Page 121 of Getting Down to Business

Feeling like she had a purpose for the first time in days, Chanda tucked the polar bear into her bag and set off to pay a visit to Doug’s daughter.

After the second ring of the doorbell and a series of knocks, the door finally opened, revealing an irritated Julie.

“Yes?”

“Hi. Can I speak to Lucy? She left her bear. I wanted to drop it off.”

“Chanda!” Lucy came running before her mother had the chance to decide what to do.

“I brought Snowflake. I found him in your room.”

“Can I come with you?” she asked, ripping Chanda’s heart out.

“No.” Julie snapped. “I told you, you have to stay with us.”

“I want to see my daddy!” Lucy complained, pulling the bear against her chest. Tears gathered in her eyes, so much like her father’s.

“Shh,” Chanda said with a smile. “You’ll get to see him in a few days. Remember how we talked about taking turns?”

Lucy shook her head.

“I’m not allowed to see him anymore because Daddy yelled at Mommy’s boyfriend.” The tears fell as Chanda stared in confusion.

What was going on here? Doug wasn’t allowed to see his daughter?

She remembered back to the night when he was late. He’d said there was an incident and Lucy had to stay with her mother.

“What happened?”

“Doug came to pick up Lucy. And I told him she couldn’t go to the gallery because she’d used crayons on her walls—something she apparently got from you.” Julie tossed her hair in a very annoying way. “Doug got angry and started yelling. Mitchell threatened to call the cops. It was a big scene and our new neighbors witnessed the whole thing. I suggested he leave and not come back until after we meet with the caseworker next week.”

Chanda stepped back as if the woman had struck her. Because she had allowed Lucy to paint on the walls at the loft, Doug had lost the two days of custody he was able to get?

“Don’t worry, Lucy. I’m sure everything will be fine.”

The door was closed in her face and Chanda turned to go. She needed to find Doug and help fix this.

* * * *

Gray had to do something. He couldn’t go on like this; it would kill him. And he couldn’t get over Alyssa by having sex with some random women. He’d had his chance at the club and blown it.

He’d spent the night on Trent and Tiff’s sofa and when he’d gotten home, Alyssa had smiled and went out for a run as if she didn’t care at all what he had done all night.

Her disinterest was too much. He couldn’t take it. He needed to get away from Alyssa before she broke his heart. Far away.

On Monday morning, he went straight into Randy’s office and sat down.

“What’s up?”

“Any openings in the San Diego office?”

“For who?”

“Me.”

“No.” Randy shook his head quickly.

“I need to get out of here. I can either move to the San Diego office of Hasher Borne or I can move somewhere else with another firm. What’s your pick?”