AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ultimately, I envision her promising to back off on Bright Horizons if I leave Oliver. But I know that wouldn’t actually satisfy her, not that I could do it anyway. Walking away from Oliver will never be an option. Selfishly, I want both—Bright Horizons and the man I love with all my heart.
Why do I have to sneak around with Oliver and hide our love? Why do I have to walk away, lose Oliver, and the chance at a life, family, and home with him?
I don’t have to…and I don’t plan to.
After feeding and walking Gretzky and Jordan, I drive to city hall. Rumor has it William Malone can be found in his office as early as six in the morning. Sure enough, when I get within a few feet of his office, the door is ajar and the lights are on.
Apprehensive, I pause and wait a beat or two, listening. Someone is inside and isn’t that why I came? To talk to the man.
Shoulders squared, I take the final few steps and rap on the door before entering. No one is in the small reception area, and no one emerges from the open door to what I’m guessing is the mayor’s office. I step inside.
Beyond the reception desk, a small waiting area, and a filing cabinet, the mayor stands in the adjacent room with a file folder open in his hand.
My fist raps on the doorframe and I peek my head into his office. “Good morning, Mayor Malone.”
I enter and thrust out my cold hand to shake his. The tall man, plump around the middle, closes the folder and wraps my hand in his.
“Oh, good morning, Miss Tyler.” Bill pulls at the lapel of his dark gray suit and glances behind me. Is he looking for his receptionist? Or to see if I’m alone?
“Please call me Wren.”
“Of course. Ah, have a seat.” He pulls out a chair for me, facing his mahogany desk, and then slides behind into his chair. Expression perplexed, his gaze flits from me to his computer screen. “I don’t think we had an appointment…”
He trails off to grip the mouse, shaking the computer awake, maybe to check his calendar.
“No. No, we don’t and I do apologize for showing up like this and at this hour.” I pause until his usually sharp, brown eyes meet mine. “But I had to.”
Salt-and-pepper eyebrows climb to his matching hairline. “You did?”
“Yes.” I slide forward almost in a conspiratorial fashion, hoping to create some kind of connection with this man. That I am good people and can be trusted. “This is kind of awkward, and I don’t think there’s really any right way to start, so I’m just going to go for it.”
He leans forward too, resting his elbows on the desk. “Yes, that sounds like a good idea.”
On the drive over here, I’d already figured starting with calling out Dot wasn’t the best approach. If I want this man to listen to me and sympathize, maligning his daughter, even if she deserves it, isn’t going to get me anywhere.
Let’s hope ambiguity works.
“I don’t know what you’ve heard, but please don’t let rumor and speculation about my actions impact Bright Horizons’ approval.”
“Excuse me? Rumor and speculation?” He cocks his head to one side and studies me as if he’s only now seeing me for the first time. “You’re here about your proposal? And what rumors and speculation are you talking about?”
Is he playing ignorant or is he really clueless? Okay, let’s try another angle.
“I heard from Lara Crandall that Bright Horizons could be in trouble.”
“Trouble?”
Is he going to repeat everything I say?
“Yes. I’m not exactly sure what kind of trouble, only that it had to do with…me.”
“Why would Lara Crandall know anything?” His annoyance is now apparent with the mention of the woman, fingers fisting on the desk as his nostrils flare. I know the feeling.
I get the sense he wants to say more but manages to stop himself. He is an elected official after all. There’s no way Bill would want any disparaging comments he might say about his constituents to get out.
“I don’t know. She just seemed pretty sure of herself.”
He juts his chin in the air, clearly not amused. “Well, she’s wrong.” His fingers unfurl and he starts to drum them on the wood as he stares at me intently. “Wren, is this about the delay in getting back to you about your proposal?”
