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“We’re going to work on it. I sense that now. I’m—willing, Reid. There has to be some way you can earn Carrie’s trust. Just tell her whatever it is you say you can’t tell her.”
“I’ll lose my stock in the company if I do, which means Gabe will be destroyed right along with me, and then Dad will destroy Carrie’s company, and we’re all fucked.”
“Oh my God. It’s that bad?”
“Yes. It is. I’m protecting her, too. Dad did some stuff that I’m connected to that I didn’t have any idea about. I’m guilty by association. That’s how I got pulled into it.”
“Gabe?”
“Doesn’t know. I don’t want him to be guilty of anything. He doesn’t know. He can’t know.”
“My God, Reid. What a burden you’re carrying.”
“I had it under control until Carrie. She’s a game changer. I called her father. I tried to get him to break the contract, but he wants me out of her life. He won’t do it. The irony is that the old me would burn that bastard to the ground, but he’s her father, Cat. She loves him. Her mother left her years ago.”
“You love her.”
“I—it’s too soon to say that word.”
“You know,” she says. “It’s crazy, but when it’s the person you’re meant to be with, you know fast. It matures, but you know early. Make her listen. I know you can. She wants to. She just needs to feel safe.”
“Safe,” I say, that word resonating. Her mother left. Her brother is gone. Her father lied to her. “Yes. I think she does.”
“Be her safe place, and that’s a big order right now, but she needs you. Let me know if you want me to talk to her.”
“Thanks, Cat.” I hesitate and then say, “I missed you.”
“Well, we’ll talk about why you ever had to at some point. Right now, you need to get your woman back.”
We disconnect, and I down my whiskey, processing Cat’s words, my mind starting to work. I walk to the living room, open my MacBook on the coffee table and find an email from Carrie that reads: Event Center sale info. I read through the numbers that are a slam dunk to entice Grayson. I dial Grayson.
“Reid. I hope this is good news.”
“We have an amazing opportunity in Japan and money to bring to the table with it. Carrie brought the deal to the table. I just supported it with money.”
“It’s not something I can do on my own?”
“No. It’s that big. We can’t guarantee you can get this deal over another bidder, but we can guarantee you’ll want to, and we’ll fight for it.”
“I’m intrigued. I’m throwing a party for the opening of my new hotel Wednesday evening at seven. Meet me at my business office in the hotel at five and plan on attending the party. My assistant will send you the details.”
“We’ll be there.”
I pull up my email, but I can’t do it. I have to call her. I dial her number. “Hello,” she says, answering on the first ring. “You got the numbers.”
“Yes. They look good. The best thing that’s happened to either of us professionally, ever. I did my part. I secured a hundred million today that I believe can be turned into three hundred million.”
“Oh my God. Grayson is going to be floored.”
“I teased him without details. I just hung up with him. We meet him Wednesday at five right before a party he wants us to attend. His assistant is emailing us the details.”
“That’s perfect. We have plenty of time to prepare.”
“Yes.” I hesitate. “Carrie.”
“Yes?”
I have so many things I want to say but I know I’ll get one more shot and I need to take it in person, where she can’t shut me down. “I’ll see you in the morning.” I start to hang up.
