Page 74 of Room for Improvement

Bryce explained it all. From the dating app disaster after California, to his hurried trip to Texas. All the way to how he had ended up talking to his father from a café in Jackson, Mississippi. Edward flinched at the mention of Jordan making veiled threats to LHRW.

“That’s a tangled mess. I can’t say I approve of what you did with the millionaire dating app. Whether you agreed with Ms. Holtes review or not, it was unprofessional of you to have reacted to it. A review is just someone else’s opinion,” observed Edward.

It hadn’t been one of Bryce’s finest moments. He would regret having hurt Vivian in such a callous way to the day he died.

She even accepted my apology, until the lawyer thing came up.

“What are you going to do about her? I mean you aren’t going to let this…her… go, are you? I know you well enough, Bryce, that if this was just a fling, you wouldn’t be running all over the country in pursuit of this young lady.”

Bryce shrugged. He was tired, and at a bit of a loss as to what to do. His father had just informed him that he was shortly going to be taking control of the Royal Resorts US operations. This part of the family business had an annual turnover of close to half a billion dollars. The board was trusting him to grow the company. It was a huge step in his career.

And yet I can’t manage my own private life.

“I don’t honestly know what to do. Vivian isn’t exactly about to send me a Christmas card.” He let out a weary sigh. “The only thing I am certain of at the moment is that I need to finish this wine, then go have a shower and get some sleep.”

Hopefully tomorrow morning would see him wake with a clearer mind. He would need to be at the top of his game to broach the subject of Vivian with Mia and Sheila. If he came to them asking for help and they sensed any sort of hesitation on his part, he would be in trouble.

Edward patted him gently on the shoulder. “Have a good night’s sleep. I will talk to our legal team and make doubly certain Jordan hasn’t put anything in motion.”

His brother had said it was just an inquiry, but from where Bryce stood, Jordan had developed a horrible habit of taking things and making them worse than they had been at the outset. He could understand why their father was keen to check the legal situation. A good CEO always checked that the ‘i’shad been dotted and the ‘t’scrossed.

Bryce sipped his wine, then set the half empty glass on the coffee table. Exhaustion was fast catching up. “If it’s alright with you Dad, I think I might just head back to my apartment. Thanks for the drink. And for your support. I will talk to you in the morning.”

Edward held out his hand, and Bryce went to take it, expecting a handshake. His father huffed and pulled him into a hug. “My boys are never too big or old for a hug. Never forget that no matter what happens. Congratulations, you deserve the appointment.”

“Thanks. It’s a big step, and if it’s alright I will come to you for advice when I need it. I’ll see you tomorrow. Give Mom my love.”

He left the office tired but determined. Bright and early tomorrow he was going to call on every person and resource under his command. He wouldn’t rest until he had found Vivian, told her how he truly felt, and finally claimed her heart.

Come the morning,Operation Win Over Vivianwas a go.

CHAPTERFORTY-EIGHT

Royal Resorts Offices

Friday Morning

There were three people sitting in his office early the following morning when Bryce arrived at work. Two of them he recognized. Mia and Sheila. The third, was a well-dressed young Black woman he hadn’t seen before, but from the way she shot a hard glare at him, he gathered she wasn’t a Royal Resorts employee.

For a long, awkward minute Bryce and the mystery woman slowly looked one another up and down. She was clearly taking in his Italian wool suit and pale blue shirt, while he in turn noted the expensive watch on her wrist and her Prince of Wales checked pant suit. If he wasn’t mistaken her outfit was straight out of this season’s Gucci runway collection. He’d been in the audience with one of his European cousins during Milan Fashion Week, and she had praised the look.

“Hi, I’m Bryce, and you would be?”

The pant suit clad visitor rose from her chair and offered him her hand. “Grace Collins, we spoke on the phone when you were in Galveston with my friend Vivian.” In between his heart missing a beat, Bryce caught the polished accent of someone who likely spent her summers in the Hamptons.

Bryce shook hands. “So… you are… that, Grace. It’s a pleasure to meet you in person.”I think.

When she gifted him with a deadly smile, Bryce was left in two minds. She was either here to help or murder him.

After Grace resumed her seat, reclining in her chair and crossing her legs in the way that people who didn’t take no for an answer did, Bryce decided it would be smarter to turn his attention to his two employees. They were on the payroll and less likely to give him grief. The well-dressed Grace Collins had to be in his office at their behest. “May I ask what this meeting is in aid of?”

His plans had been to hide away in his office while making phone calls and doing what he could to locate Vivian, all with the expectation that he would inevitably go pleading to Mia and Sheila for help with his love life.

A stern faced Mia nodded at Grace. “Grace is here on behalf of her friend’s broken heart.”

Bryce took up a spot perching on the end of his desk. His office wasn’t big enough for the four of them to gather around the small meeting table. Under any other circumstances he would have had them adjourn to a conference room, but those spaces were in the common areas. At this early hour there were few people around the office, even Janice was yet to appear, but Bryce was keen for there to be as few as possible number of witnesses to this conversation.

He cleared his throat, eager to get the first words in. “I have a horrible feeling I am being portrayed as the villain in this story, but before any of you decide to tear into me— again.” He nodded at Grace. “Let me make it clear, I haven’t done anything wrong.”This time.“If Vivian is upset, it’s because she has been misled.”

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