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I usually tuned them out until one day, my mother hinted at talking to Danny’s parents about maybe getting his help in my search for a building. I had laughed it off, but a day later, I received a phone call from DannyfuckingMorden saying how happy he’d be to help me find a place for “my school.”
That was the type of guy he was. Unable to listen to anyone but his own ego. But he was willing to help me for zero commission. “Come on, Cara. We’re practically family. Let me help you out.”
Given my financial status, I really couldn’t refuse. And maybe I hadn’t given Danny a fair shake all these years.
But nearly running me over wasn’t a great way to start our working relationship.
Danny walked over to me from his car, a smirk on his lips. “God, can you imagine how awkward it would have been if I had to tell your parents I hit you when you walked out in front of my car?”
I took one look at his greased-up dark hair and his aviator sunglasses shielding his beady eyes and I just knew.
I’m gonna have to give this asshole a piece of my mind.
Chapter2
Wesley
I don’t think I’d ever seen a woman so small and sweet-looking full of so much piss and vinegar. It was sexy as hell.
“What is wrong with you?!” the young woman, Cara, growled at the aviator-sunglasses-wearing douchebag. “You could have killed me! Or some innocent child! Who do you think you are, driving God knows how fast on a residential street?”
The man who I assumed was the realtor showing us the place, Mr. Morden, laughed awkwardly. “I’m sorry, Cara. Maybe you should learn not to stand in the middle of the street.”
Cara’s brown eyes filled with fire. I was mesmerized by her. Mr. Morden, on the other hand, got himself in hot water with that one. “You willnotvictim blame me after nearlyhitting me with your car.”
Mr. Morden looked to me apologetically. We’d never worked together, but Jenson had given me his name when the time had come to start scoping out a location for my company’s newest office. “Alright, Cara. I’m sorry, okay? Don’t castrate me in front of —”
“There’s a child present, so I think you should watch your language, Danny.”
I had to stifle a laugh. I’d known Cara barely a few minutes, including saving her life from a speeding car, and I already knew she was a firecracker. I loved it.
Mr. Morden set eyes on Lucy. “Forgive me, Mr. Taves —”
“It’s no trouble,” I interrupted. “Lucy is wise beyond her years.”
Lucy smiled. “Sometimes I hear Daddy’s phone calls.”
Mr. Morden seemed to grimace. “Uh-huh. Well, it’s an honor to meet you, Mr. Taves.”
We clapped hands in a manly handshake. “Thanks for meeting with me today.”
Cara suddenly looked uncomfortable. “Danny, I thought you were showingmethis building.”
Mr. Morden — orDanny— smiled smoothly. “I am. I’m showing it to both of you.”
Her face flickered again with anger, but she held it back this time. “I thought…”
Danny didn’t wait for her response. He pulled a set of keys out of his pocket and went to the door. “If you two will follow me inside, we can begin the tour. And Mr. Taves, please keep your daughter close. I can’t have her going off and poking around. This building is very decrepit.”
I looked up at the facade of the brick building. The pictures didn’t do it justice, and I didn’t mean that in a good way. “Yes, it seems that way.” I took Lucy’s hand and pulled her close to me. “Don’t worry, she’s not a wanderer.”
Danny opened the door into the building. I gestured for Cara to go in front of us. “After you.”
She nodded her head as she walked past me. It required effort not to stare as I walked behind her. And the poor thing clearly thought she had a lock on the property from the jump. She was so young I couldn’t imagine what she was evendoinglooking at a commercial property like this.
Me? I was a pro at scoping out buildings. After all, being the CEO and founder of a company poised to overtake Meta took some knowledge. We were growing so fast, taking old formulas, and improving them while also managing to stay a bit further from controversy — just abit. We had our flagship in Midtown, an outpost in Chelsea, and we were looking to expand into Brooklyn. We needed a home for Readly, our social platform inspired by Goodreads. I always preferred buying properties that needed a complete gutting and face-lift, as opposed to newer office buildings. That way I could tailor a building exactly to my company’s needs.
I knew what it looked like. What was a businessman doing lugging his six-year-old daughter to property walk throughs? Well, I was all Lucy had. Her mother had left me,us, before Lucy had even turned one. Lisbeth was “not cut out for motherhood.” At least, that’s what she said. Though we were once in love, Lucy’s birth seemed to push us away from one another. I was completely enamored with and in awe of our little girl. But Lisbeth always seemed to be somewhere else, thinking about getting back to her work as a corporate lawyer, disinterested in all the things that went into raising a child.
