Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 91149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
It took no more than five minutes to drop my gear bag in my truck and make my way from the bowels of the arena to the top floor, past the executive receptionist who had to buzz me in and right to Callum’s office door.
I’m shocked to see Brienne sitting there and when I enter, Callum explains, “By the tone of your voice, I asked Brienne to join us.”
I’m immediately grateful for her presence because, of the million things racing through my head as I made my way up to the pinnacle of the building, I need a better lawyer.
No, I need the absolute best fucking lawyer and there’s no one more capable of helping me find just that person than Brienne Norcross.
She’s the billionaire CEO of a conglomerate of businesses that make her one of the richest people in the world. The Norcross family is very old money, their fortune originally built in coal mines, steel mills, oil refineries and real estate, but they eventually founded Norcross Bank. Now the company is mostly made up of banks, hedge funds and investment groups, as well as one very fortunate professional hockey team.
A year and a half ago, the Pittsburgh Titans’ plane crashed upon landing on a return game trip from Columbus, killing everyone on board, including Brienne’s brother, Adam. While Brienne had been groomed by her father to manage most of Norcross Holdings, it was Adam who ran the hockey team. When he died, Brienne had to step into his shoes and she’s done a fucking phenomenal job so far, including hiring Callum Derringer as the general manager.
“Come on in, Foster,” Callum says, and motions with his hand. “Shut the door behind you.”
“Thanks so much for getting me in quick,” I say, moving to the guest chair beside Brienne.
She smiles and says, “I hear your first few days of camp have been great.”
I’d personally thought I’ve been strong on all levels, but it’s nice to know that information has filtered up from coaches to the GM and the owner herself.
Nodding, I manage a polite response, but I’m too upset over Sandra’s harebrained idea to say much more than, “It’s going well.” I then turn to Callum. “I have to go to California immediately.”
Dark brows knitting in concern, he probes, “Right in the middle of training camp?”
I keep my tone measured and calm, even though I feel like I’m about to burst out of my skin. “With all due respect, I don’t care if it costs me my position on the team. It’s an emergency.”
“Lay it out for us,” Brienne says in that cool, efficient tone of hers that says she’s in full CEO mode.
I take a deep breath and then relay the call I just had with Sandra. Shaking my head in befuddlement, I add, “She was acting weird all summer when I had Bowie Jane.”
“In what way?” Callum asks.
I swivel my head to look at him, lifting a shoulder. “It’s hard to describe but it’s like she wasn’t into her daughter, if that makes sense. Sandra only called once or twice a week and she was supposed to come visit twice—at my expense—but didn’t. I’m thinking this new boyfriend has her distracted. The last few weeks since I took Bowie Jane home, I’ve sensed a sullenness in her too. She doesn’t think this guy likes her and I can tell by the tone of her voice and her expressions when we FaceTime every day.”
“And why do you want to go to California?” Brienne asks. “What do you hope to accomplish?”
“I’m going to get my daughter and bring her back here,” I clip out, irritated she doesn’t understand that’s the obvious solution. She’d do the same for her fiancé Drake’s kids, who she’s helping to raise.
“I get you want to do that,” she says softly, but then reminds me, “but that would be a violation of your custody agreement. Just as it would be for her to take Bowie Jane to Singapore.”
It hits me like a ton of bricks falling from the stratosphere… I can’t just go get her. At this very moment, I’m powerless.
“Let me ask you this,” Brienne continues. “Do you think Bowie Jane is happy in her current living situation? Are you concerned about her welfare? Do you think Sandra is making wise and stable decisions for your daughter? And mostly, do you think she’s brave enough to whisk Bowie Jane to Singapore despite your agreement, because if she takes her out of the country, it’s going to be infinitely harder to get her back.”
“Jesus,” I mutter, scrubbing my hands through my hair. “I think she’s crazy enough to take her. She insisted she was going to do it right up to the time she hung up on me.”
Brienne stands from her chair, gazing down at me. “Okay, here’s what we’re going to do. I’m going to get on the phone now and get you the absolute best attorney to handle this for you. He’s going to file an emergency order of protection to prevent Sandra from taking Bowie Jane out of the country. If you want to make the move, he’ll also petition for you to have temporary full custody. Are you in a position to take Bowie Jane on full time?”