Page 238 of Toxic Kiss

“I want to see the divorce papers. You said you have them.”

I don’t know why I need to see them, but I do.

“Yes, of course.”

Dad opens the bottom drawer of his desk and pulls out a manila envelope.

Taking it from him, I unwind the little string at the top, and with every turn, my heart beats faster. Fingers trembling, I pull out the thick stack of papers. At the top of the page are my parents’ names and the words DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE. I bite my lip as I slowly flip through all the details. I reach the signing page and see my mother’s signature just like my father said. It’s hers. Mom always added a little curly cue to her words, making her signature unique. It’s dated two weeks before we found out she had cancer.

I look up at my dad and try to get the words out, but nothing moves. No sound or air. He puts his hands on my shoulders.

“I wish so many things had been different, but most of all, I wish your mother hadn’t been taken from you so soon. She would be incredibly proud of the woman you’ve become, Haven.”

“Are you?”

His brows furrow.

“Of course, I am. I’ve always been proud. Prouder than I can put into words.”

“Even with the jail situation?”

Dad cringes, but nods.

“Let’s just not talk about that. But yes, I will always love you and be incredibly proud of who you are and what you’ve accomplished.” He steps back and holds out his hand. “Come with me, I want to show you something.”

I take it, and he leads me out and down the hall to the corner office. We stop outside, and my hand goes to my mouth as I read the nameplate on the door.

Haven Gaillard, Chief Operating Officer

Dad opens the door, and I slowly step inside to look around. Signed posters from famous bands that he’s gotten for me over the years, and that I coveted growing up, are framed and hanging on the walls. He moved all my books from my bedroom at home to here, and they are back in the same order on these shelves. There’s a framed photo of Mom and one of Patrick.

“You did all this?”

“Yeah. I wanted it to feel personal to you.”

The office is so large that I can throw a party in here. A fancy white desk is set up with a matching couch and leather chairs. It’s perfect.

“Dad, this is beautiful, but I don’t know anything about being the C.O.O.”

“You’re training with me. You’ll start next month. That will give us both time to get organized. That means learning everything from the ground up. For the next year, you’ll be glued to my hip unless you’re on tour with Venomous.”

My head snaps in his direction, and he smiles.

“Don’t look so surprised. I know you want to continue to tour with the band and Cyrus.”

“What about Anita? I thought she wanted this position?”

“First…Anita was never going to run this company no matter what she said. Second…let’s just say that when my lawyers are done, she won’t have one bit of LG. I’ll still have to pay a large settlement, but her affair with Declan and the prenup will make her very willing to play ball.”

“I’m really not sorry to see her go.”

“Yes…well, it was a long time coming.”

He rubs the back of his neck, and I can tell what’s on his mind. I wait for him to build up the nerve.

“So, I have to ask…you and Cyrus…is this a real thing?”

“Yeah, it is.”