Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 133321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 667(@200wpm)___ 533(@250wpm)___ 444(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 667(@200wpm)___ 533(@250wpm)___ 444(@300wpm)
“I need to know how you ended up with him, Mia.” He looks at me, those green eyes turbulent, and yet unreadable. “I didn’t think I needed to know, but I do.”
Chapter twenty-one
Mia
Idon’t deny Grayson his request. If he wants to know how I ended up working for Ri, I’ll tell him. I want him to know. I need him to know. I move out of the chair we’re sharing and sit on the ottoman in front of him. And I go back in time, taking him there with me…
Two weeks and seven pounds lost since Grayson and I split, I stand at the window of my new apartment, watching rain pound the Manhattan streets. I should be relieved to have this place, considering it came fully furnished, with a one-year lease, and a fabulous price, but it’s just so damn empty, like I am right now. I miss Grayson so much and every time he calls I just want to talk to him, but I miss him too much to do that right now. I’ll believe anything he says. I need to believe he’s innocent, but every time I travel down that rabbit hole, I wake up from a nightmare involving him and Becky’s stupid naked breasts.
My cellphone rings and I walk to the basic wooden kitchen table in the corner of the loft-style space and grab my phone to find my father calling. “Honey, you haven’t been out to see me in weeks.”
“I know. Sorry. It’s been crazy.”
“You and your billionaire fiancé are up to fun things, I hope. Are you two in the city by chance? I had to come in for business.”
“I’m here. Where are you?”
He gives me a location which isn’t far from here. I suggest the coffee shop on the corner because I figure inviting him here would shock him. I have to tell him about Grayson. We hang up and my cellphone rings with Grayson’s number. God. I want to take the call. I want to just hear his voice. I hit the answer button. “Mia, baby. Please. Mia, I need to see you. This is killing me.”
I start to cry. Damn it, I can’t cry before I see my father. “I shouldn’t have answered.” I hang up. I want to call back. He calls back. I hit decline and set my phone down, rubbing my palms down my jeans. Don’t pick it back up. Don’t talk to him. His voice, that rough masculine timbre, God, I love his voice so much. It’s just perfect, the way I thought he was.
I grab my black Chanel trench coat, which I bought myself with my first bonus check from the Bennett firm, earned fair and square with hard work. Once I’ve pulled it on, I settle my purse strap on my shoulder and pick up my phone as it rings again. I’m about to turn it off when a text buzzes and I dare to read it: Mia, I love you. I can’t even breathe without you. Come home.
Home? I type in my first text response to him through all of this. I never had a home with you. I just thought I did. And that hurts. You hurt me. You can’t fix it.
I turn off my phone and stare down at my naked ring finger. I inhale and stick my phone in my pocket. I hurry out of my new apartment, that will never be home but at least it’s mine, and rush down the narrow stairs leading to the street. It’s not a fancy building, but it’s in a safe area. I’ve barely settled at my table when my father walks in. I wave at him and he heads in my direction, and in jeans and a T-shirt that hug a fit body, his brown hair still thick at fifty-five, he’s still a catch, but today he looks weary… definitely weary.
I stand when he approaches and he gives me a hug. “I need some caffeine. Give me a quick minute.”
I nod and he walks to the counter, scrubbing his jaw as he does. Weary. Stressed. Worried. Those words go through my head over and over until he’s sitting in front of me. “What’s going on with my daughter?”
“What’s wrong?”
He narrows his eyes on me. “You always could read me, heck you read everyone. That’s why you’re a damn good attorney.”
“Yes. What’s wrong?”
“I took a loan to grow the business that I’m struggling to pay back. I went to the bank to try to get a loan to pay back the loan. As crazy as that sounds. No go on that. It sucks. The business is growing, but these homebuilders pay at ninety days. I just don’t have the cash flow to float the money, which is a common problem for growing companies.”
“I’ll help. How much are the payments?”