Page 53 of Honey Bun
“Sorry for bringing it up,” she said.
Good. At least she’s comfortable here.I needed her to relax. She seemed tense since I’d returned from my trip.
My brother shrugged. “Not your fault. I need to find a way to break through to her, and I don’t think that’s a lawsuit like Jeff recommends.”
Jeff was twenty-four and had just finished law school, so he had no idea about the consequences of life choices like that. I said, “A lawsuit is a bad idea.”
Cyrus sipped his wine. “My life is a mess. I’m glad to see the two of you are happy and together now.”
He took a step out of our way so we could go, but Maddie’s face turned red, and she said, “We’re not—”
“It’s complicated, Cyrus,” I interrupted. I wanted the conversation to end fast. Maddie was already skittish.
She stepped back. “Aurora and I should probably go.”
My mother then butted in and motioned toward her skirt and the walls like she was waving off all concerns. “Don’t be silly. My boys won’t harass you anymore with questions. Enjoy your meal.”
I usually hated when my mom said something like that, but that night was an exception. Maddie had almost run.
Aurora joined us and hugged her mother. Before Maddie ordered her daughter to do anything, I said, “My mom’s right. It’s no one’s business what you decide.”
She stared at me, and I wasn’t sure what to do. Then she said, “Thanks, Arman,” and followed my mom to the table.
Once we were seated, Jeff said, “Maddie, I brought the final custody arrangement for you to see.”
She tensed but opened the envelope. Tears came out of her eyes. “Bob gave up all rights. Thank you.”
Aurora said, “I never have to see him again?”
“Not unless you choose to go find him.” She gave the paper to Aurora, who hugged her.
Her happiness made me happy. I had to convince her that she needed to stay with me. She was mine, even if she wasn’t ready to accept that fact yet.
Chapter Sixteen
Arman
At work, I still commanded a small business empire. All the parts fit together, and I knew how to handle the business. Joel was good at running the technical side. Kendal was excellent at keeping signed clients on board with her hand-holding, and I found the talent and the acquisitions to make everything fit. We knew how to work together without speaking.
The same wasn’t true with Maddie. I sat in my office and looked out the open door. The workday was almost over, and Maddie was at her desk, talking to DJs who could play both country and punk rock and mix the genres for a romantic wedding. From her smile, it seemed she’d tracked down someone who’d given her the answers she wanted.
I finished signing a contract for an RPG created by high school kids in Kentucky. They’d been sold on the continued royalties that I offered instead of a one-time payout. If the game was successful, as I thought it would be, then they would get royalties for life. If it wasn’t successful, then I didn’t have to pay much to them and could focus on advertising. Most gaming companies only paid the one-time fee, so the deal worked for both of us.
I closed my computer. My palms were sweating. I wasn’t sure how to move my relationship with Maddie to a deeper level. The night before, she hadn’t wanted to talk.
I swallowed my pride and reminded myself that she needed time. “You’re doing a great job.”
She stood and turned off her computer. “You tell everyone at the office that all the time.”
Compliments had never been my thing. My last assistant had called me “uncompromising.”
I rubbed the back of my neck and shook my head. “No, I don’t.”
She walked beside me toward the elevator. “Okay, not with those exact words, but you make people feel valued. Especially me.”
I didn’t believe her, but that was a nice thing to say. I summoned the elevator. “You must bring that out in me.”
The doors opened for us, and she breezed in like nothing was a problem. “I think it’s part of why you’re successful and has nothing to do with me.”
