Page 63 of Daddy's Game

“You know I don’t want to drag Brock into this. I want to handle it myself.”

“I know, but didn’t you tell me that he quit trying to buy this place out from underneath you?”

“Yeah.”

“And didn’t you guys say the L word to each other?”

“Shh, there might be students around, Selma. They gossip enough about us as it is.”

“Yeah, well, that’s their prerogative, and you’re dodging me. Did you guys exchangeI love yousor not?”

“You know we did.”

“So ask him for help. He’ll probably jump at the chance to give you a hand with this.”

“I’ll think about it, okay?”

I darted off to my office and sat down behind the desk. The day had grown overcast, darkening my office, but I didn’t bother to turn on the light. I sat in the dark and thought about Brock.

Maybe Selma’s right. Maybe I can ask Brock for help. I just don’t want my struggles with the center to ruin what we have going on.

But if I don’t ask him for help…I might not have a center at all.

24

BROCK

Istood in my office, looking out over the cityscape below. The lights of the city engendered a kind of melancholy thoughtfulness in me.

Never before had I put my heart, my feelings, ahead of profit. The corner lot that Grace’s performing arts center rested on was a potential goldmine. I could put up a retail establishment with a damn near perfect location. I could divide it up into multiple lots and sublet to create a virtual mall.

There were almost limitless possibilities for what I could do with such a prime real estate location. After all, the first three rules of real estate business are location, location, location.

Even in the modern era with the internet and so many consumers buying things online, there were plenty of businesses that could thrive in that corner lot. Clothing is something people like to buy in person, so they can try the fit for themselves. Food was another good choice. A Michelin starred restaurant in that location would be booked up months, even years in advance.

It would be a real feather in my cap. And what had I done?

I’d given up on it. All because of Grace.

The funny thing is, I don’t regret it. Not one little bit. And that’s what bothers me. I feel like I should regret it. Then again, Samantha did tell me to follow my heart if I really wanted to be happy.

Almost on cue, my phone rang. I looked at the screen and saw Grace’s picture smiling at me.

I answered on the first ring.

“Hello, precious.”

“Hey.”

She dragged out the last syllable for a long time.

“What do you want?”

“I want to come over.”

“I’m at the office.”

“I know. I pinged you with that app I put on your phone last week.”

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