A storm of secrets

The phone buzzed in my hand like a warning bell, slicing through the quiet intimacy of the flower shop.

Lorenzo watched me carefully, his expression unreadable. "Trouble?"

I glanced at him, then back at the message from Piper: "Call me. Now." My gut twisted. Piper was many things—cheerful, impulsive, and occasionally dramatic—but she wouldn't send a text like that unless something was seriously wrong.

"Give me a second," I muttered, already dialing her number.

Piper picked up on the first ring, her voice sharp and panicked. "Lila, you need to get down here. It's bad."

"What's bad?"

She hesitated, as if trying to find the right words. "The development team. They're starting to demo the lot next to you. The one they've been arguing about."

"What?" My heart sank. "But the board said they'd reconsider—"

"I don't think they're waiting for the board's decision," she interrupted. "They've got equipment out there. Bulldozers, Lila. They're moving fast."

I froze, the weight of her words pressing down on me. This was exactly what I'd feared—Hayes Enterprises or their partners pushing forward without regard for the shop, the community, or even their own processes.

Lorenzo's voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. "What's going on?"

I met his gaze, anger simmering beneath the surface. "They're tearing down the lot next door."

His brows furrowed, and in an instant, he was on his feet, phone in hand. "I'll handle it."

"No," I snapped, surprising even myself. "This isn't something you can just fix with a phone call, Lorenzo. I need to see it for myself."

For a moment, he hesitated, his expression torn between frustration and understanding. Then he nodded. "I'm coming with you."

*****

The lot next to Petals & Posies had been empty for years—a patch of overgrown weeds and cracked asphalt, waiting for someone to decide its fate. But when I arrived with Lorenzo in tow, it was unrecognizable.

Bright floodlights illuminated the area, turning night into day. A chain-link fence surrounded the perimeter, and beyond it, construction vehicles roared to life. Men in hard hats barked orders, their voices lost beneath the grinding of machinery.

Piper was waiting near the edge of the fence, her arms crossed and her face flushed with frustration. She waved us over as soon as she spotted me.

"They started about an hour ago," she said, her words tumbling out in a rush. "No warning, no permits posted, nothing. They're just going for it."

I turned to Lorenzo. "Do you know about this?"

His jaw tightened. "No. I would've stopped it if I did."

"Then who gave the order?"

Before he could answer, a sharp voice called out from behind us.

"Well, well. If it isn't the queen of the flower shop."

I turned to see a man striding toward us, his tailored suit out of place among the chaos. He was younger than I expected, with slicked-back hair and a smug grin that set my teeth on edge.

"And you must be Lorenzo Hayes," he added, glancing at Lorenzo with a thinly veiled smirk. "I've heard a lot about you."

Lorenzo's expression darkened. "Marcus."

"Wait," I said, putting the pieces together. "You know him?"

"Marcus Steele," Lorenzo said curtly. "He's head of acquisitions for one of our subsidiary companies. Apparently, he's taken it upon himself to act without consulting me."

Marcus spread his arms in mock innocence. "What can I say? Time is money. The board won't wait forever for a decision, so I thought I'd expedite the process."

"You thought wrong," Lorenzo snapped. "Shut it down. Now."

Marcus raised an eyebrow. "You don't have the authority to—"

"I own Hayes Enterprises," Lorenzo interrupted, his voice cold as ice. "Do you really want to test me on this?"

For a moment, Marcus hesitated, his bravado faltering. Then he smiled, the kind of smile that made my skin crawl.

"Fine," he said, gesturing toward the machinery. "But this delay is going to cost us. I hope you're ready to explain that to the board."

Lorenzo didn't flinch. "Leave. Now."

Marcus held up his hands in mock surrender, but there was something in his eyes—a glint of triumph that made my stomach churn.

As he walked away, Lorenzo pulled out his phone and began dialing.

"Who are you calling?" I asked.

"Legal," he replied, his tone clipped. "This ends tonight."

*****

It took nearly an hour for the machinery to stop, for the workers to pack up their tools and leave the lot in silence. By the time it was over, I was emotionally drained, my nerves frayed.

Lorenzo and I stood by the fence, watching the last of the vehicles disappear into the night.

"Thank you," I said quietly.

He glanced at me, his expression softening. "You don't have to thank me, Lila. This shouldn't have happened in the first place."

"But it did," I said, my voice cracking. "And if you hadn't been here..."

"Stop," he said firmly. "You don't have to carry this alone. I told you—I'm in this with you."

I stared at him, my heart aching with a mix of gratitude and something deeper, something I couldn't quite name.

"Lorenzo..."

He stepped closer, his gray eyes locking onto mine. For a moment, the world around us seemed to fade, the chaos and the noise replaced by a quiet intensity that stole my breath.

And then his phone buzzed, shattering the moment.

He cursed under his breath, glancing at the screen. "It's the board. I need to take this."

I nodded, forcing a smile. "Go. I'll be fine."

As he stepped away, I turned back toward the shop, my mind racing. Tonight had been a victory, but it didn't feel like one. Marcus's smug grin haunted me, a reminder that this fight was far from over.

*****

I was closing up the shop when the doorbell jingled, startling me.

"Sorry, we're closed—" I began, but the words died on my lips when I saw who it was.

Marcus Steele.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I demanded, my heart pounding.

He smirked, leaning casually against the doorframe. "Relax, flower girl. I'm not here to cause trouble. Just thought we should have a little chat."

I folded my arms, glaring at him. "I have nothing to say to you."

"Fair enough," he said, stepping inside anyway. "But you might want to hear what I have to say."

I stayed silent, my instincts screaming at me to kick him out. But curiosity got the better of me.

"You think Lorenzo Hayes is your knight in shining armor," Marcus said, his tone mocking. "But you don't know him like I do."

"Enlighten me," I said coolly.

He smiled, a predator's smile. "Lorenzo has a habit of getting what he wants, no matter the cost. And right now, what he wants is you."

My stomach turned. "Get out."

"Think about it," Marcus said, ignoring me. "Why would a billionaire care about some tiny flower shop? It's not about the community, sweetheart. It's about you."

I clenched my fists, anger rising in my chest. "Lorenzo is ten times the man you'll ever be. So whatever game you're playing, it won't work."

Marcus's grin widened. "We'll see."

With that, he turned and walked out, leaving me shaken and furious.

*****

When Lorenzo returned, I told him everything—about Marcus's visit, his thinly veiled threats, and his attempts to undermine our fight.

Lorenzo's expression darkened with every word, his jaw tightening in barely restrained fury.

"He's overstepped," he said finally. "I'll deal with him."

"Lorenzo," I said, my voice trembling. "What if he's right? What if..."

"Stop," he said, stepping closer. "Don't let him get in your head, Lila. He's trying to scare you, to make you doubt me. Don't give him that power."

I wanted to believe him, to trust that his intentions were pure. But a seed of doubt had been planted, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake it.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "Why do you care so much?"

He hesitated, his eyes searching mine. Then he reached out, brushing a strand of hair from my face.

"Because you're worth it," he said softly.

For a moment, I believed him. But deep down, I knew this was just the beginning.

The fight was far from over.