The Property Brokers by Sandi Lynn

Chapter 36

Bella

“Grant, wait!” she cried.

“Olivia, you heard him. You need to leave.” I lightly grabbed hold of her arm.

“Please, Bella. Talk to him. He’ll listen to you. Please. I’m begging you.”

“I’m sorry. He’s made his decision. Do you blame him?” I pushed the button to the elevator and the doors opened. “You just need to go and live your life like you have been for the last twenty years.”

Olivia stepped inside the elevator and as soon as the doors shut, I ran upstairs to talk to Grant. The moment I stepped inside in the bedroom, I found him sitting on the edge of the bed. As I walked closer, he put his hand up and stopped me.

“Why didn’t you tell me, Bella?”

“I was going to.”

“When? Because you should have called me when you met her in my office. Or maybe when I got home.”

“It all happened so fast, and I was caught off guard. I knew when I told you, you’d be upset, and we had dinner plans with Ami and Lamar. I was going to tell you in the morning. I’m sorry, Grant.”

“I hope you cancelled our dinner plans.”

“I did. I sent Ami a text message and told her we couldn’t make it. Grant, I’m so sorry.” I knelt in front of him and grabbed his hands. “I love you so much, and it hurts me to see you hurting like this.”

He pulled his hands away from mine and stood up from the bed.

“You should have told me, Bella,” he spoke as he walked out of the bedroom.

“Wait. Where are you going?” I ran after him.

“I’m going out to find my dad. Please, for the love of God, leave me alone. I don’t want to be with you right now.”

I watched him step onto the elevator and the doors closed. Lowering myself onto the stairs, I sat there with my hands covering my face. He was hurting and he was angry. I wanted to comfort him, but now, he was mad at me too. We’d get through this. All he needed was some time.

* * *

Grant

I tried to call my dad, but it went straight to voicemail, so I took a cab to the one bar I knew I’d most likely find him. When I stepped through the door, I saw him sitting on a stool at the bar. The seats next to him were taken, so I pulled out my wallet and grabbed a hundred-dollar bill. Walking up to the bar, I handed it to the gentleman that was sitting next to him.

“Would you mind if I took this seat?”

“Not at all.” He stood up and patted my back.

“How did you know I was here?” my dad asked as he glanced over at me.

“I know you, Dad, and I know this is your favorite place.”

“Hey, Grant.” Logan, the bartender smiled. “What can I get you?”

“A scotch. Make it a double.”

“Coming right up.”

“How many of those have you had?” I asked.

“Not enough. Why are you here, son?”

“I know about Mom. She just paid me a visit at the penthouse.”

“Is that so? How did she know where you lived?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t ask her.”

“I’m sorry. I warned her to stay away from you. She never was a good listener. Are you okay?”

“I don’t know.” I picked up the drink Logan set in front of me. “She wanted my forgiveness.”

“Did she now? And?”

“Long story short, I kicked her out of the penthouse and told her I’d never forgive her.” I slammed back my scotch.

“That’s your decision and your decision alone, son. I will respect whatever you decide.”

“Thanks, Dad. But I already decided. I can’t forgive her. No woman should ever leave their child behind for twenty years without a word. Not matter what the reason was. Maybe if she’d come to me ten years ago, I would have felt differently. How about you? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” He signaled Logan for another scotch.

I wanted to talk to him about Cassandra, but I felt this wasn’t the right time. I’d have to save that conversation for another day.

“Mom told me she felt trapped. Did she ever talk to you about it?”

“She had bouts of depression here and there over the years, and we talked about it. But she never said a word about feeling trapped. I was there for her when she needed me, and I tried to get her to see a therapist, but she wouldn’t. I never saw it coming, and I think that’s what bothers me the most. One minute things seemed perfectly fine and the next both our lives completely changed. You suddenly didn’t have a mother anymore and a father who drank until he passed out every night.”

“Dad.” I hooked my arm around him. “You were hurting, and you were coping the only way you knew how.”

“You were ten years old and taking care of me when I should have been taking care of you.”

“We took care of each other.”

“You should be home with Bella, not sitting in a bar with your old man.”

I let out a sigh.

“Well, I’m kind of angry with Bella at the moment.”

“Why?”

“Because she knew Mom was back before I did, and she didn’t tell me.”

“That’s because I told her not to. I was going to tell you myself once I had time to process everything. You have no right being angry with her. None of this is her fault and I will not allow Olivia to put a rift between you and Bella.” He laid his head down on the bar.

“I have to cut him off, Grant,” Logan said.

“Yeah. I’m taking him home. Cash me out.”

He handed me the bar bill and I threw some cash down.

“Come on, Dad.” I hooked my arm around him, helped him out the door and helped him into a cab. Climbing in next to him, I shut the door and gave the cab driver our address.

I took him up to his penthouse and helped him to the bedroom. After taking off his shoes, I grabbed a blanket from the closet and laid it on top of him.

“Everything’s going to be okay, Dad.”

After turning off the light, I took the elevator down to my penthouse. When I walked into the living room, I saw Bella curled up asleep on the couch.

“Hey,” I whispered as I softly stroked her hair. “What are you still doing here?”

She opened her tired eyes. “Hi. I was waiting for you to come home. I wanted to make sure you were okay. Where did you go?”

“I found my dad at a bar. I just got him home and helped him to bed. I’m sorry for earlier. I never should have shut you out like that.” I stroked her forehead.

“Don’t apologize. You’ve been through a lot for one night. I would have done the same thing.”

“I’m happy you stayed.” My lips gave way to soft smile. “We can go back to your place if you’re worried about Duchess.”

“She’s fine. I sent Cody over there to feed her. If you don’t mind, I’d like to stay here tonight.”

“I’d love for you to stay.”

I picked her up from the couch and carried her up to my bedroom.