Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 66753 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66753 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
If there’s no threat to the company hanging over my head, I can go to court and fight the will. It will get press, but if that’s what I have to do to claim the company and not lose Bella, I’ll go to court.
Chapter Eleven
Bella
The first thing I do when I disconnect with my father is text Allie: Are you working at the office today or from home?
It’s still hard to get my head around the fact that Allie started with the company filling in for the other Allie. Allie took a leave of absence, or so we all thought. She was actually dead at the hand of Tyler’s father. The same Allie who dated Tyler. The screwed-up nature of his family should be enough to scare me away, and yet, when I was in his office this morning and he kissed me, I just wanted him to keep on kissing me.
I shove aside thoughts of Tyler yet again. Bottom line, Dash’s Allie—my future sister-in-law—now handles the company’s charity program, including our annual event. She also works from home with Dash more often than not these days.
She replies to my text: I’m actually in my office. Want to meet for coffee in the café? Or even down the street?
Café, I reply. I have so much work to catch up on. I need to stay close.
And as a bonus, I think, she won’t feel as comfortable drilling me over Tyler here at the office.
Now? she asks.
Yes, I reply. Headed that way.
I’ll order, she replies, in what drives home our growing, sisterly bond.
It’s going to be hard not to say too much to Allie, but she’ll tell Dash what is really going on and I can’t deal with my brother’s protective bear routine right now. I need time to think and process.
A few minutes later, I step into the company-run café and scan the tables to find Allie waving me to a corner spot. Allie is petite, brunette, and gorgeous inside and out. The inside part is what matters though, and I am beyond grateful for all she has done for my brother. Dash was set to self-destruct personally and professionally in those fight clubs. He was hurting, and that was the only way he knew to deal with the pain.
Until Allie.
“Allie!” the barista calls out, and I point to the counter and hurry that way. I grab both coffees and headed to the table, joining Allie and setting her cup in front of her.
She’s in a black dress today, with contrasting red lipstick that works for her, but wouldn’t for me.
“How’s the puppy?” she asks.
“Sweet as she can be. I can see myself finding reasons to work from home.”
“At the rate you’re closing deals, I’m fairly certain Tyler will agree.”
“Unfortunately, I have a lot of clients to deal with at the office. Though,” I add, “I do believe that pup you two gave me is going to lure me to work at home at times I wouldn’t otherwise.”
“Dash told me his idea about you going out on your own.”
“Did he tell you why I won’t do it?” I ask.
“He did, and I understand why. The powerful people you represent need a powerful firm with resources behind them. But Dash also needs a business manager.”
“I’m his business manager.”
“You’re his agent,” she reminds me, which is technically true. “He needs a business manager to manage his empire.”
“That’s putting the cart before the horse,” I say. “It won’t be an empire if we don’t get the studio to move on making his show.”
“If you were his full-time business manager, you could make that happen,” she points out. “You’re brilliant with people and even more brilliant with him.”
“He has you and besides, again, cart before the horse.”
She’s not done. “If his empire grows as big as I think it might, he’ll need us both.”
“My father says he needs me to manage his career as well,” I reply. “But he and Dash know I won’t ride their coattails. I need my own identity.”
“You created Dash’s identity,” she counters, “and I bet you’ve been involved in your father’s career.”
“I haven’t. He’s had the same agent for his entire career, and I would never intrude on their relationship.”
She gives me a thoughtful look. “It must be incredible to have a famous father and brother.”
“And mother,” I add. “Everyone knew her. She was a household name.”
“She was,” she agrees. “She really was.” She tilts her head and studies me. “You don’t want to talk about Tyler.”
“No. But thank you.” I use that as a segue to business. “But I do want to talk about Dash. The studio called and wants to amend the contract.” Her lips part and her eyes go wide.
“What?” she asks incredulously. “I thought it was all inked. A solid contract.” She grips the table. “What’s happening now?”