Page 18 of Accidentally Sliding Into A Second Chance

An ache blooms around my heart, leaving me with a sinking feeling. “She was my favorite, too,” I say softly. “Aunt, not client.”

Tony chuckles and paper shuffles in the background. I can only assume he is pulling out Aunt Dottie’s folder. “I’m not sure if you knew this, but your aunt was quite the financial wizard.”

Pausing, the coffee cup resting against my lips, I murmur. “No, I wasn’t aware.”

“She left you a sum total of thirty million dollars in financial assets, personal property, family heirlooms, plus whatever the profit will be from the sale of her home.”

I gasp and immediately start coughing as the coffee goes down the wrong pipe.

“Are you okay?” Tony asks, concerned.

Still coughing, I push out one word at a time. “One. Second.” Then I sneeze. Repeatedly. Not three dainty sneezes that sound cute, but the kind that feel like your head is being ripped from your body.

I know. It’s weird.

“Bless you,” he repeats until the last sneeze, a hint of laughter in his voice.

I clear my throat and attempt to talk. “I’m sorry. Did you say—” I say through more coughs.

“Thirty million? Yes,” he answers. My heart pounds like a runaway freight train. This could be the answer to the massive amount of debt my father left me when he died. Raising my hand to my chest, I force myself to take deep, slow breaths. The heaviness I’ve gotten used to carrying eases a bit, and I’m left with the sensation of floating. “However, there is a stipulation she was firm upon. One that you must meet in order to receive the inheritance.”

And just like that, I come crashing to the ground again.

His voice has taken on a neutral tone that makes the hair on my body stand up. The train in my chest lets out a blaring horn, and steam blows in my ears. “A stipulation?”

“Yes. She wrote you a letter explaining.” When I don’t say anything, he continues. “You should get it this afternoon; I sent it to your office. I thought you’d prefer to read it privately, rather than have me read it to you.”

I silently nod. “Cat? Is that okay?”

“Sorry,” I force myself to speak. “Of course. I appreciate your consideration.”

“So the clause,” Tony clears his throat. “Although unconventional in today’s day and age, it isn’t unheard of.”

I swallow hard and take a sip of coffee, trying to rinse the sand from my mouth. “Aunt Dottie could be a bit unconventional, so it’s not that big of a surprise.” A giddy hysteria bubbles up.

“Oh, well, that makes this a tiny bit easier to say. So the stipulation requires you to…”

At that exact moment, a text from David lights up my screen, making my heart jump.

David:

I want to apologize in advance for making your life difficult in the near future.

“…within the next six months.” Tony’s voice runs in the background, just as my screen lights up again.

David:

I probably won’t be very cooperative.

I hate social media, but not for the reason people think.

I hate it because it takes me away from the little time I get to spend with Scarlett.

His last words make my breath hitch as a rush of tenderness fills me. How am I supposed to keep things professional when a man allows himself to be vulnerable with something so personal?

And not just any man, but this one.

A tinge of longing so deep causes a stabbing sensation in my heart.

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