Page 40 of Isabelle and the Beast

I nod.

His eyes drop to the floor. “I miss my daddy.”

My heart tightens for him. I haven’t really thought much about how he’s not even four years old, stuck here in this castle with his grandma and no other kids. “I bet you can call him, too. Have you asked your grandma?”

His face brightens, and he smiles again. “Not yet!”

“Let’s go find her.” I hold my hand out to him. “And after you call your dad, maybe we can build a Snow Hulk.”

Theo bounces up and down excitedly. I kneel in front of him. “Now, I’m okay with you playing in here, but I don’t want you hiding when I change my clothes.”

His eyes widen again and he shakes his head. “Oh, no. You need pri-macy.”

I snort a laugh. “That’s true.”

“So does Adam. I don’t go anywhere that he goes.”

“Smart move.” Maybe I should’ve learned from this little kid and stayed out of the office, too.

The office.

I feel like it’s still hanging between us. Is that why his moods shift so suddenly with me? Because I never actually apologized?

My dad says I can be stubborn and self-willed. He’s not wrong. Apologies don’t come easily for me. But I don’t think they come easily to Adam either, and he was able to say he was sorry for yelling at me. Which, may I add, hedidneed to do.That reaction was way over the top. But he’s already proven his apology was sincere by treating me with kindness…or at least common decency. He’s come a long way from the silent treatment and hostility he showed me the first few nights.

As I walk Theo to find Brigette, my stomach feels sick. I realize I’ve held out for too long, and I need to clear the air. After I pass Theo off, it’s time to find Adam.

Chapter

Nineteen

ADAM

“It’s bad, Adam,” Jim says through my phone.

“Just say it,” I reply.

“We’ve lost LuxeLife. All we have left is Verve Tech.”

I rub my forehead with my hand. This is worse than I expected.

“I just got off the phone with Isabelle,” he continues. “She said you haven’t come to a decision about the movie yet.”

I’m shocked into silence. Isabelle made it very clear that she didn’t want to do the movie with me.

“But I really think this is the career move you need to make next,” Jim says. “Just think about it.”

I don’t say anything, which isn’t too abnormal for me. But this time, it’s more out of confusion than disinterest in the conversation.

A knock sounds on my door.

“I’ll call you later,” I say to Jim and hang up the phone, setting it on the desk. “Yes, Lionel?”

“It’s not Lionel,” Isabelle’s voice rings through the door.

My head snaps up to the door, which is still closed.

“It’s Isabelle,” she says.

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