Lost in Paradise (Paradise Club #2)(84)

“You’re probably right.”

“Any news yet on the takedown?” Alistair questions.

“Couple of months at least … damn paperwork,” I declare.

“I can’t wait to see their faces when they realize that Lewis & Co. now own them.” Alistair smirks.

It is going to be a great day and one I will relish in every single second.





32





IVY





“Miss Starr, thank you so much for coming down to the station.” The female detective smiles. “I understand how hard this is for you, and you’re brave coming in here to talk today. You’re here to file a Restraining Order regarding your ex?” the police officer asks.

“Yes,” I answer softly, my hands are shaking at what I’m about to do.

“And, you have all the information and evidence regarding the harassment?”

“I do. It’s all in here,” I tell her, handing over photographs and receipts. Thankfully, I know the owner of the florist, and once I told her that the person who was sending me flowers from her shop was my ex and that he was harassing me, they sent over the evidence of credit card payments, which should be enough to get a restraining order. I also kept the card he wrote after attacking me and have handed that in as well. I gave them footage from my security camera, which I had installed on my front door, just for this reason. I was worried he might find me, so I made sure I would have the evidence I needed. The security footage shows him delivering the flowers, and at other times, he’s simply sitting in his car watching my home. A shiver went through my whole body when I realized he’d been watching me like that. I’m hoping that this package of information is enough to be the end of it. To hopefully scare the asshole enough never to come near me again.

I started going to therapy every day for the past week, and my psychologist is helping me work through the five years of mental abuse I had suffered under Steve. I probably should have gone to one the first time, but I was so thankful to be free that I never bothered. And I managed to bury it all so deeply that I never realized it was all still simmering on the surface. I know it’s the reason why I haven’t dealt with it all.

We also discussed my mother and the trauma of being pushed aside for a man. The sense of never being good enough. That I never felt loved. That my mother always pushed me away when I became inconvenient, which caused me to be attracted to men who treated me the same way.

Till Alex.

We’ve touched on my relationship with Alex briefly, but I think that might be one of next week’s tasks.

Liv is back from America, and I haven’t seen her since she called off her wedding, and I need something to distract me from my own life. She’s brought Axel, her rock star boyfriend, home to meet the family properly, and I’m dying to know what the hell happened. Oh, to be a fly on the wall for THAT conversation.

The doorbell rings, and I squeal with delight.

“Livvy,” I scream. “Oh my god, I have missed you so much,” I tell her as I wrap my arms around her tightly. Gosh, it’s good to see her again, and she looks like she’s glowing.

“I’ve missed you too.”

“Come, come … I have canapés and champagne. We have so much to catch up on.” I usher her in to my living room as the doorbell rings. “Coming,” I call out and squeal when I see Isla Erickson standing before me. What on earth is she doing here? Not that I care, I love Isla, she’s the nicest woman. “Welcome, welcome,” I say, telling her to come in.

“Isla!” Olivia squeals as she rushes over and gives her a firm hug. “I am so happy to see you. I’m so sorry I missed you leaving.”

Isla waves her hand. “Please, you had a lot going on. But I am incredibly happy that you and Axel are finally together.”

“Thank you. It took me a while to work it all out, but I’m so glad I did.” Olivia smiles.

The girls sit in the living room, and I grab the champagne and pop the cork.

“Just water for me today,” Isla states.

Olivia and I look at each other over her shoulder because that’s strange for her to say no to champagne.

“Hangover,” she declares.

I take a seat and raise my glass high. “Cheers to Liv and love.” We all clink our glasses and settle back into the soft couches.

“So, how did things go with the parents?” I ask.

Olivia rolls her eyes. “Penny and Eddie were there.”

I choke on my champagne, and it bubbles out of my mouth. “No way. Really? Gosh, how did that go?”

“As you could imagine, swimmingly. Axel stood up for me and basically scolded Penny for one of her snide comments about me.”

“He’s a good guy, Axel,” Isla adds.

“That he is. Surprisingly, my father had my back as well.”

“Really?” Shocked over hearing this, I continue with, “Well, it’s about time.”

“He told Penny that she needed to join the family business.” I choke on my drink again. “Yes, that went down like a lead balloon. Of course, mother took Penny’s side, but father wouldn’t hear of it. He told her that she would be moving into the village just down from the estate. He also asked me to teach Eddie about the business side of running an estate as he’d be taking over his own family’s estate one day soon, but his father believes he’s not quite ready.”