Page 71 of Forsaken Trail (Runaway 4)

“You will get a nanny. You will find someone suitable to raise that baby so he doesn’t turn out like his mother.”

“I have a nanny.” I sighed.

Or I would have a nanny. Ron had already begun lining up interviews. We’d likely hire someone outside of Welcome, meaning we’d build another home on the property. There was time.

“Unbelievable.” Grandmother sat rigid behind her desk, her entire frame locked tight.

“Aria is a kind, loving person. I realize you two didn’t start off on the right foot. Ironically, she has as much tenacity as you. If you give her a chance, I’m sure you’ll get along.”

“She is trash, Broderick. Trash.” She made the statement sound like fact. The sky is blue. The oceans are deep. She is trash.

Except Aria Saint-James was not trash.

Nothing I said would convince Grandmother otherwise, so why was I here wasting my breath on a woman who was never going to change her mind?

I wouldn’t let her steal this joy.

“We’re done here.” I stood from the chair and walked to the door.

“Get back here. Immediately. I am not done speaking.”

I kept walking.

“Broderick.”

Aria had been right. My full name really was pretentious. Grandmother knew I preferred Brody.

“Broderick! I will sell this company. If you don’t deal with this woman and find a way to get her out of our lives, I will sell this company.”

I stopped walking and turned. “Aria is the mother of my child. She is in our lives whether you like it or not.”

“Get rid of her. Pay her to disappear.”

“No.”

“Don’t push me. I will sell.”

“No, you won’t.” For too long, she’d made that threat.

It was time to call her bluff.

“You won’t sell this company. You won’t sell Grandfather’s legacy. And you won’t threaten me with it again. This is my company.”

“Not yet, it isn’t. I’ll sell.”

“You can make that decision, but I truly hope you don’t. I hope you care about me and my future enough to give me the opportunity to prove myself.”

A flicker of guilt crossed her gaze.

Grandfather had stipulated she receive a monthly stipend as the executor of my trust. Knowing him, it had been a heavy sum, enough to tie her to his company. And she’d also receive a sum when her time as trustee ran out. Maybe he’d worried that she’d sell after his death.

I’d assumed that she didn’t need the stipend. And that if she sold, she’d receive more money for her own shares than the stipend and lump sum together. But maybe Grandmother’s personal finances weren’t as strong as they once were. Or maybe the offers for Carmichael that she’d bragged about had been greatly exaggerated.

Whatever her motives, I wasn’t going to stick around and listen to her shred Aria.

“Have a nice day, Grandmother.”

“Broderick.”