or else you wouldn’t be huffing and puffing and there wouldn’t be smoke blowing from your ears.”
I placed my fists on my hips, totally not getting why her sharp tone was directed at me. “He’s such an idiot. My father …”
Alyssa gave me a pointed glance. “You’re the idiot.”
“He won’t even listen to me. I came here to turn the company around, but he won’t even listen to what I have to say.”
“Then, change it.”
“Change what? It’s not my company.”
“It’s not your company because you don’t want anything to do with it.”
I huffed, beyond aggravated, not needing this lecture from her too.
“Yep. This is the thing. Maybe instead of suggesting the changes, for once, you act like a man and institute the changes and push them through.”
“What? I told you, it’s not my company.”
“It’s your company if you want it to be. Listen …” She stood, getting into my face. “You won’t want to hear this, but because you know me as a no-bullshitter, I’m going to tell you anyway.” She pushed her finger into my chest. “You have everything you’ll ever need, right here at this company, right here in this town, but all you’ve ever done is run because shit’s not going your way, because it’s hard. Yeah, it’s hard to live with family. Yeah, it’s hard to run a multimillion-dollar company, but tough shit. It’s called life.”
“You don’t—”
She snapped her fingers in my face to shut me up. “Shh. Not done. Real talk now.” She leaned in, narrowing her eyes, her tone serious. “Quit crying like a baby and man the fuck up. Quit complaining and get the job done. Stay for the company. Stay for your family. Stay for the girl.”
“It’s not that easy.”
She turned to her financials then, already done with a conversation I wasn’t finished with. And as though she hadn’t heard a word I said, she uttered, “And leave Charlie alone. Don’t be cruel. Give the girl a break.”
“You know nothing,” I said.
But of course, Alyssa always had to have the last word in. “I know everything.”
I stormed away, out the door and making it toward the suburbs. She would’ve gone home, right?
But she wasn’t there.
Charlie
I turned off my phone. I wanted to be alone, to wallow in my sorrows, just for once.
I had so much to look forward to. Nui and I had been communicating via email, and early next month, I’d be featured on her blog. She wanted to do a whole spread and interview. Her blog was so popular that she had tons of sponsorships on just her page alone. Who knew what opportunities would open up for me then?
My relationship with my mother was better—on its way there at least.
I had everything I’d ever wanted finally falling into place.
I picked up a stone and tossed it in the lake. “Daddy, I wish you were here. I wish you would tell me what to do about this man.”
I laughed because I so knew what he would say. He’d tell me to move in with Connor, to pick the man. Because Dad would want me to live my own life. But that was the thing. I wasn’t going to be that girl—the girl who moved for a guy and left her whole life behind.
His place would be my place. His friends would be my friends. That wasn’t the kind of life I wanted to live.
I pulled out my phone and turned it on, knowing I’d have to face the world sooner than later.
Twenty-two texts—all from Connor.
Five voice mails from him.
All of me was curious about the decision of the board, so instead of going through the texts and voice mails, I decided to call him instead.
“Hey.”
“Charlie, where are you? I’ve been going crazy, trying to find you. I even rang your doorbell at home when you weren’t at the pool house.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I don’t care. Where are you right now?”
“I’m at the lake.”
“Where? What lake?” There was urgency in his tone.
“The same spot we filmed at.”
Before I uttered another word, he said, “Don’t leave. I’ll be there.” And then he hung up.
Thirty minutes later, Connor showed up.
He plopped down and sat beside me, staring out at the lake. Taking in multiple boats whooshing past us, the skyscrapers in the horizon, the sun setting in front of us.
“Hey, are you okay?” he asked.
I nodded, smiling. Having him this near me did things to me, and I couldn’t ignore the way my heart flipped and then flopped at the sight of him.
“Why did you