
“Hey, Nick, do you want coffee? I’m craving something sweet. And I need the boost.”
I nodded and looked over at my fellow tattoo artist, Leo. “Coffee sounds good.”
“What do you want? The usual? Or something spicy?”
I shuddered and glared over at Leo. “Is spicy coffee a thing? Is this what the kids are doing these days?”
Sebastian, my co-owner of Montgomery Ink Legacy and friend, snorted. “I don’t think the kids these days are making spicy coffee. I’m just imagining some form of hot sauce in coffee just to see if they can handle it.”
I shuddered. “I don’t think that’s for me.”
“Actually, you can put cayenne pepper in coffee. I’ve had Mexican mocha coffee, and a Moroccan spiced coffee that’s pretty decent,” Brooke, my friend’s girl said as she looked over a stack of papers she was grading. She was here visiting Leif, my fellow co-owner, best friend, and blood brother.
“Well, now I want to try all of that,” Leo said. “But I don’t think we’re going to get it at the café at the corner.”
Sebastian looked down at his phone. “This says you can make it with a rich blend of coffee, cream, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper.”
Scowling, my stomach rumbled. “Damn it. Now I want to try it. And we’re not going to find it at that place.”
“I bet Hailey would have it at Taboo,” Brooke added helpfully.
Liam walked in and kissed the top of her head. “We need her to franchise as well. That way she can put in a shop next to us. I got spoiled downtown.”
I frowned, wrote down a few notes. “I wonder why she hasn’t franchised. Or your aunt and uncle down in Colorado Springs who have that bakery. They do coffee too, right?”