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AFTER MY HAIR appointment, I meet Belinda for lunch as planned.A liquid lunch.
“How’s my niece?”she asks.
“Good.She’s with mom.”I sip the martini and let out an appreciative moan.“Do you think it’s creepy that Drew Carrington knew Zoe was three?”
Belinda bites into her Caesar salad and shakes her head.“No.It’s called due diligence.”
I shrug.
“Guess so.Zoe doesn’t have anything to do with the business, so I just thought it was strange that he mentioned her.”
“You’re being a mom.I doubt hearing a strange man talking about her felt good.How was it framed?”
Ah.Well.
I guess it’s time to confess.
“He said, and I quote,I’m not in the habit of moving my itinerary around for absent business partners and three-year-olds.Don’t make me regret it.”
Belinda’s fork freezes on the way to her mouth.“Back up the bus.Absent?”
I wave my hand out.“We had an argument.I decided not to go into the office.”
“You breached your contract.”
Did I mention she was a lawyer?
“I’m not one of your clients.”I study my salad, then decide the martini is more appealing “Don’t lecture me.He was incredibly rude about me on the phone to someone while we were at the Manhattan store, indicating he had no plans to include me in any future decisions about the company.”
She drops her fork and reaches out to squeeze my hand.“Gemmy, you don’t own it anymore; he does.”
I tug my hand away.
She only calls me Gemmy when she is trying to placate me.I’m not a highly strung person, and it annoys me.In fact, it’s only been since Anthony was killed that I’ve really found my voice.
At least, that’s how it feels.
“I know that.I know,” I cry under my voice.“Why does everyone keep telling me?Jesus.I’m just trying to do what’s right for Zoe.For Anthony.For the Ford legacy.”
Belinda gives me a sad smile and picks up her fork and resumes eating.“Gem, you didn’t destroy it.”
“Yes, I did.”
Everyone is just being polite, but the fact is, the company was ticking along just fine while he was at the helm.Things were obviously in a state of change, and I’m sure he had a plan.
I’m...mostly sure.
It was me who wasn’t able to work it out and keep the ship afloat.
I’m to blame.
Now the people who’ve worked for Open Leaf for years could lose their jobs.
Because ofme.
