Page 79 of Daddy's Game

Grace dropped her gaze to the floor. When she spoke, her voice trembled.

“I came here with the intention of telling you to butt out of this.”

“I kind of figured.”

She lifted her eyes to face mine. I fell in love with her all over again. Not that it mattered.

“I need your help too much to spurn it, though. As much as I want to, it wouldn't be fair to the center, the students. Or to Mizrani’s memory. So, on their behalf…thanks.”

I nodded.

“I understand your trepidation about trusting me again–”

“Trepidation?” she sputtered. “This is not just trepidation. You broke my heart.”

“I know. I still love you, Grace. I can’t just give up on those feelings.”

She heaved a long sigh.

“I appreciate that, but…I don’t think I can trust you. And without trust, I can’t let myself love you.”

She turned and practically sprinted out the door. I sat down heavily in my chair, missing her more than ever.

33

GRACE

My phone dinged at three o’clock in the morning. Not just any ding. The specific bell chime sound I used to designate texts from Brock.

For a long time, I didn’t want to reach for the phone. I toyed with the idea of just going back to sleep. I would certainly have been justified in doing so, for a lot of different reasons.

In the end, though, I couldn’t deny one simple thing.

I miss him so much.

Brock lied to me. Nothing could change that. But I felt the way I felt. My heart wanted what it wanted.

It’s not like he actually took the center from me. He should have told me he was on the board of directors for Techno Global whatever, but he didn’t screw me over.

My phone dinged again. A groan accompanied my fumbling grab for the phone. I pulled it up to my belly and held it with both hands, thumbs on the screen in texting position.

“What the Hell?”

Grace, get dressed and be outside your apartment in fifteen minutes.”

“Who the Hell does he think he is, ordering me around?”

What’s your fucking deal? It’s three in the morning.

“Would you like to know who’s been working against your center this whole time?”

“I already know…oh, fuck it.”

At that point, I realized I’d awakened too much to hope to go back to sleep anyway.

I slid into a clean pair of jeans and a long sleeved shirt, rinsed with mouthwash…for my comfort, not because I had any intention of kissing Brock…and went down to the street.

Out of habit, I searched for a limo. I saw nothing but the usual parked cars and someone in a sleek sports car with a horse emblem on the hood.

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