Ex Cried as I Wed a Tycoon

Lyman couldn't help but laugh in exasperation. Was it really that strange if he wasn't into celebrities?

"I'm a fan, too, you know," Lyman said.

Effie gave him a curious look, clearly intrigued. She wondered, who could Lyman possibly be a fan of?

"Who is it?" Effie pressed, her eyes sparkling with interest.

Lyman's gaze lingered on her for a moment, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. "That's a secret," he answered slowly.

Effie pouted. "Fine, keep your secrets."

"Are you mad at me?" Lyman teased, pinching her cheek. He just couldn't resist; her face was so soft, so tempting to touch.

Effie shook her head, feigning annoyance. This guy-he was getting bolder the more familiar they became.

"No, I'm not mad."

"Someday, I'll tell you," Lyman promised, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Alright," she agreed easily.

As soon as Effie returned to the office, Shirley slipped in, glancing around as if expecting someone to jump out at her. "Effie, thank goodness you two didn't get caught! I was on the verge of a heart attack back there!"

"Thanks for covering for me," Effie replied gratefully.

a coffee,"

you, Your Majesty, for

get lost!" Effie

Effie got a call from Nita inviting her and

mock-offended, "Do I need an excuse to take my friends out? Are we even friends if

we're friends," Effie replied

continued, “But tonight is a friends-only dinner, okay? Leave your

couldn't shake the feeling that there was

expect Nita to choose Angelo's, the same restaurant Lyman had taken her to the day

place?" Effie

looked surprised. "Wait, you've been here

known Effie for years, Nita could read her friend's thoughts with just a

Lyman

dramatically, "If I'd known, I would've asked you to book the table. I wasted

favor?" Effie echoed. "What kind of

darted away, clearly not wanting to elaborate. "Oh, I'll tell you next time. It's a long

Just then, Maurice arrived.

was packed, with people lining

bundled up enough that nobody seemed to recognize him

I'm a friend of Mr. Elliott. We spoke

us know you'd be coming," the