Page 9 of I Choose You

Dad shook his head. “If you want to partake in a new business deal, you have to track it down. Like your brother.”

Kody rolled his eyes. “He didn’t track anything down. They contacted him!”

“Kaden knows how to cultivate a conversation to begin a new deal,” Dad said.

“Cultivate a conversation?” Kody set his hands on his hips. “That sounds like bullshit.”

“Don’t be jealous now,” I teased.

He stood, sloppily stacking his sealed envelopes. “Jealous? Of you? What’s there to be jealous of?”

“I know how to strike a deal,” I taunted, goading him on as we left the room.

“You don’t have a deal yet.”

4

BROOKE

I woke up Tuesday and diligently did my routine. Today was HIIT on the rower, and I might have pushed too hard. If I could avoid having to use a stapler or even pushing open a door, I’d manage.

Note to self. Tomorrow can be a lighter day.

Showered and rocking the dress I got at Nordstrom’s clearance sale last fall, I was awake and ready to go. I’d be able to tell Todd about the partnership opportunity with Wagner Industries today. He ended up taking a sick day yesterday. It turned out helping your child with a broken dominant arm was a twenty-four-hour task.

Poor kid.

I was the first one in the office, and since Sandra had an appointment, I was the one to prep for the day. As I sipped my coffee and checked over the usual things I needed to review, I tried my hardest not to think about the reply I’d received from Wagner Industries.

Why is that name so familiar? I had correspondence with so many people. Our company was one of the top paper distribution companies in the country, and it would be impossible to remember every single client I’d spoken with or emailed.

But Wagner?

I shook my head, unable to clear the persistent thought the name was important.

My social life was meh. Most of the people I stayed in touch with online were tattoo artists and friends from former jobs.

I was in the middle of reviewing schedules when I heard the door opening. Since Sandra wasn’t in, I left my door open to toss out and receive the usual morning greetings. Todd wasn’t one of those bosses who shoved pleasantries and kumbaya policies down our throats. It was simply a decent workplace with decent people who genuinely cared about each other—for the most part.

No such thing as utopia at any job.

A few did need to be updated on last-minute issues, though, so I sat at Sandra’s desk for a few minutes.

Where’s Todd? He had to handle that meeting about the upcoming partnership. It couldn’t fall on my shoulders if I was picking up the slack in Sandra’s absence.

“Hey. Morning, Brooke.”

“Hi, Todd. How’s your son?”

He groaned, dropping his head in his hands. “It breaks my heart. I swear, seeing your kid in pain is the worst.”

Another employee strode in and nodded as she passed him by, patting his back. “And no amount of telling them to be careful makes a difference.”

Todd nodded before he started to walk away. “Thanks for handling it all yesterday,” he told me. “You’re a lifesaver.”

“Happy to help.” I exaggerated looking at my watch. “You’ve got that meeting with Wagner Industries in about five.”

He grinned. “Now that’s the highlight of the week. Wagner Industries.” Whistling and giving me a thumbs-up, he continued toward his office. “Five minutes. I’m on it. Thanks again, Brooke. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”