{Last time on Suds, Shantel sang praises to God loud enough for everyone at JD's party to hear and got up out of there. Sylus blocked her path and our friend didn't seem like she had moved on as much as we thought.

Meanwhile, Terrance and Lique were the absolute cutest. Then he called off the wedding and Nette-zilla turned all they way up, flooding Lique's messages with Terrance's naughtiest extracurricular activities.

Where is all of this dirt coming from? Say it with me. Ready, Set... Suds!!}

~

SHANTEL walked into the exclusive restaurant, glad that she had time to freshen up at home prior to meeting the real estate developer.

Her phone rang. She found a quiet corner and answered.
"Is it an emergency?"

Terrance huffed. "Let me talk to Lique."
"Unfortunately, I can't play operator now. I'm heading into a meeting."

"She ain't answering her phone," he panicked. "And why do you keep leaving her alone?"

"I have to work," she snapped, then trained her voice low, struggling to keep her cool. "And maybe you haven't noticed, but I am not her warden."

"Maybe not, but I thought you were her friend."
"Where is this coming from?"
"Would it have killed you to send me a text that she went to Art's alone?"

Shantel pushed a manicured hand through her hair. "I did text you."

"What? Hold on." The line quieted. "I don't see any messages from you."

Shantel shook her head. "Just a minute." She toggled to her text messages and sent a screen shot of the conversation. "I just sent the thread."

"Thread?" he mumbled, sorting through his phone.

Shantel smiled at the hostess and held up a finger. "I'll be there in a moment."

Terrance grumbled.
"See?" Shantel rubbed his nose in the evidence. "There was a whole back and forth with someone I thought was you."

"My bad," he said.
"Right." Shantel snipped. "I have to go."

She dropped the phone in her handbag and greeted the hostess.
"Shantel Frazier."

"Good evening, Ms. Frazier," the hostess said. "Please follow me to your table."

~

SYLUS couldn't believe it was her.

Shantel followed the hostess through the the open dining area, studded with celebrities, then down the hall toward to the VIP dining room. She was supposed to be at a meeting. Why was she here?

He battled to control himself.
Then his earpiece buzzed.
"This got interesting," John mused.

Sylus tensed, holding back the curse he wanted to release. "I need a visual. Who is she meeting?"

"Never took you for the jealous type, Pops," John teased, more than Sylus could stand. "Fox C," John said. "We need eyes on the sweet hot chocolate the hostess is escorting to the back."

"I'd call her a mocha latte," the woman toyed. "Definitely out of your league, Pops."

Sylus gritted his teeth. "Who is she meeting?"

Fox C gasped. "Mocha Latte is having dinner with the Target." Like bricks, the confirmation he dreaded floored him.

The world stopped and foul language peppered the wire. Sylus rushed through the dining room. "I gotta get her out of there."

Intensity rang through the line. "Negative," John said. "You'll blow your cover. We'll never get a shot at this guy again."

Sylus turned off his earpiece, grabbed an idle busboy cart and barged into the VIP dining area.

Fox C looked up from her menu at Sylus and smirked. "Here comes lover boy."

John sighed, "Be ready, Fox C."

She grinned. "I'm always ready."

~

SHANTEL followed the hostess down a hall that opened into another dining area with booths and tables spread further apart.

The hostess led her to a table with a breathtaking view of the city and the lake. The view stole her attention and before she could help herself, a delighted smile gushed.

"Smart and beautiful," a man said from the table, overlooking the gorgeous view.

Shantel recognized the voice. Her smile dwindled and her gaze trailed the possibility until they found Mr. Montgomery's empty smile.

Shantel spun around and scanned the area, searching for the hostess. She was gone.
"There must be an error," Shantel said.

His tongue slithered along his bottom teeth. "There's no mistake, Ms. Frazier. I went through great efforts to share this table with you tonight." He gestured at her seat. "Please sit."

"I appreciate the invitation, but I have a meeting."

Mr. Montgomery walked around the table. His spicy fragrance made her stomach turn and she looked away.

Dismissing her refusal, the tall man pulled out her chair. "Your meeting is with me," he said. "I am The Luxe Firm."

Her brows flew up. "I didn't realize."
"How could you?" He assessed her from head to toe. "I operate behind the scenes. Very few people are given an opportunity to share a meal with me. "Please." A demand crouched inside polite tone. "Sit."

Her stomach churned as she sorted through her options. Then Shantel sat, clasping her hands on her lap.

Mr. Montgomery returned to his seat, across from hers. "I hope you don't mind, I took the liberty of ordering for you."

"That's bold considering you don't know my preferences."
"We did a little research. I'm certain you won't be disappointed."

Shantel glanced around the room, memorizing the exits.

Two servers appeared, placed fancy plates of unrecognizable flood on the table, and left without a word. If she had blinked, she would have thought the food magically appeared.

"I heard a great deal about you from my daughter," Mr. Montgomery said.

"That's odd considering we don't know each other."

The man appraised Shantel, then picked up his fork.
"Nettie has a knack for unearthing precious commodities, if you will. Sees the hidden value. You should be flattered."

Shantel kept her poker face in tact. "It's hard to be flattered when you're winnowed down to a resource rather than a person."

He clapped his hands. "There's that spin I've heard so much about. From compliment to insult in five seconds flat." His eyes danced. "Hidden value indeed.

The man made her uneasy. She mulled over his thinly veiled threat against Lique and planned her exit.

Mr. Montgomery slid a large envelope across the table. "I want you to consider this."

Shantel picked up the envelope and quickly scanned through the pages. "What percentage of this number would be my commission?"

A grimy smile spread across his face. "One hundred percent."
Shantel choked on air and patted her chest to stop her coughing fit.
"Pardon me?"

Mr. Montgomery sat back, donning a satisfied smile. "I pride myself on presenting offers that are difficult to refuse."

Shantel stuffed the papers back inside the envelope. "I need to visit the ladies room," she said, pushing away from the table.

"Of course."

Shantel clicked through the dining room, following signs to the restroom. She pushed open a swinging door. Then Sylus covered her mouth and pulled her inside an empty vestibule.

~

Pressing her against the wall, SYLUS hid his face from the swinging vestibule door and the ladies room.

He peeled his hand away from her mouth. "You need to leave now."

"Did you follow me?"
Urgency edged in his tone. "I never would have let you come here."
Shantel smirked. "I do not require your permission."

Sylus followed her defiant glare. "Leave the money on the table and walk away from these people. They ain't no good."
She scoffed, pulling away from him. "Neither are you."

Sylus pinned her against the wall, trying not to lose focus although touching her and breathing her honey sweet air gave him other ideas.

He gulped and shook off his desires.
"They're under investigation."

Shantel stopped resisting, searching his eyes for the truth. "I can take care of myself."

"Tel," he plead. "They will drop the bag in your hands and put it all on you."

She swallowed hard.

"Please." His voice cracked. "Go home."

She wavered.
Then Sylus rested his forehead on hers. "I need you to go home." Her heart beat against his chest and each of her breaths called him closer.

Sylus heard someone approach and raised his voice as the vestibule door swung open. "Please take me back," he said.

~

SHANTEL fought to regain control of herself, hating that his touch woke every emotion she had blocked.

"Tel," he said an octave louder. "I love you."

Her breath caught. She knew it was his cover, but the sincerity in his eyes tugged her heart.
"Stop," she whispered.

Holding her closer, he seized the moment. "Please," he begged. "I need you in my life."

His acting was too real. She had to get away, but like a fool, she got lost in wet of his eyes. And the futile hope she held onto all these years grew.

A feather light kiss touched her lips.
She leaned into the kiss, then turned away.

He squeezed her closer and kissed her unresponsive lips again, lulling her outside of herself.

Her eyes closed and Shantel let the moment have her, melting the frozen cage encapsulating her heart.

~

She kissed him back. Shocked, SYLUS poured every apology and promise he could muster into the woman he desperately wanted a life with. The woman he threw away. The woman he wanted to kiss everyday for the rest of his life.

He ran his fingers through her hair, kissing her deeper, drenching her in unspoken promises he'd die before breaking.

This woman was everything he never deserved. And if this was the last time he kissed her, he'd place every moment he wished they could have shared inside this kiss.

~

SHANTEL was woozy. Her world spun and her heart pounded at an irrational rate.

His strong arms hugged her closer still, pulling her into the place she swore never to revisit. And she hated that she still loved him.

Somehow, she eased out of his hold, dropped her gaze and made herself walk away.

"Tel," he called from behind. "I'm sorry."

Ice solidified around her heart again. She found her bearings and walked away.

She went back to the table, but barely acknowledged Mr. Montgomery. Distracted, she tapped the envelope.

"Everything alright?" Mr. Montgomery asked.
Shantel nodded. "Yes, of course." Then her gaze darted around the restaurant.

"Looking for someone?"
Shantel's stare returned to the large envelope. "No. Definitely not." Then she rubbed her head. "Thanks for dinner," she said. "I have to get up early tomorrow."

"You haven't touched your meal."
She stared at the orchestrated assortment on her plate. "I don't have much of an appetite."

"Looks more like an old flame got you hot and bothered."

Her face paled and she cursed Sylus for taking her off of her game. Shantel lifted a glass of water to her lips, then put it back on the table. "You're not following me, are you?"

"I tend to keep track of my assets."

"Resource. Asset." A tired smile touched her lips. "I have had a long day, sir."

"My daughter has had some man trouble herself," Mr. Montgomery continued. "She thought love was more important than strategic alliances. Of course, he broke her heart. As all beloveds do. And in the end, that heartbreak was never worth the pain."

She looked up at him, considering his words.

Mr. Montgomery placed his napkin on the table and leaned back.
"First loves become expensive, time robbing divorces," he said. "And in the end, that flame becomes a raging fire that dies down and leaves you with nothing but a broken heart."

Shantel swallowed.

"If he's apologizing," he continued. "You're already in the fire. Like my daughter, I hope you'll close yourself rather than the inevitable."

Shantel stood. "Thank you for dinner."

{Stay tuned: Bonus episode coming later today.}

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