Page 15 of Broken Grump

Jesus.Now more than ever, I know that I have to get inside and find out what the hell is going on here.

Once through the big glass doors, the scene is not much better. Angry people are stomping around everywhere, while other employees keep their heads down, just trying to do their jobs.

Then, I walk past a large room, which I assume is where the conferences are held. I didn’t know because Sal and I always met over coffee and never in each other’s offices. Suddenly, there’s a loud, booming female’s voice coming from it.

Stepping a bit closer, I hear a high-pitched voice, “What do you want me to do about it? I already asked all the lawyers, but I can’t do a damned thing!”

“And she has no experience,” a man quips.

Finally, I see that the woman is Rosalinda. She’s in her usual designer garb. Today, it’s a canary yellow tweed jacket that I believe is Dolce & Gabbana, sleek white trousers, and matching yellow heels.

As for her dark hair, it’s twisted tightly back and up.

When she finally sees me, her face falls. “Hayden?”

“Hello, ma’am.”

I exchange a look with Steven, but he bows his head and insinuates that this is my “fish to fry,” as it were.

She stands up straighter, wipes her fingers along her hairline, and takes out a little mirror from her Louis Vuitton bag.

“What are you doing here?” she asks after inspecting and rubbing at her teeth.

I stand my ground and swing my arms behind my back. “Well, I was hoping to talk to you.”

“Oh?”

Then, I feel a gut punch when I suddenly turn my head and see Addie sitting in the back of the room.

Her puzzled blue eyes are peering up at me, and she’s chewing on a pen.

“Addie.”

“Hayden?”

“Never mind her,” her mother interrupts and tries to redirect my attention.

But I resist and pull my shoulder away from her grasp.

“Actually, I think your daughter is exactly who I need to be talking to.”

Rosa sneers. “What?”

“Well, she is the new CEO, is she not?”

“Excuse me,” my former friend and one-time lover says as she takes her phone out of her pocket and starts booking it out into the hallway.

“Wait, Add—” She blows right past me and doesn’t even glance back for a second.

Next, a tall man stands up. “Can someone please tell us what the heck is going on here?”

He took the words right out of my mouth.

“Sal decided to play a funny joke on all of us, and he left everything to Adriana.”

Whoa.I always knew the two of them were close, but I never imagined he’d leave her witheverything.

“So, she’s the new CEO?” I ask.

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