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Here they all think I’ what they want, when the truth is the obstacle is a blond-haired, blue-eyed beauty living thousands of s stood with Maddie and the disrespect I was getting here, I was beginning to reconsider

I still couldn’t believe she’d turned me down

What ith all of this nonsense about ‘love’ anyway? Maddie had Katy primed to feed me that shit when I showed up to talk to her I should have seen that co Maddie and I had at stake with the kid, and that was her goddamn deal breaker?

Mystifying as fuck is what it was

“Well?” Albert hissed as he broke o out in the street in front of the building here I’m sure a suitable candidate will cross your path in five minutes or so”

I placed the coffee cup down on the table Leaning forward, I drew ainst one another as I replied

“The spirit of his request was not that I marry a bimbo, Albert He wanted me to be happy”

“Please!” Albert scoffed as I finished speaking “Since when have you ever been happy with anyone but yourself, Grey?”

He leaned forward and folded his hands together on the table in front of him A veneer of sweat reflected on top of his bald head

“Come on, Grey,” he sneered “Everyone here knows you’re not capable of such a thing Happiness? With one woman?”

I glared at Albert and thinned my lips It took every bit of restraint I had not to lay into him

“Albert, out of respect for hi to discuss this with you or anyone else here I’ve said I’ll fulfill my commitment to him”

My answer provided him no satisfaction Instead, he turned his attention towards the attorneys and began to argue against the terain Soon, the others joined in and a chorus of coe with thee s of the conference room into the lobby of the law office

As I watched peopleabout, myfor rejectingand emotional at times, yes, but she wasn’t foolish Maybe it was possible I’d done a shit job of getting my point across Hell, I’d never asked anyone to marry me before It’s not unreasonable to suppose it would co the way

After all, we had a child to consider

I drew my focus back to chaos of the voices around the table What a sorry excuse for a faone There was nothing for me here

Maybe ht

Exhaling, I stood frohtening my tie The room fell silent

“Albert,” I said, as looked down at him “Go to hell”

With that, I turned and began to walk away As I did, the uproar started all over again Profanity-laced tirades from every freeloader in attendance echoed off the walls of the conference rooet worked out as soon as I could talk to Maddie once again

And that’s exactly what I intended to do This ti ‘‘no’ for an answer from her anymore

GREY

Two thirty-three in the

That was the ti back at h half-open eyelids I squinted at the number on the caller ID

Katy

“Shit…” I grumbled “Nohat the fuck”

Six hours later, I once again arrived at the hospital in Los Angeles And although she’d called to getother than the obvious He offered up a handful of condolences and encourage’

Maddie survived, but wasn’t conscious

Katy tookat me before she turned to walk away she said, “No one’s allowed in to visit right now Thisto say to her when she wakes up”

I frowned at her as she scoldedmy head, I turned my attention away from Katy and peered inside a smallon the door to Maddie’s room As I did, I heard Katy walk off without so etting into soht now