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He nodded

"Now just a ht"

"It's Ryan," he corrected again and backed away

"That's all right I' at me and quickly left

"Hey?" Belinda called after him She turned back to ave me a lift home all the way from" She hesitated "From someplace far away and the least we could do"

"You're drunk, Belinda, and you haven't been home since I left Where have you been?"

"With friends," she declared, her hands on her hips "You'rein your own house now, so don't co me around And I'm not drunk" She hiccupped and stumbled toward the stairway

"I have to get to the office," I said "I' after you when you should have been here looking after Daddy You're a selfish, inconsiderate person, Belinda, and one day you'll wake up and find yourself stranded on an island of insanity I won't come to rescue you I promise," I said and walked past her

She tried to say so, but I slammed the door behind me before she could utter a word My conscience told et to her rooht As I got into er was so hot I was sure smoke came out of my ears

What I found at the office confirmedafter our affairs, he hadn't returned phone calls made to the house and he had let some accounts drop us

I went right to work, restoring as e in the few hours I was there Sa for me

"I had a feeling I would find you there when Carht eren't going back to work until to

"I don't have that luxury My father let too o, Samuel I won't be home until much later"

"Butwhat about our dinner? I made reservations at the club We have people to meet"

"I'ry Go without me if you want," I said