Page 124 of The Broker

Ardy’s expression shifted to one of suspicion. “You don’t need my blessing to give her that money. What’s the problem?”

“She won’t take my calls or answer my emails.” The flowers I’d sent hadn’t worked either. “I need your help getting in touch with her.”

His suspicion graduated to all-out distrust. “This is ploy.”

“It’s not.”

Everything I had told him was true, but... he wasn’t exactly wrong, either. I would have given her this money no matter what, regardless of my feelings, but if it also gave me a way in with her? A chance to apologize and plead my case?

Yeah, I wasn’t mad about that.

He didn’t buy what I was selling. “I don’t like the idea of you dating my daughter. She’s too young for you.”

My heart sank, but there was nothing I could do about that right now. In the event I was able to win Charlotte back, I’d be starting in a hole with her dad—but that was a distant obstacle.

I needed to focus on the bigger one first.

“Fair enough,” I said, “but that’s not up to you.”

“No, it isn’t,” he agreed.

His gaze drifted away, going to the keyboard on the desk in front of him, and he seemed deep in thought. When his focus finally returned to me, his demeanor had changed. He looked a hell of a lot more like the man he’d been back when he’d hired me.

“I said you didn’t need to ask for your job back,” he said, “because Charlotte already negotiated that for you.”

I straightened, and my pulse kicked. “What?”

“She still loves you, even after all you said, but don’t think that means getting her back is going to be easy. You broke my little girl’s heart, and she can be stubborn like me. It means she probably won’t forgive you.”

I struggled to catch my breath, and my mind raced trying to wrap itself around this new information. “I only need a chance. Just give me five minutes with her.”

There was movement, drawing his attention to his office window. Outside, the photographers rushed to throw their gear in their cars and follow the SUV that had just turned onto thestreet from the back parking lot. As it drove past, I got a flash of the newly engaged couple.

Erika was almost twenty years older than her fiancé, and Ardy had no issue supporting them. Was it wishful thinking maybe someday he could do the same for Charlotte and me?

He glanced at his phone screen, checking the time. “I believe she’s home right now. You want me to text my wife and let her know you’re coming over?”

The way he said it made it sound like a limited time offer, and I couldn’t get up out of my seat fast enough.

THIRTY-THREE

Charlotte

The best mid-morning light in my house was in the kitchen, which worked out perfectly as the background during my Instagram Live. I put my ring light up on a tripod on the breakfast bar, and my microphone on the counter just out of frame.

I didn’t realize until after I’d started the video that the flowers Noah had sent were still on the island behind me. It meant if he watched this video, he’d see I’d gotten them.

Whatever.

At least they looked good in the shot, and what were the chances he’d watch, anyway? The man wasn’t into cleaning.

He wasn’t into me either.

Engagement in the video was slow at first, but that was normal. I had a list of topics ready to talk about while waiting for the questions to start rolling in, plus I tried to return any of the greetings viewers sent me in the comments.

Most of the questions stayed within my brand. They wanted to know my preferred cleaning products on stone countertops, how to remove the sticky, baked-on mess on an air-fryer tray, or general tips on cleaning faster.

I didn’t know the answer to every question, and I wasn’t ready to call myself an expert. I was honest when I wasn’t sure and explained the way I’d tackle the problem if I were facing it.

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