Page 7 of Billion Dollar Dispute

“Chad,” I correct gently.

“Sorry, Chad. I’m hopeless with names,” he replies, his eyes slightly red, similar to the way Butch’s looked. I shake my head. I'm just paranoid and clearly seeing things. I can’t help but have a guard up when it comes to people, especially men.

“That’s okay.”

Mom clears her throat, commanding attention. “Well, here’s the big news. Jemima’s going to take over the business.”

Danny’s eyebrows lift slightly, though he quickly recovers. “That’s…unexpected,” he says in a neutral tone. “I thought you might be selling.”

Smiling gently, Mom shakes her head. “Oh, no, darling. This business was always meant to stay in the family. And who better than my brilliant daughter to take the reins?”

“Of course,” Danny says after a pause. His voice is calm, but I catch the way his jaw tightens. “I’ll do whatever I can to help with the transition.”

His professionalism reassures me. “Thank you. I’ll need it.”

Mom claps her hands together, her bangles clashing and breaking the tension. “Alright, team! We’ve got loads to cover, but Danny, I just know you’ll be Jemima’s rock through it all. You’ve always been such a star!”

He nods, his gaze lingering on me for a moment before shifting to Mom. “You know where to find me if you need anything.”

As he walks away, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. Mom gives me a reassuring pat on the back. “You’ve got this, darling,” she whispers with a wink.

I hope she’s right. The tightness in my chest eases, knowing I have their support, and that Molly and Danny will help me transition.

Mom will be here for the week to settle me in, too. Even though it sounds like she doesn’t know what’s going on. I guess there’s nothing like diving in headfirst.

A few days later, I’m walking along the sidewalk to meet with a potential new client. Molly is with me, because it's my first meeting on my own, and I feel more comfortable with her than Danny. Luckily, Danny had a meeting this morning anyway.

The breeze picks up, tugging at my beige coat and sending a shiver down my spine. Leaves swirl around our feet, and I tighten my grip on my notebook, hugging it closer to my chest for warmth.

The city around us buzzes with activity, a mix of cars, people and construction.

“I filed for a divorce,” Molly announces suddenly, her voice cutting through the noise.

“You did!” I beam. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Will you apply for one?” Molly glances at me.

“I have. The second he was arrested, I looked into it.”

She elbows me. “Not wasting a second.”

“I did it so I could change my name and Chad’s to Recaredo,” I explain. “I worry about any more of my ex's debts coming back to haunt me.”

It’s one of the reasons I have bags and dark circles under my eyes. I barely sleep four hours a night, worry robs me of sleep. I’m a walking zombie.

“I thought my ex cheating on me was bad, but I think your story takes the cake.”

I giggle, the sound surprising me. “It does, right?”

“Still doesn’t turn me off men,” she remarks with a wry smile, her lips curving up at the corners.

I do a double take. “You’re kidding, right?”

“No,” she says, shaking her head. “I think it was my mistake, thinking a one-night stand would be a great father to my baby.”

“That's how you met?” I ask as I picture the scene in my mind.

“And got pregnant,” she admits with a shrug, her cheeks flushing slightly.

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