Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 40635 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 163(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40635 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 163(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
But he couldn't do that. He hated that I chose a man like Grayson instead of a man like him. Grayson was good enough to use but not good enough for me to marry. So, my dad did everything he could to keep us apart. And in the end, he got exactly what he wanted because Grayson is gone.
I've never been able to forget that. I was never able to forgive my dad for it, either. He tried to make amends. He did everything he could to help me look for Grayson. But it was too little too late.
Because of him, my daughter will never meet her father. She'll never hug Grayson. She'll never look into his eyes. She'll never hear his laugh or see his smile.
If leaving me a law firm I never wanted is supposed to be some big, final apology, it feels more like one final ploy to control my life. Because now I have to figure out what to do with the damn thing. Sell it? Give it away? Run it into the freaking ground? Actually try to run it right?
The petty part of me wants to dismantle it brick by brick as a great big middle finger to my dad.
Six years ago, I probably would have burned the damn thing to the ground without hesitation. But my rage has cooled since then. And I've matured. It won't hurt him if his company falls apart. He's gone.
The only people who suffer if I drive it into the ground are the bands and artists who rely on the company to look after their interests. I can't blow up entire careers because I'm still mad at my dad.
"My bestie is a big wig in Nashville," Theia teases before sobering. "Have you decided what you're going to do?"
"I have no idea." I huff a breath, leaning back in the seat with my eyes closed. I've been in town for almost weeks, and I still don't have my feet beneath me. "Any chance you know anyone who wants to run a multi-million-dollar entertainment law firm that has a full roster of rich and famous clientele?"
"Uh, no." Theia laughs.
"Figured you were going to say that."
"On the bright side, at least you get to meet all the fancy pants people, drink expensive wine, and see concerts for free while you're figuring it out," she says. "So it's not all bad."
"I need so much wine right now," I whisper, making her laugh. "Brinley was pissed that she couldn't come with me tonight. She said I was ruining her life by not letting her meet Kasen Alexander."
Laughter burbles down the line. "I'm on her side. I'd do shady things to meet him, too."
"Yeah, but you aren't five!"
"True." Theia laughs loudly. "Just ask him to sign something for her if you see him. You'll bet the best mom ever again in no time."
"Until she remembers I just moved her across the country," I mutter, sighing heavily. My daughter is going to take over the world one day…or destroy it trying. She is five going on fifteen. She's sassy, loud, and opinionated as hell. And right now, she is not very happy with me. I just ripped her away from everything she knew to bring her to Nashville. Her whole life changed overnight, and she doesn't understand why.
Most kids would be thrilled to go from a tiny duplex to a mansion overnight. Not Brinley. She wants her life back, not the one my dad just foisted on us. And honestly? I don't blame her one bit. I don't want this life, either.
I want the one that was stolen from us six years ago. It's all I've ever wanted. But I'll never have that. All I have are memories that haunt me and the daughter Grayson and I made.
Somehow, it has to be enough to sustain me for the rest of my life.
"Mina!" Riley Jamison throws her hand up, waving me over as soon as I enter the area roped off for VIPs. I sigh in relief when I see her familiar face and immediately make a beeline toward her, grateful as hell there's somewhere here I know, at least somewhat.
She owns a talent agency in town. She stopped by to introduce herself after the funeral. I guess my dad's lawyers help negotiate the contracts for most of her clients. She wants me to keep the company, but I don't know the first thing about entertainment law or intellectual property law, and I don't have a hankering to learn.
I do like her, though.
"Hey," I say, giving her a genuine smile as I reach her side.
She wraps an arm around me in a quick hug. "I'm glad you made it. It's a freaking madhouse here! Oh. Mina, this is Addison Devine, one of my managers. Her husband is performing tonight. Addison, meet Mina."