Lost in Paradise (Paradise Club #2)(46)

“What happens if you know the fucker?” Jasper asks while stealing some fries from my plate.

“Guess we’ll find out when we come to it,” Nate states seriously as he puts his phone down and bites into his burger.





A couple of hours later, my brother is knocking on my villa door.

“I found the fucker,” he states with a smile on his face as he storms into my villa. “Steve Holdsworth.”

That motherfucker.

His family’s company, Holdsworth & Sons, is one of our major competitors in the property development industry. His father is an architect, and his mother is an interior designer. His older brother diversified into property investments and likes to use underhanded tactics to make sure they are the winners. The brother, Kevin, was the man my ex, Claire, was sleeping with and selling our secrets to. It’s not surprising that Ivy’s ex treated her badly because he comes from a family of assholes who have no value on human life unless they can get something out of it.

“We going to take this guy down?” Nate asks.

“Fuck, yeah. We need to do some digging. We’re going to have to play the long game. I want his fucking business head on a fucking stick.” I sneer, staring down at Steve’s photo.

“Want me to leave this with you? I have fucking Harris Edwards to deal with. He’s Camryn’s ex,” my brother fumes.

“That douche from school?” I ask, the name seeming vaguely familiar.

“Same fucking one. He was dating Camryn while getting her to organize his fucking engagement party!” These Starr girls sure know how to pick dickheads. “He’s still creeping around, and I don’t like it. She’s mine now. He fucked-up. He knows Camryn was the best thing that ever happened to him, and now he wants her back. That fucker’s not getting her,” he states angrily.

“It’s crazy how these two girls are so linked to us, but we’ve never met them.”

“Camryn’s business partner is Sam Rose’s sister’s best friend,” Nate tells me, which blows my mind.

“And you’ve never met her before working with her?” I ask.

“No. I’ve been in Europe and only recently ventured back to the States. Probably wouldn’t have been ready for her then anyway,” he tells me.

“And you think you are now?” I ask, surprised by his words.

“I can never be in this job. She’s the closest to something substantial, even if it’s not on a permanent basis, that I’ve ever come across,” he confesses. He’s never fought for a woman before, never cared if an ex has done her wrong, never cared enough to find out who the hell her ex was. He’s not confessing monogamy, but I guess it’s his version of it.

“If you have found a woman who’s accepting of your business and your life, then she’s a keeper.”

“Thanks,” he says, clapping me on the back. “And you think Ivy is someone you want to pursue?”

“Yeah. I’d even settle to being friends if that is all she wants from me. I like her company.”

“There’s something about the Starr sisters, isn’t there?” My brother chuckles before telling me, “Okay, I need to leave. Catch you later, Alex.”





Later that night, my phone begins ringing, and I look down to see Ivy’s name stretched across the screen. So I quickly pick it up and answer her call. “Hey, you made it.”

“I did. And it’s pouring rain, freezing cold, and dark. I miss the sun already,” she grumbles down the line, which has my mouth twitching into a smile. “Also, I was calling because when I arrived home, there was a bouquet of stunning flowers on my front doorstep. Alex, they’re so gorgeous. Thank you. You didn’t have to, though.”

“I knew coming home would be sad. So I wanted to put a smile on your face,” I tell her.

“You did, thank you.”

“I’m glad you made it home safe. I should be home in a couple of days. Something’s come up at work, but I would love to catch up next week if you’re around?” I ask.

“I’d like that. I’ll check my calendar when I get to work on Monday and let you know. Now the holiday season is over, projects will be back on, and I know I have a couple of big ones,” she explains her life to me.

“Don’t stress. Even if it’s lunch at your desk, I’m okay with that.”

There’s silence on the phone for a couple of moments.

“I’d like that. Anyway, my shower and bed are calling me. Chat soon, and again, thank you so much for my flowers.”

“Night, Ivy.”





18





IVY





“Ivy, I had to let him go,” Olivia cries down the phone line to me. She and Axel got into a fight, and Olivia basically chose her family over her love for him. She chose to disregard her heart and went with her head. No, not even her head because in her mind, she knows it’s nothing but stupidity marrying Eddie to make her father happy.

When is she going to be happy?

I love my girl, but I think she’s making stupid decisions—unfortunately, she won’t listen to reason. She’s in a spiral and doesn’t know how to get out of it. As far as I am concerned, it’s pretty easy—call off the damn wedding. Maybe because I didn’t grow up with family, my loyalties to them are not there. I’d do anything for my sister, so I guess in some ways, I get it.