Page 47 of A Private Affair
“Your launch went well last night. Heard you got a record number of downloads or something like that.”
“Yeah, over forty-seven million in the first twelve hours.” The number was still incredulous to him. “The quick influx of downloads caused a few glitches but we were able to work those out fairly quickly. So it looks like a success.”
One Chaz hadn’t been able to enjoy. Valeria had decided to post his interview, after all, highlighting the parts where he insisted ChatMe was not a dating service. That was where she’d added the rumors that the social media playboy had finally fallen in love with his family’s number one enemy. Chaz had been tempted to call her and give her a piece of his mind. In the end, he’d refrained because what she’d published was true.
With that tidbit of knowledge, Chaz had left the office late last night and spent the rest of his launch day sitting in his apartment staring at the blinds he’d closed over all his windows because it reminded him of Riley.
“What do you plan on doing once this showing is over?”
Chaz shrugged. Working with his uncle had always been temporary, until the new men’s brand was launched successfully; now he pondered what his next step would be. “Hadn’t thought about it.”
“You were always a piss-poor liar, son.” Tobias chuckled and crossed his leg to rest an ankle on the opposite knee.
“Really. I haven’t thought about when I’ll head back to Miami.” Orifhe would return to the life he’d had before coming to New York. For a minute, Chaz had thought there might be a reason for him to permanently relocate here.
He could easily work remotely from Manhattan or open another office in the city. One that could be used specifically as the ChatMe headquarters. But that plan had stalled in the water on Tuesday morning.
“And why is that? Because you got cozy with Riley Gold?”
The glare he sent his uncle must have expressed everything Chaz was feeling about him mentioning her name.
“Whoa there, don’t get defensive. I’m not calling her a thief anymore. You got to the bottom of all that foolishness. Which is why I’m gonna shoot straight with you right now.” Tobias smoothed down his tie.
“You’ve been walking around here with a long face all week. Last time I saw you looking like that was when that little boy you liked having over the house moved away.”
“His name was Caleb and we were twelve when his family moved back to India.” He’d been the closest thing Chaz ever had to a sibling or a family member his age.
“Right. Well, anyway, that’s how you’ve been looking. Like you’ve lost your best friend.”
Tobias had no idea how true those words were. Chaz had told Riley things he’d never shared with anyone. She knew him better than even his uncle did. She knew the real Chaz. And had walked away from him.
“I should get over to the venue,” Chaz said and started to stand.
“I’m not finished. Sit down.”
Chaz reluctantly did what he was told.
“You went and fell in love with a woman who you know you shouldn’t have.” Tobias held up a hand when Chaz was about to speak. “And she shouldn’t have fallen for you, either. Both of you knew better. You knew about the bad blood between me and Ron and, in turn, our families. But you went and did it, anyway. There’s only one explanation for that.”
Chaz leaned forward and frowned. “An explanation for falling in love?”
“No. An explanation for why, despite the odds and family members you knew would be against you, that you and Riley still found your way to each other. It’s called fate.”
“Come on, Unc. Don’t start with that nonsense.”
“Call it what you want, but if there’s one thing I know it’s love.”
Chaz laughed. He couldn’t help it. “You? The man’s whose been married eight times wants me to believe he knows about love.”
“I do. That’s precisely why I’ve been married eight times. You see people out here running around believing that you only get one chance. You fall in love and if for whatever reason you don’t stay there, you don’t get to try again. But you do.”
“And that’s your motto. Keep trying again and again until you get it right?”
Tobias shook his head. “You get it right for the time it lasts. That’s all you can be worried about. Tomorrow is not promised, so take what you can get now. My father used to tell me and your mother that. Why do you think she ran off and married your father when she was only eighteen instead of going to college? She was taking my father’s advice and now I’m giving that advice to you.”
“What are you saying?” Tobias had mentioned his mother and Chaz knew he was referring to Riley when he talked about love. The only two women to ever occupy space in his heart were being tossed in his face right now and Chaz didn’t know how much longer he’d be able to remain civil.
“If you love that woman, fight for her. Go through whatever hoops she wants you to, dance to her beat, stand up to her father and those Gold boys, but whatever you do don’t give up. The reason I keep getting more shots at love is simple, Chaz—I’m smart enough to remain open and available for it to find me. Now, if you’re smart like I believe you are, you’ll accept that love has found you and you’ll do whatever it takes to hold on to it.”
