He Lost Me to His Best Friend novel Chapter 999

Sean burst into a fit of laughter, throwing his arm around his companion's shoulders as they swaggered off together. They were entirely oblivious to the black SUV that quietly slipped into traffic right behind their taxi.

-

Scarlett and Julian arrived at the trendy new restaurant. Almost the second they sat down, Julian's phone rang. It was Irvin.

"Julian, my guys tracked him to an old, rundown neighborhood on the east side of the city. It looks like he's crashing there for now. He's got a buddy with him, and they seem pretty tight. We got photos, but no clear shots of the friend's face yet. I'm sending them over now. Since this looks like his home base, you want us to set up a stakeout?"

"Leave one guy there," Julian instructed smoothly. "Monitor him for the next few days. I want to know exactly who he's meeting with. And if he makes a move toward La Belle Nuit or the Magnolia Villa, make sure your guys alert us immediately."

Over the line, Irvin could faintly hear the elegant jazz music playing in the background. "Got it. Wait, what's that music? Where did you take my sister-in-law this time?"

Julian chuckled. "That viral place you recommended. Just checking it off the list."

Irvin groaned in exaggerated jealousy. "Must be nice! You two are living the dream, just floating through life like some perfect power couple. Meanwhile, I'm chained to my desk, practically dying for the company. When are you two going to start caring about my feelings?"

Scarlett leaned over and spoke into the phone. "Irvin, I'm doubling your bonus this month. Also, tell everyone I'm treating the entire office to afternoon tea today."

Irvin instantly burst out laughing. "Are you serious?! See, this is why you're my favorite! Just a heads-up though, we've got nearly a thousand employees now. You sure about this?"

Julian gave a helpless shrug. "It's the way we were raised. The family drills a very specific mindset into us from day one, which kind of leaves a blind spot when it comes to romance. He and I were both put through a ridiculously strict curriculum. It was all about academics, and then straight into the corporate meat grinder. Anything involving dating always felt like a massive waste of time. I used to think the exact same way... Crofts just have this innate, obsessive urgency about time."

Scarlett understood that feeling perfectly. She had always run her life on a militaristic schedule. Even during her marriage to Yardley, she had never allowed herself a single moment of slack. Her calendar had always been packed, regimented down to the exact hour of every single day. She had lived like a machine for years.

Back when she worked at Flynn Group, she rarely made a mistake and was infamous for catching other people's errors instantly. That ruthless efficiency was why she commanded so much respect. It was the reason her former employees still worshipped the ground she walked on.

But these past few months, since marrying Julian, had been the most relaxed, peaceful period of her entire life.