“Dear God. You guys are really doing it while I’m on the… Okay. See ya.”
Scene68
Maggie
ACADEMY AWARDS CEREMONY DAY 10 A.M.
I walked down the hallway of the new floor of Dad’s company quarters. At the reception, they told me he’d moved his office to the top floor—this floor. The spacious atrium and travertine floors were breathtaking, illuminated by natural light coming through floor-to-ceiling windows and skylights.
I moved past the few faces working on a Sunday, not seeing any of my past workmates, until I reached Dad’s outer reception area.
Anna, Dad’s secretary, rose from behind the counter. “Maggie,” she sang. “We haven’t seen you in ages.” Her large eyes dropped, studying through my black and red winter dress and black boots. “You look amazing. Nice tan!”
“Thank you.” I smiled.
“How’s Hollywood treating you, girl? I’ve seenBlack Sheep, by the way. Marvelous. Can I have your autograph?” She grabbed a piece of paper and a pen from the countertop and pushed them in my face.
“Sure.” I signed the colored piece of paper, and before Anna could open her mouth again, I asked, “Is Dad free?”
“He’s wrapping up a meeting. “Anna’s eyes fell wide on the rock on my finger. “OMG, did you get engaged?”
“Could you keep it down, please?” I looked around to see if anyone was listening. “I haven’t told anyone just yet. I want Dad to be the first to know.”
“Of course. Are you announcing it at the Oscars tonight?” Anna looked out of breath. “That’s so exciting. Congratulations.” She pulled me into a hug.
“Thank…you.” I twisted my lips. The whole company would know about my engagement in seconds. The woman was a walking chatterbox.
Large metal doors separating Dad’s office from the outer reception area opened, and he emerged behind several men in suits stepping out of the room. He smiled when he saw me and motioned for me to come inside.
“Good to see you, Anna.” I stepped away from the counter and walked into his office, a corner suite with seamless windows and polished marble floor gleaming in the full sun.
He hugged me and closed the door. “That’s a nice surprise. When did you get back from Belize?”
“Three weeks ago,” I answered. “Are you busy?”
“Uh…yes, but I think I can spare a few minutes for my daughter, whom I haven’t seen in six months.” He adjusted his gray tie on his burgundy dress shirt as he sat down on a couch. “Sit.”
I smiled sheepishly. “I’ve been trying to see you since I got back, but you were out of town.”
“You know me. Work, work, work. I can’t even get a Sunday off, and I have to go on another business trip to Dubai tonight.”
“There’s something that I need to tell you before you hear it from the news.”
“If you mean the Oscars, it’s too late. I already know. Congratulations. I understand how big that is.”
I chuckled, taking a seat next to him, the leather cold on my back. “Actually—”
“I’m also not blind.” He took my hand, letting out a long breath. “Mike?”
There was an uneasy look in his eyes that made me swallow. “Yes. Who else?”
He nodded, pursing his lips. “Is there anything I can say to change your mind?”
“What?” My brows hooked so tight it hurt. Where the hell was that coming from? “Since when don’t you approve of Mike? He’s your friend.”
“He’s your mother’s friend, not mine. I never liked the guy. I just put up with him being in our life.”
I blinked, my head spiraling. “That’s… I don’t know what to say.”
