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Chapter 23
Hello
Chloe
I’ve called myself a million different kinds of a fool. Each one attached to a dollar. I don’t know what I’m doing. I’ve questioned if I’m even doing it for the money.
My mind is so jumbled. Everything is happening so quickly. One minute we were in the hotel suite. The next Brodi convinced me to move into his home here in Dubai.
I know I’ve lost it. I should have stayed right in that suite. However, seeing the distress in his eyes. It tugged at something inside of me.
Apparently, his little girl is having a hard time without her mother or father. I’m not a bitch. I know this has to be hard on her. I was much older than she is when I lost my mom, and it was confusing for me and Ally.
Brodi looked like it was tearing him in two to have to decide who to take care of first. I would never make him choose between us. Which is the only reason I’m here.
The sound of voices heading my way reaches my ears as I try to shuffle through the house with the butler who’s carrying my things. The voices are ahead of us. Brodi said I’d be in the east wing away from his mother and daughter.
The problem is, we need to get to that wing. The two were supposed to be out shopping when I arrived. From the sound of the voices, that’s definitely a woman and small child.
I grind my teeth wanting to strangle Brodi. He had to run off to handle some business at the last minute. Again, he looked as if he were torn between a rock and a hard place. I told him I’d be fine. Now, I’m not so sure.
A woman and a small girl turn the corner and I lock eyes with little green ones. She’s Brodi’s. I have no question about that. Her sweet chubby cheeks give her a cherub look.
She runs over to me and wraps around my leg. I’m stunned. She’s holding on to me so tightly; you would think she knows me.
“Chloe, honey,” the woman says.
“Yes,” the little girl and I say in unison.
The little girl’s voice comes out in a small whisper as she looks over her shoulder, still clinging to me. I close my eyes. I forgot for just a moment that we share a name. Once again, I don’t understand Brodi. Yet, I do.
“Oh, my. You’re Chloe. Well, we’re going to have to do something about this,” the woman says as she purses her lips. She shakes her head. “That son of mine.”
“You can call me Cee if that helps,” I say the words without thinking.
The woman’s eyes light up. She moves forward and pulls me into an embrace. I’m taken aback.
“It’s very nice to meet you,” she says warmly. “You’re more beautiful than my son described. No wonder he’s so in love.”
I ignore her words as I look down at the ring on my finger. Brodi put it there this morning before he left. It feels like it weighs a ton as I stand here.
My gaze moves to the little girl still holding me tightly. With a shaky hand, I run my fingers through her curls. She looks up at me with sad eyes but gives me a beautiful smile.
“Hello,” I say to her. My heart crumbles as I speak.
I have so many emotions warring inside of me. I can’t believe this is happening. I’m staring at the child of the man I love. Not the one we were supposed to have together, but the one he had with someone else.
“Hi,” she says softly. “Mommy’s not here.”
“Chloe—” his mother starts.
“It’s okay,” I murmur, bending to get level with the tiny sad girl.
“I know, sweetie,” I say when we’re eye to eye.
“No outside. I wanna stay here. Grandma, no outside. We stay here,” she says.
“Oh.” I nod, sitting on my butt.
