The Property Brokers: A Billionaire Romance Page 16
“Show’s over. Get back to work. And not a word of this to Grant,” I spat as I went back up to my office.
Grabbing my briefcase, I left and headed to the bar. It had already been a shit day as it was with Cassandra, and Olivia showing up was the icing on the cake. As I was sitting at the bar, kicking back one scotch after the other, my phone dinged, and I had a text message from Grant.
“Hey, Dad. I need to talk to you about something. Can we meet up later?”
“Is it important? I have plans.”
“It can wait until tomorrow.”
“Alright. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
Grant
I walked into the penthouse and found my beautiful girlfriend standing in the kitchen bent over, looking in the refrigerator.
“Damn. Now that’s a sight for sore eyes,” I said as I set a bag on the counter.
“I swear I had one more yogurt in here,” she said as she turned and looked at me. “Did you eat it?”
“Oh — was that yours?” I bit my bottom lip for I knew it was.
“Ugh, Grant,” she whined.
I walked over, shut the refrigerator door and took her in my arms.
“I’m sorry, babe.”
“No. It’s fine. I just wanted something to tie me over before we meet Ami and Lamar for dinner.”
Letting go of her, I opened the bag and pulled out a delicious looking fruit parfait cup.
“Will this do?”
A bright smile crossed her face.
“You bought that for me?”
“I did. I stopped at that coffee shop on the corner because I know how much you love their parfaits,” I said as I reached in the drawer and pulled out a spoon.
“You are the best boyfriend ever.” She grinned as she kissed me.
“I know.” I gave her a wink. “I’m going upstairs to change.
She took the lid off the parfait and followed me up to the bedroom.
“Did you by chance talk to your dad?”
“Not yet. I sent him a text telling him I needed to speak to him, and he told me not tonight. He said he has plans.”
Bella
I sat on the edge of the bed and watched as he changed out of his business suit. The fact that Myles didn’t tell Grant about his mother yet bothered me. He had a right to know, and I couldn’t keep it from him. Myles would have to understand that. But tonight wasn’t the night because we were going to dinner with Ami and Lamar. I’d tell him tomorrow morning. I sighed at the thought because I already knew how this was going to go, and I was prepared to clean up the damage Olivia was going to leave behind.
Grant
“I’m going to head downstairs.”
“Okay. I’ll be down in a few. I just want to freshen up before we go.” She smiled as she kissed my lips. “Can you take my parfait cup and throw it away, please?”
“Of course.” I kissed her forehead as I took the cup from her and walked downstairs.
The intercom buzzed, so I walked over and answered it.
“Mr. Roman, there’s a woman here to see you.”
“Who is she?”
“Her name is Mrs. Scott and she said it’s urgent that she speak with you.”
“Okay. Send her up, I guess.”
I stood there in confusion because I couldn’t recall knowing someone with that name. Especially a woman. Standing at the door of the elevator, I waited for it to come up. When it reached my penthouse, the doors opened, and a sick feeling washed over me as I stared at the woman looking back at me.
“Hello, son.”
“Mom?” I asked in shock as I threw my hand against the opened door to prevent it from shutting.
She pursed her lips as tears formed in her eyes.
“It’s so good to see you.”
“Wha—what are you doing here?”
“I came to see you.” She stepped into the foyer.
She went to give me a hug and I slowly backed away.
“Okay. I understand. Maybe it’s too soon.”
“I—I don’t—” I stuttered for I was in complete shock.
“Look at you. All grown up into a handsome man.”
“Grant, who are you—”
“Hello, Bella. It’s nice to see you again,” my mother spoke.
My eyes widened as I looked at Bella and saw the nervousness in her eyes. Suddenly, the shock wore off and an anger tore through me.
“Grant, I—” Bella started to speak.
“The two of you have already met and you didn’t tell me!” I shouted at her.
“We just met today, Grant,” my mother said. “At your office.”
“At the office?” I cocked my head.
I needed a drink and I needed it now.
“We’ll talk about this later,” I spat at Bella as I walked past her and over to the bar.
I poured myself a scotch and downed it as fast as I could.
“Grant—” my mother began to speak, and I interrupted her.
“I am going to ask you for the last time, what are you doing here?”
I could barely look at her. All the memories of when she left came flooding back like it had just happened yesterday.
“I wanted to see you. To see the man you’ve become.”
“Twenty years later?!” I shouted.
“I know my leaving must have been difficult for you, but I had no choice. I knew your father could take better care of you than I could.”
“That’s where you’re wrong!” I shouted as I pointed at her. “You always have a choice. I could understand if you wanted to leave Dad. Shit happens with couples. But to leave your child, your only child, without as so much as a goodbye.”
“You wouldn’t have understood. You were only ten years old. How could I explain to you that I felt trapped, like I was suffocating? I was eighteen when I found out I was pregnant. I had just graduated from high school and hadn’t even begun to live life yet. Then I married your father and had you. Suddenly, I was a wife and a mother. That was all I became.”
“Bella, go get my violin so I can play it for my mother,” I spoke, and her brows furrowed. “Everything you’ve said here is about YOU!” I pointed at her. “Did you ever stop to think about how I would feel? How my father would feel? Do you know the chaos you caused after you left? Do you even care?”
“Of course, I care, Grant! I’ve had to live with it for twenty years. And there hasn’t been one single day that has gone by that I didn’t think about you.”
“Really? Where were you for my birthdays and holidays? I’ve had twenty birthdays and twenty Christmases since you left and not one single word!”
“I’m so sorry.” Tears streamed down her face.
“Does Dad know you’re in New York?”
“Yes. I saw him at the office earlier.”
“And?”
“It didn’t go well.”
“I’m not surprised. This is the last time I’m going to ask you why you came back here, and I want the truth.”
“I was hoping that by the grace of God you would forgive me, and we could reconnect.”
I let out a roaring laugh.
“You have no idea what you’ve done to me.” I shook my head. “I lost that woman over there once because I closed myself off to ever having feelings or a relationship with a woman because of you. For fear they’d leave me and hurt me like you did. It was a miracle that Bella walked back into my life and forgave me for what I had done to her all those years ago. So no, I don’t forgive you and I never will. We will never have any type of relationship. Not only because I think you are the most selfish woman on the face of the earth, but because I would never betray my father. The man who loved me, raised me and stuck by me through everything. You are nothing to me. You’re only the woman who gave birth to me and nothing else.”
“Grant, don’t say that.”
“It’s the truth, Olivia. As far as I’m concerned, my mother died twenty years ago. Now, get out of my house.”
I
turned and headed up the stairs.
Chapter 36
Bella
“Grant, wait!” she cried.
“Olivia, you heard him. You need to leave.” I lightly grabbed hold of her arm.
“Please, Bella. Talk to him. He’ll listen to you. Please. I’m begging you.”
“I’m sorry. He’s made his decision. Do you blame him?” I pushed the button to the elevator and the doors opened. “You just need to go and live your life like you have been for the last twenty years.”
Olivia stepped inside the elevator and as soon as the doors shut, I ran upstairs to talk to Grant. The moment I stepped inside in the bedroom, I found him sitting on the edge of the bed. As I walked closer, he put his hand up and stopped me.
“Why didn’t you tell me, Bella?”
“I was going to.”
“When? Because you should have called me when you met her in my office. Or maybe when I got home.”
“It all happened so fast, and I was caught off guard. I knew when I told you, you’d be upset, and we had dinner plans with Ami and Lamar. I was going to tell you in the morning. I’m sorry, Grant.”
“I hope you cancelled our dinner plans.”
“I did. I sent Ami a text message and told her we couldn’t make it. Grant, I’m so sorry.” I knelt in front of him and grabbed his hands. “I love you so much, and it hurts me to see you hurting like this.”
He pulled his hands away from mine and stood up from the bed.
“You should have told me, Bella,” he spoke as he walked out of the bedroom.
“Wait. Where are you going?” I ran after him.
“I’m going out to find my dad. Please, for the love of God, leave me alone. I don’t want to be with you right now.”
I watched him step onto the elevator and the doors closed. Lowering myself onto the stairs, I sat there with my hands covering my face. He was hurting and he was angry. I wanted to comfort him, but now, he was mad at me too. We’d get through this. All he needed was some time.
Grant
I tried to call my dad, but it went straight to voicemail, so I took a cab to the one bar I knew I’d most likely find him. When I stepped through the door, I saw him sitting on a stool at the bar. The seats next to him were taken, so I pulled out my wallet and grabbed a hundred-dollar bill. Walking up to the bar, I handed it to the gentleman that was sitting next to him.
“Would you mind if I took this seat?”
“Not at all.” He stood up and patted my back.
“How did you know I was here?” my dad asked as he glanced over at me.
“I know you, Dad, and I know this is your favorite place.”
“Hey, Grant.” Logan, the bartender smiled. “What can I get you?”
“A scotch. Make it a double.”
“Coming right up.”
“How many of those have you had?” I asked.
“Not enough. Why are you here, son?”
“I know about Mom. She just paid me a visit at the penthouse.”
“Is that so? How did she know where you lived?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t ask her.”
“I’m sorry. I warned her to stay away from you. She never was a good listener. Are you okay?”
“I don’t know.” I picked up the drink Logan set in front of me. “She wanted my forgiveness.”
“Did she now? And?”
“Long story short, I kicked her out of the penthouse and told her I’d never forgive her.” I slammed back my scotch.
“That’s your decision and your decision alone, son. I will respect whatever you decide.”
“Thanks, Dad. But I already decided. I can’t forgive her. No woman should ever leave their child behind for twenty years without a word. Not matter what the reason was. Maybe if she’d come to me ten years ago, I would have felt differently. How about you? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” He signaled Logan for another scotch.
I wanted to talk to him about Cassandra, but I felt this wasn’t the right time. I’d have to save that conversation for another day.
“Mom told me she felt trapped. Did she ever talk to you about it?”
“She had bouts of depression here and there over the years, and we talked about it. But she never said a word about feeling trapped. I was there for her when she needed me, and I tried to get her to see a therapist, but she wouldn’t. I never saw it coming, and I think that’s what bothers me the most. One minute things seemed perfectly fine and the next both our lives completely changed. You suddenly didn’t have a mother anymore and a father who drank until he passed out every night.”
“Dad.” I hooked my arm around him. “You were hurting, and you were coping the only way you knew how.”
“You were ten years old and taking care of me when I should have been taking care of you.”
“We took care of each other.”
“You should be home with Bella, not sitting in a bar with your old man.”
I let out a sigh.
“Well, I’m kind of angry with Bella at the moment.”
“Why?”
“Because she knew Mom was back before I did, and she didn’t tell me.”
“That’s because I told her not to. I was going to tell you myself once I had time to process everything. You have no right being angry with her. None of this is her fault and I will not allow Olivia to put a rift between you and Bella.” He laid his head down on the bar.
“I have to cut him off, Grant,” Logan said.
“Yeah. I’m taking him home. Cash me out.”
He handed me the bar bill and I threw some cash down.
“Come on, Dad.” I hooked my arm around him, helped him out the door and helped him into a cab. Climbing in next to him, I shut the door and gave the cab driver our address.
I took him up to his penthouse and helped him to the bedroom. After taking off his shoes, I grabbed a blanket from the closet and laid it on top of him.
“Everything’s going to be okay, Dad.”
After turning off the light, I took the elevator down to my penthouse. When I walked into the living room, I saw Bella curled up asleep on the couch.
“Hey,” I whispered as I softly stroked her hair. “What are you still doing here?”
She opened her tired eyes. “Hi. I was waiting for you to come home. I wanted to make sure you were okay. Where did you go?”
“I found my dad at a bar. I just got him home and helped him to bed. I’m sorry for earlier. I never should have shut you out like that.” I stroked her forehead.
“Don’t apologize. You’ve been through a lot for one night. I would have done the same thing.”
“I’m happy you stayed.” My lips gave way to soft smile. “We can go back to your place if you’re worried about Duchess.”
“She’s fine. I sent Cody over there to feed her. If you don’t mind, I’d like to stay here tonight.”
“I’d love for you to stay.”
I picked her up from the couch and carried her up to my bedroom.
Chapter 37
Bella
A couple days had passed since Grant’s mother blew in and caused a disturbance in the Roman family. I knew Grant was hurting, even though he said he was fine. Seeing your mother who walked out on you for the first time in twenty years wasn’t something anyone could get over quickly.
Grant and I had just arrived at the office after having lunch when my phone rang, and Ken was calling.
“Hi, Ken.”
“Bella. I have great news. My clients are willing to go up to $19.5 million, cash deal, custom light fixtures in the bathroom, the dining table, and the bar stools.”
“Sorry, Ken. The seller already accepted another offer.”
“What? Damn it, Bella. I told you my client’s really want that apartment.”
“And I told you to get back to me ASAP two days ago.”
“So, you’re telling me it’s sold?”
“Yes, Ken. That’s exactly what I’m t
elling you.”
“Fuck. If I can get my clients to go up again, what are the chances your seller will accept?”
“I don’t know. It depends.”
“I’ll call you right back. Do not leave your phone unattended.”
“You’re playing with fire, babe,” Grant spoke as I set my phone down.
“Am I?” I smirked, and he chuckled.
A few moments later, Ken called me back.
“Hi, Ken.”
“$22 million, cash deal, no contingencies, all light fixtures in the bathroom, the bar stools and the dining room table. Plus, they want occupancy in ten days.”
“Let me call the seller right now. I’ll call you back.”
“YES! YES!” I stood up and did a little dance.
Dialing Harry’s number, he answered on the first ring.
“Bella, this call better be worth it because I’m in the middle of a meeting.”
“I have an offer for you. Are you sitting down?”
“Stop with the dramatics and just hit me with it.”
“$22 million, cash deal, no contingencies, all light fixtures in the bathroom, the bar stools, the dining room table and occupancy in ten days.”
“Well, shit.” He laughed. “I fully accept that offer. Two million over asking is sweet music to my ears.”
“Excellent, Harry. I’ll call the buyer’s broker right now and tell him the good news.”
“I knew you could do it. Good job, sweetheart. I take back everything bad I said about you.”
“Thank you, Harry.” I ended the call.
“And that is how you make $660,000 in commission.” I grinned.
“Well done.” Grant clapped as he leaned back in his chair.
Walking over to his desk, I sat down on his lap and wrapped my arms around his neck.
“Thank you.”
“Is it bad that I’m incredibly turned on right now?” He smiled.
“Why?” I laughed. “Because I got two million over asking?”