Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
“I’m sorry, baby. I need to run into the office. Mom and Chloe should be gone by the time you arrive at the house. You’ll be in the east wing. The staff will get you settled. I’ll be there as soon as I put out this fire.”
“Wait, I’m going to your home I’ve never been to before alone. The home your daughter and mother I never met are in,” she says with wide eyes.
“Yes, it will be fine. They’re going shopping. You can move in, and I’ll be there before they arrive.”
“Fine.” She rolls her eyes and her shoulders sag. “I’ll be fine.”
I can’t for the life of me catch a break. I’m not trying to ruin any chance I have at fixing things with her. However, it seems like the Universe is hell-bent on making me work for this.
“I’ll make this up to you. I promise.”
She doesn’t reply and at this point, I honestly don’t expect her to. I have to go. Words aren’t going to mend any of this. I have to go.
I run a hand through my hair and reach into my pocket for the ring she still hasn’t placed on her finger. I move over to the seat she’s flopped in and kneel before her. I purchased this ring the day after deciding to pursue this route.
“I need one more favor. I need you to wear your engagement ring. Remember, we’re doing this for a reason. My father is still holding an engagement over my head.”
She frowns but holds out her hand for me to place the ring on her finger. I sigh in relief and slide the ring into place. This is the easiest I’ve breathed in weeks. The ring looks right there.
I suddenly have new hope. Knowing my ring is on her finger gives me a new determination.
Chapter 23
Hello
Chloe
I’ve called myself a million different kinds of a fool. Each one attached to a dollar. I don’t know what I’m doing. I’ve questioned if I’m even doing it for the money.
My mind is so jumbled. Everything is happening so quickly. One minute we were in the hotel suite. The next Brodi convinced me to move into his home here in Dubai.
I know I’ve lost it. I should have stayed right in that suite. However, seeing the distress in his eyes. It tugged at something inside of me.
Apparently, his little girl is having a hard time without her mother or father. I’m not a bitch. I know this has to be hard on her. I was much older than she is when I lost my mom, and it was confusing for me and Ally.
Brodi looked like it was tearing him in two to have to decide who to take care of first. I would never make him choose between us. Which is the only reason I’m here.
The sound of voices heading my way reaches my ears as I try to shuffle through the house with the butler who’s carrying my things. The voices are ahead of us. Brodi said I’d be in the east wing away from his mother and daughter.
The problem is, we need to get to that wing. The two were supposed to be out shopping when I arrived. From the sound of the voices, that’s definitely a woman and small child.
I grind my teeth wanting to strangle Brodi. He had to run off to handle some business at the last minute. Again, he looked as if he were torn between a rock and a hard place. I told him I’d be fine. Now, I’m not so sure.
A woman and a small girl turn the corner and I lock eyes with little green ones. She’s Brodi’s. I have no question about that. Her sweet chubby cheeks give her a cherub look.
She runs over to me and wraps around my leg. I’m stunned. She’s holding on to me so tightly; you would think she knows me.
“Chloe, honey,” the woman says.
“Yes,” the little girl and I say in unison.
The little girl’s voice comes out in a small whisper as she looks over her shoulder, still clinging to me. I close my eyes. I forgot for just a moment that we share a name. Once again, I don’t understand Brodi. Yet, I do.
“Oh, my. You’re Chloe. Well, we’re going to have to do something about this,” the woman says as she purses her lips. She shakes her head. “That son of mine.”
“You can call me Cee if that helps,” I say the words without thinking.
The woman’s eyes light up. She moves forward and pulls me into an embrace. I’m taken aback.
“It’s very nice to meet you,” she says warmly. “You’re more beautiful than my son described. No wonder he’s so in love.”
I ignore her words as I look down at the ring on my finger. Brodi put it there this morning before he left. It feels like it weighs a ton as I stand here.