Ex Cried as I Wed a Tycoon

"Nita? Nita, are you still there?" Effie called into her phone several times, but Nita's voice never came back.

Her grandmother looked over, concern creasing her face. "Effie, what's wrong?"

"Nita dropped her phone-I'm going to look for her, see what happened," Effie replied, grabbing her jacket.

Her grandmother cautioned, "Be careful. If anything feels off, get out of there right away."

Effie chuckled as she pulled on her shoes. "So you're telling me to act like a scared little turtle and hide if there's trouble?"

Her grandmother shot her a look, lips twitching at the corners. "Better to be called a coward than to end up hurt. Nothing is more important than your life."

"Fair point. After all these years under your influence, I must've inherited your survivor's instincts. I'm all about self-preservation," Effie teased.

Her grandmother couldn't help but laugh, giving Effie a playful nudge. "You and that smart mouth of yours."

Effie grinned and called back, “I'll be back before you know it, Grandma." "Alright, take care."

clicked shut, her grandmother's smile faded. She fumbled for her glasses, quickly dialing Lyman's

the road long when

glimpse of movement in the mirror and tensed—until Vinson rolled down his window,

greeted her, "Hey Effie, fancy running into

bother with pleasantries. "You two aren't fooling

told us to keep an eye on you, so here

as I find her, I'm heading

of Nita wiped the smile from Vinson's face. "She got herself mixed up

was out looking

deal, huh? She's already a manager does she really need more money? How

you so worked up? Do you have a thing for her

give me a

of the et

to her, I lose

have someone so driven on your team? What's there to