Page 66 of Selfless

For the first time since he walked into the apartment, he smiles as he looks at me. “She’s beautiful,” he says as he sits up. I can see the excitement in his bloodshot eyes. “She’s so smart. She took me to her bedroom and showed me her stuffed animals. And told me how much she loves school. She’s in kindergarten, by the way.” His eyes light up, and his voice went from hurt to excitement as he tells me everything he knows about his little sister.

“That’s awesome, babe,” I tell him when he’s done.

His face gets serious, and he sighs. “I was sitting in the cab when I saw her run out of the house to my father. He picked her up and twirled her around before kissing her on the cheek. I thought she belonged to him. And a part of me was mad. That I never saw him that way with Becca. And then I thought that was why he was so willing to walk away from the company. To give this little girl the dad he never was.” He shakes his head. “But I was wrong.”

“It’s okay to feel that way,” I tell him. “That’s a lot to take in.”

He wraps his arms around me and pulls me down onto the bed. “I want you to meet her.”

I smile. “I would love to. But is that a good idea?” I ask. “If no one is allowed to know about her? How will your dad and Rosie feel about you telling me?”

“We’re all going over to Rosie’s house this weekend for dinner. Dad is telling everyone then.”

As I lie beside him, listening to the sadness in his voice while he tells me about his secret sister, I realize losing my job is small in comparison.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

RYDER

My first week at running the company didn’t go as planned. I’ve been distracted and off my game. By the third day, I had a rhythm down and was in the middle of a phone call when my father walks in. He’s still here just as much as he used to be; it just doesn’t look like it on paper.

“What did we decide to do with Hahn’s property on Fifth Avenue?” he asks.

I end my call and sit up in my chair. “A hotel.”

“Cancel it,” he orders.

I arch my brow. “Why?”

I know I was pissed at my dad when I found out about Maggie. But all that went away when he sat in Rosie’s living room telling me how his wife had an affair with his best friend, got pregnant, and then refused to keep the child. I had never felt so much respect for this man. Rosie has her salon, and I know she is set for life, but my father helps her out financially with Maggie. He said his best friend would have wanted that.

“I have other plans for that space,” he answers.

“Okay. What is it?”

“I’ll let you know when I get more details,” he says, starting to walk out of my office. “Oh hey, Ryder?”

“Yeah?” I ask, looking back up at him.

“Is your mother still calling you?”

I frown at his question but shake my head. “I think she got the hint.” I’ve learned a lot about my mother over the past couple of weeks, and I’ve concluded I don’t want anything to do with her.

“Don’t be so sure. Maybe she just plans to confront you in person.”

I snort. “I won’t be seeing her anytime soon.”

“Yes, you will. Your cousin’s wedding is next weekend.” Then he walks out.

“Shit!”

Later that night, we lie in bed eating Cinnamon Toast Crunch out of the box. I got home later than she did and met her at her apartment. We decided to just stay here for the night since she hasn’t officially moved in with me yet. Too much has been going on. We were too exhausted to cook or even order carryout. So we cuddled up in her bed, watched some TV, and she grabbed the cereal box out of the kitchen.

She’s lying on top of my arm resting her body against my side when her cat jumps up on the bed meowing. He makes his way up my leg and over my stomach. He sits down on my chest, and she reaches up with her left hand to pet him. “I’ve always been a fan of the shaved pussy, but I must say this is the ugliest shaved pussy I have ever seen,” I state, making her laugh.

“Oh, yeah? Have a lot to compare it to?” she asks, still laughing.

“I’m just saying.” The ugly thing looks right at me with those big glowing green eyes and overly large ears. I woke up this morning when it was still dark outside, and he scared the shit out of me when I found him sitting on the bathroom counter when I turned on the light. I swear he does shit like that on purpose. The rat remembers our first meeting, and he’s paying me back. “He looks like an old man’s set of balls,” I say with a frown.

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