Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 121734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
As if he were following my train of thought, Mal leaned closer and spoke, “As far as my P.I. could find, Keith never knew. He stepped out regularly on your mom, but from what my investigator could find, the only affair she ever had was with my father. Keith would’ve had no reason to suspect your mom of cheating on him. My investigator couldn’t find anything indicating Keith knew you weren’t his real daughter.”
“Other than how he treated me.”
“Other than that, yeah. But knowing how Keith Connors is, he would’ve said something to you. He never did?”
I shook my head. He was right. Keith would’ve shoved that information in my face the second the funeral was done. “He would’ve kicked me out if I wasn’t his kid.”
“I know this is a lot.”
I started laughing. It was high-pitched and tight, and my goodness, I was having a nervous meltdown in this bar. In front of my boss who wasn’t just my boss, but also my brother? And oh my God, I had a dad. A real dad.
“Your dad—” What did this mean? All of it.
Mal’s smile was so gentle. “He’d like to meet you, but only when you’re ready. He’s a good dad. He wasn’t a great husband, but after we lost Miriam, he made a lot of changes in his life. His family was his first priority. He and my mom decided to end things, but both are happy. They’re in good relationships with new partners. It’s why I took over the team. It was a family venture, but I’m the CEO of the family businesses.” He paused another second. “When we found out about you, we had you added to the business. Technically, you own a small fraction of the team as well.”
My mouth dropped all the way to the table. “What?”
His grin was small, but authentic. “It’s a small percentage. Not enough where you really have a say so you’re not in violation of any ethical concerns. The team’s board met and decided to terminate your contract with us, effective immediately. They’re using the morality clause, saying you violated it not only once with your relationship with Griffin but twice because of ‘whatever Daniel Connors is referring to.’ Those are their exact words.”
I couldn’t stay numb any longer. I was trying, but something had changed. Now I felt all the pain, all at once.
“Want to know what the team had to say about that?” Mal asked.
My eyes lifted.
“They told the board to fuck off. Griffin led the charge, while he was also going nuts because he couldn’t get ahold of you. Everyone else added their agreement. Bruge. Meester. Brick. All of them. Including the coaches. Every single one of them. I wasn’t aware of the board meeting. It was done in my absence. I just got back from Dubai. Want to know what I told the board?”
My heart was frozen, not daring to beat.
“I told them to fuck off too.” He leaned forward. “I informed them of our connection and that you had a small percentage of ownership as well. It was pointed out to me how this is also a conflict of interest, but frankly, I don’t care. If you want to remain working for the Grays as a consultant, I can have my lawyers draw up a contract that in the event where you might actually have a small say in some vote, that you’d defer because of your employment as a consultant. We can do it that way, if you’d like. Would you like to continue working with the Grays?”
At this point, I didn’t even know where I was sitting anymore. If I was still sitting. But I heard myself saying, “When I take on clients, I stay for a season. I’d like to see the season through.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do. I only got Griffin to calm down enough to focus on the game tonight because I told him I knew where you were. I promised I’d bring you back.” He glanced up at the game on the screen. “I’ve already paid your tab. My car is outside waiting for us. Will you come back with me?”
I felt entirely flabbergasted by everything he’d just said. All of it.
“Rain?”
Tomorrow, I promised myself. Tomorrow, I’d start my research on the lost child.
I looked at him. “Is this real?”
“It’s real.”
“You really want me to continue working with the Grays?”
“Yes. Family connection aside, Rain, we’re hockey. I saw your face when I first mentioned I was representing a hockey team. It was a look of absolute yearning, and knowing now what I know, I get it. Hockey’s family. If you come back, you’re accepting that you’re part of our family. I’m opening the door. I need you to step inside.”
I shook my head. “This doesn’t feel right. My job—”