Page 116 of Wrong Room, Right Billionaire

“Unless you think he’ll come around.”

I shake my head, blowing my nose again. “He’s not going to come around.”

“Are you sure?” she asks.

“I’m sure.”

“But everything you just told me. And the pictures? Not to mention the bucket list thing,” she says.

“The bucket list thing was–”

“An agenda?” She cuts me off. “I don’t think so. Seriously, Scarlett. I might be a realist, but I also know love when I see it. And a man who holds onto a checklist of your dreams and helps you live those dreams out is not doing so for his own benefit. He could have hired a travel advisor and come up with an itinerary of a dozen things for the two of you to do that would have bumped up his ratings. But no. He did the things you wanted to do.”

I nod, my eyes burning from the endless flow of tears. “Even if you’re right, there’s nothing I can do about it now. He doesn’t want to have anything to do with me. He’s made that very clear.”

“Oh, men always do and say things to make things clear. But they don’t mean half of it,” she says flippantly. “Give him a minute. He just needs to cool off before he comes to his senses.”

“And if he doesn’t?” I ask the very real, very possible question.

“Then he’s an idiot, and I will be here for you,” she says.

“I know you’re disappointed with me,” I tell her.

“What do you mean?” she asks, and I roll my eyes up to her.

“Oh, come on. You have always wished my life had turned out differently. Admit it,” I say.

“I am not going to admit it because it’s not true. Do I wish you had planned things out a little more in college? Or that you had stayed in college? Maybe. But also, that wouldn’t be you. That would be me. And you have to live your life your way,” she says, and I just blink.

“I’m sorry. Who are you and what the heck have you done with my sister?” I ask.

Claire just laughs. “Well. During the radio silence over the past couple of weeks, I’ve had a lot of time to think and reflect. And I realized that I have been a little overbearing and judgmental with you over the years.”

“Yeah?” I ask.

“Yeah.” She smiles.

“Only a little?” I ask, and she rolls her eyes, and I laugh.

“All I am saying is that I’m here for you. And I never want to disagree with your choices to the point that you don’t think I’m here for you. Or that you don’t come to me to talk, or ask for advice, or even just vent. I want you to come to me, no matter what.”

I smile with a wobbly chin and hug my sister. Because I know she means it. Despite how sad and lonely and lost I am, it feels very, very good to have someone. Even if I have lost the love of my life.

Chapter 45

Morgan

Bale Brothers Taking Bale Resorts Down in Their First Act of Teamwork Since the Death of Their Parents

That headline alone should tell you how I am doing as a whole. As I sit in my office at the end of the day, the building is empty except for the cleaning crew and Donovan. I’ve told him three times to go home, but he’s refused all three times.

“Alex is at one of those paint and sip classes, so I would just be going home to an empty house anyway,” he waves his hand.

“I thought you loved those,” I say indifferently. Not because I don’t care. I do. But because my brain is in a million different directions. The company is tanking, worse than it was after Scarlett’s article. Not to mention the court date with Conrad is tomorrow, something I am dreading for more reasons than I care to talk about.

“Sometimes,” he says. “But tonight’s landscape, and I don’t love landscape. I’ll do portraits and puppies all day long. We did that once: painted Rory and Lorelai. I think the girls were offended,” he chuckles. He’s talking about their pugs. “But Bob Ross shit? Not my thing.”

I nod once.