Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 116232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 581(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 581(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
It was the best apology I could hope to get from him, and I nodded in acceptance. I shifted on the couch, turning so I was sideways and faced him completely. “Since you’re so big on offering me deals, I have one for you.”
Did he sense he wasn’t going to like it? His expression was guarded. “What is it?”
“You give Noah his job back, and you and I can work through our issues together. I know there’s still a lot I need to do to earn your trust back, and I promise to do it. And I’m going to work on not being so dependent on you and Mom—that one is regardless of what you decide.” I said it more for my benefit than his. “I can’t keep running to you whenever things don’t go my way.”
He stared at me with disbelief. “And if I don’t rehire him?”
My pulse quickened and my lungs tightened, because I was giving him a version of the same one he’d given me. “Then, you’re cut off emotionally. I’ll obey your rules and do whatever you ask of me, but that’s it.”
He scowled, like the deal was too harsh or unfair, but I lifted a hand before he could say anything.
“It’d be inevitable,” I said. “If I have to carry the guilt over Noah losing his job, it’ll drive a wedge between us.” I peered at my father with the hope he’d make the right decision, that we could repair the damage I’d done to our relationship together. “What do you say? Do we have a deal?”
THIRTY-TWO
Noah
It was strange to park my car on the street in front of the Warbler office, rather than in the lot in the back, but that was for employees, and I wasn’t one of those anymore, was I?
There were other cars parked here, and I could tell right away what they were. There weren’t enough photographers for it to be Ardy’s client Stella, but there were enough for me to know there was someone big inside of Warbler right now.
I ignored the few paparazzi milling about and smoking cigarettes and made my way up the sidewalk. I climbed the porch steps, walked through the front entrance, and when the door hinges squealed, the receptionist glanced up at me. A shy smile warmed Irene’s face. “Hi, Noah.”
Had Ardy not told them what had happened, or was she just being polite?
“Hi,” I said. “I’m a little early. I have an appointment with Ardy at ten.”
“Send him in.” Ardy’s voice boomed through his open office door. “We’re finishing up in here.”
Irene waved me forward, and my anxiety ratcheted up another level. After I’d texted Ardy last night and asked for a meeting, I’d rehearsed what I wanted to say at least a dozen times, but now my mind went blank.
I stepped through the doorway and found the two chairs in front of Ardy’s desk were occupied, but since the people had their backs to me, my gaze went straight to my former boss.
He didn’t look at me, though. Ardy was wrapping up things with Erika and her client Troy Osbourne—which explained the photographers outside. His new album had dropped a little less than two months ago, and he was having a bit of a moment right now.
I lingered in the doorway, feeling horribly out of place while they discussed his upcoming appearance as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live and his tour that kicked off right after.
When everything was settled, Erika and Troy rose from their seats.
“You’re going to be busy,” Ardy commented. “You two going to have any time to plan that wedding?”
Erika chuckled. “Maybe we’ll just elope.”
Troy lifted an eyebrow, like that would never fly with him, before turning and noticing me in the doorway. “Hey, man.”
We’d met twice before, and he seemed like a good guy. I liked how he was still humble, despite his recent fame. My gaze shifted over to Erika, who I hadn’t seen in the office, or even in our neighborhood, since the proposal—but that wasn’t surprising.
The bigger Troy got, the busier she, as his manager, became.
“Congrats on the engagement,” I said.
“Thanks,” they answered in unison.
Ardy waved them off and set his unreadable gaze on me. “Come on in, kid. Close the door and take a seat.”
The first time he’d called me ‘kid,’ I’d thought it was strange, but today I found it oddly comforting. It was a hell of a lot better than him calling me an asshole, so I’d take this as a win.
I’d barely lowered into the seat when he spoke. “If this is to ask for your job back, Noah, let me save you the trouble.”
“No, I’m not here for that. I wanted to meet with you because I have two things I need to do.”
He hesitated, caught off guard. “What?”