Page 52 of Losing Faith

“I think you’re very worthy of love.”

She doesn’t say anything as she pulls away. “Rome is the client you were telling Sire about, yeah?” She changes the topic and I let her.

“Yeah.”

She nods in thought as she faces forward.

“To clean his image, why don’t you make him do some sort of charity event or something with kids? It can be a long-going thing so the public doesn’t think it’s to cover up everything going on. People love kids.”

“You love kids,” I correct her and she takes a beat to look back at the tree house.

“I love your kid,” she corrects me, and hearing her words does something to me because my one rule was to not get involved with the women in my daughter’s life, but hearing she loves Belle makes me want to break that rule.

Chapter Seventeen

Jackson

IopenmydoorforRome and he has the nerve to look as pissed as I feel.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he grumbles as he rolls his eyes at me. He attempts to walk into my house, but before he can pass me, I grab him by the arm more harshly than needed.

“You’re in my damn house, little boy. You’ll respect me or you’ll leave and find a new agent.” I stare down at him and he watches me for a beat before silently nodding. I let go of his arm before walking into the house with him.

We’re heading for my office when Isabelle hops down from the steps. “How about this one?” She poses as she shows me her third costume option, and I don’t understand why my mother bought her every costume idea she’s had the past two weeks.

I examine her Tinker Bell outfit. “I think this one is my favorite.”

She looks down at herself before turning to Rome. “What do you think?”

He gives her a once over before turning to me and I raise my brows, silently telling him to agree with me so she can stop trying on all eight of her costumes. “I agree with your dad. This one looks very nice.”

She hums in thought before turning to me. “Can you put my hair in a Tinker Bell bun so I can see if I really look like her?”

“I have to talk to Rome, but when I’m done I’ll do your hair… again.” I force a smile but when she smiles in return, I can’t even be annoyed because she’s too damn cute.

“I just had a better idea.” She lights up. “How about I take all my costumes to Uncle Sigh’s house and he can help us?”

“Okay.” I take a step for my office but she speaks up again.

“But”—she puts a finger up—“Everyone needs to help, so can you make sure Uncle August and Sagey and Titi HazelandTiti VidandLissy will be there?”

My smile widens at her excitement. “I’ll call them and make sure they’re all there.”

She nods in return before taking off to change and I quickly escape into my office with Rome.

“She’s taking Halloween very seriously.” Rome raises his brows at me, amusement in his tone, but I’m too pissed at him to even crack a smile.

“You’ve been blowing up my phone for days, so now is your chance to explain to me why a video of you beating Chase to the brink of death is circling the internet.”

He opens his mouth, but I yell before he can finish.

“Over a damngirl? I cannot have my clients pinning against each other. Tell me now if this is all a game to you because I won’t try to save the last contract you have.One, Rome! That’s all you have left because no one wants to fucking work with you anymore.”

He shakes his head at me before his temper clearly rises. “You think this is just because of a girl?”

I pace the office. “Your coach told me—”

“Our coach is covering for him,” he snaps. “If you answered my calls and had a bit more faith in me, you’d know he was forcing himself on her.”

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