Page 57 of A Bossy Surprise

“Something has come up withGrant Mediaand I have to leave for LA immediately. You’re going to have to handle this meeting on your own and brief me when I get back.”

“Of course. I hope everything is okay.”

“I’m not sure, but I’ll know more when I get there.”

We say our goodbyes and I drive home where I quickly pack a bag then call a car service to take me to the airport.

I’m driven onto the tarmac and the company jet is waiting for me like Dad said it would be. 10 minutes later we are in the air.

Although I am sitting in probably the softest leather known to man, I find it hard to relax.

Whatever Dad wants can’t be good.

A lifetime of having to deal with him tells me as much. Mom tried to protect me from him for as long as she could. That’s why she moved to Vermont as soon as the divorce was final.

That didn’t stop him from throwing his money around and imposing himself on us.

Whatever… That’s in the past now.

I convince myself to use this idle time to get some much-needed shut eye.

I jolt awake when the flight attendant, Martha, taps me on the shoulder to let me know that we will begin our descent into LAX.

When we land, there is a black SUV waiting for me. I jump in and I’m taken straight to theGrant Mediaoffices in Hollywood.

The drive doesn’t take all that long. Soon I’m walking into my Dad’s office where he’s sitting behind his desk as he reads a file.

He looks up at me with a face that’s just like mine, except with a few more lines. Where his hair used to be black like mine, it’s now shot through with gray.

I’ve always hated that I look like him. I never liked that his genes, like the man himself, we’re so strong that they pushed Mom’s to the side in favor of creating a clone of Garrett Grant.

“Hi, Dad.” I lower myself into a chair across the desk from him. What was so important that you needed me here so urgently?”

“I was talking to your mother this morning, and—”

“Wait? You and Mom talk?” I interrupt.

“Yes, we do. Why is that so surprising?” His brow furrows.

We both know why that’s so surprising, but I’m not about to open that particular can of worms.

“No reason. I’m sorry, please continue.”

“Anyway, I was talking with your mother this morning, and she informed me that I’m a grandfather.”

Shit!

Why did she tell him?

I had hoped to keep this news from him for as long as possible because of what I know is about to unfold now that he knows.

“Is that why you flew me all the way out here?”

“Yes, it is. If we were to have this conversation over the phone, I wouldn’t put it past you to hang up and claim your dog ate your phone. Even though you don’t have one.”

He’s probably right.

I sigh. “Yes, I have a son.”