Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 128156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
His eyes seem to soften, almost as if he knows what I’m thinking. “Oh, you should open it before you refuse it.”
“Now?” I squeak, taking the envelope with shaky fingers.
“I’d like it if you did, yes. Just in case you don’t want it. It’s not something I want to go to waste.”
Intrigued, I open the flap, pulling out a golden ticket.
I gasp at the words scrolled across the top: Phantom of the Opera, Live on Broadway.
My head snaps up. “Holy crap.”
“I’ve secured you the center section on the second upper deck, front row. I’m told that is the best view in the house. Full stage view. The entire row is on reserve for you, so just let me know the number in your party by Monday if you can; the show is Tuesday at nine.”
“This is insane.” I can’t help but laugh. “Thank you so much! I’m going to force them all to come.”
Grant’s smile couldn’t be any wider. “Perfect. The ticket is more for keepsake purposes; my assistant had it printed, saying it would be more fun than just telling you about the show. You just have to give the box office your name, and they’ll take great care of you.”
“Okay.”
“Okay. The jet will be fueled and waiting. My driver will meet you outside your dorm at six p.m.”
My face falls. “Wait, what?” I look to the girls, who are all some form of bug-eyed. My attention falls to the golden ticket. “Where exactly is this performance?”
“San Jose. Don’t forget to give me your numbers.” He looks to my friends. “Ladies.” He dips his chin and walks away.
Slowly, I look back to my friends, and after a moment of silence, they start laughing.
“Holy shit. He is like rich rich.”
“Yeah…” I wince. “Is this weird? Too much?”
“Uh, no!” Cameron wraps her arm around my shoulder. “Ari is basically rich too, and soon, once Noah brings home a Super Bowl ring or ten, she’ll be Payton Manning rich.”
“Cam!” Ari shouts, but she’s laughing at her best friend.
“What? I’m just saying. We should get used to this. All our men are NFL bound, so this is our future.” She laughs at herself when Payton shoves her. “Kidding. Brady already spilled his secrets to you guys over Christmas. He wants that simple life back home.”
“That’s the fear of failure talking.” Ari shakes her head. “He wants to go pro. It’s all they’ve talked about since we were little.”
Cam shrugs. “And if he doesn’t, we’ll still be happy with solid careers to fall back on. But back to the current moment…” She looks my way with a wink. “We are getting on the fucking jet on Tuesday, my dear, and we’re going to look banging when we do it.”
A low laugh leaves me, and we head for the parking lot. They took an Uber since I said I was driving in, so we load up in my car and head back to campus.
“Can I ask you something?” Payton turns to me at a red light.
I peek her way. “Sure.”
“Last year, you were pretty pissed at how your grandfather demanded time from you, but you seem to be in a good place with him now. Are you… Do you feel forced to allow him in your life?”
My heart aches at her question because I know where it’s coming from. Payton’s relationship before Mason was a rough one. He was a good guy, but his family was vicious and demanding. Deaton, the boy she was in love with, the one who blessed her with her son that Mason is raising as his own, died in a car crash before their little boy was born.
I swallow, answering truthfully. “At first it felt that way, like it wasn’t my choice. He was a bit pushy, and I thought it was coming from a place of privilege because he does have the world at his fingertips. So in my mind, I figured that meant he thought he had me at his disposal too. I don’t come from money and my whole life I’ve had very little of it. I mean, I wasn’t poor or anything, but far from privileged, like, I had to do fundraisers and whatnot to pay for the dance comps I did when I was young, so maybe it was me assuming that someone who did have money would have that sense of entitlement. But at some point, that changed. My grandfather is kind if sometimes a little blunt, and caring, even if his version of soft is different than what my dad’s was.” My hands tighten on the wheel as I drive onto the highway. “I’m enjoying getting to know him.”
Cam and Ari lean forward a bit.
“But?” Ari asks gently.
I sigh. “But there is something he wants from me.” I meet their eyes briefly in the mirror, deciding to spill a little. “I’m his only blood, his only…heir, and his company is built on the value and security of family. He literally protects and manages assets of generational money and affairs. Without an heir to step in, there is no company, and his life’s work will die with him—or at least that is how he sees it.”