The Unknown (The Comeback Series Bonus Book Book 2)

by Marcie Shumway

  “Thank you,” I breathed, doing a little jig.

  “Don’t thank me,” my father replied. “You’ve earned it. I’m proud of what you have accomplished.”

  “Thank you,” I sputtered.

  “You’re welcome,” he sighed, annoyed with me. “We will talk soon.”

  With that comment, the call was disconnected. I was so happy, yet sad at the same time. It was a huge relief to know that I would no longer be under my father’s hand when it came to the business. It would belong to Avery and myself. I had busted my ass for years to keep the original location up to my father’s standards, and we had worked hard to get the new one up and going successfully. It had been a whirlwind since all of this had started just a year prior.

  I shouldn’t have been sad about anything. My childhood hadn’t been filled with hugs, kisses, and affection. It had been much like the business. I had been expected to act a certain way, and I had. There weren’t the normal crazy teenage antics or the uncertainty of a major in college. The plan had been for me to take over and I had. There had never been any closeness with my family.

  It was probably the reason I had fallen so quickly for Avery and her band of misfits. They had welcomed me with open arms merely because she and I were friends. There was never any question on what I came from or who I was. I had simply been accepted. Evan had just been a bonus.

  Though, it didn’t mean my heart didn’t break a little with the coolness behind my father’s voice in the phone call. It didn’t matter that I was his little girl. For him, it was all about the business. My parents would be able to travel and retire without a care in the world. Would it even matter to them if I ever got married again or had kids?

  Knock! Knock!

  “Come in,” I said, nearly jumping in my seat at the sound.

  “Sorry to interrupt,” Avery apologized. “I just wanted you to look at these before I approved them.”

  “Not a problem,” I assured her as I moved around to sit at my conference table and gestured for her to do the same.

  She slid the file across the table and I opened it to look at the papers inside. I studied them and didn’t find anything out of place. Scrunching up my face in confusion, I closed the file and pushed it back toward her.

  “You know those are fine,” I stated matter-of-factly. “What’s going on?”

  “Nicole told me that your father had called, and I wanted to check on you,” she admitted, shrugging and giving me a small smile.

  I loved this woman. She had become more than a co-worker to me over the years and now I couldn’t imagine my life without her. Avery had weaseled her way into my heart, much like Evan. It was nice to have someone be worried about me once in a while.

  “He did, and I’m fine,” I told her. “Actually, I’m more than fine.”

  “Oh?” she questioned.

  “As of the end of the year, Lane & Son will officially be ours.”

  “Ours?”

  “Yeah, ours.” I chuckled at her puzzled expression. “As in, yours and mine.”

  “Wait, what?”

  “My father has approved the final paperwork to be signed, and it will solely belong to the two of us. He will no longer be a shareholder.”

  “That’s so freaking awesome!” she exclaimed. “I can’t wait to tell Cooper!”

  Rushing from the room, file in hand, I laughed at her. This was exactly why I had pushed for this. She would appreciate the rewards that came after the hard work as much as I did. It wouldn’t just be about the money. Avery did have the right idea, though. Other than telling her, Evan was the first one I wanted to tell. Grabbing my phone, I sent him a message.

  J: Guess what happened to me today?