“What?” I gasped. “You sent in a mole to steal their ideas and report back to you?”

“I’m not proud. But you need to understand that they were a new, upcoming magazine that was taking off way too quickly and Sutton magazine was suffering because of them. I wasn’t about to let my company that I built from the ground up go into ruins.”

Anger riveted throughout my body. “So you stole their ideas and made sure that Sutton Magazine’s issues went out first?”

“Yes, and I don’t have any regrets.”

“So you were responsible for Flourishing closing their doors.”

“Yes. I suppose so.”

“My God, Mother. How can you live with yourself?”

“This is a cut throat business, Jack. You know that. I’ve sacrificed my entire life for this company.”

“I know, and you also sacrificed your children.”

“That’s not fair, son.”

I ran my hand through my hair as I paced around my office. “So Joshua’s blackmailing you to keep quiet?”

“Yes. He said if I don’t pay him the money, he will go to the press.”

“I can’t talk to you about this right now. I have a little girl out there that needs me to help her study for her spelling bee. We’ll talk about this tomorrow.”

“Our company could be at stake here, and all you can think about is that child and a spelling bee?”

“Yes. Because her mom is in the hospital and she needs someone. Just like I needed someone growing up. But unfortunately, Coco and I were always pushed to the side.”

“That child isn’t your responsibility, Jack. She’s your PA’s child, for God’s sake.”

“It doesn’t matter whose child she is. Now I suggest you leave. We’ll talk about this further as soon as Coco gets back from LA.”

I opened the door and walked out into the living room. Hope was sitting on the couch with her spelling list in her hand.

“It was nice to meet you,” Hope spoke.

My mother turned around, frowned at her, and stepped into the elevator.

“She seems kind of mean,” Hope spoke as she looked at me.

“She is.”

Chapter Thirty-Five

Jack

I looked at my watch. It was almost twelve thirty. Shit. I grabbed my briefcase and just caught the elevator going down before the doors closed. Running through the lobby and out the building doors, I slid into the back of the limo and told Tony to step on it. There was no way I could be late for Hope’s spelling bee competition. I arrived at approximately twelve fifty five and there were only seats left in the very back row. I scanned the people sitting in their seats, looking for someone who might be nice enough to give up theirs and move to the back. Walking down the aisle, my eyes diverted to the second row where a young man was sitting.

“Excuse me, sir.”

“Yes.” He looked up at me through his brown-rimmed glasses.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out a hundred-dollar bill.

“If you let me have your seat, this is yours.” I flashed the bill at him. “There are plenty of seats in the back.”

“It’s all yours.” He grinned as he got up from his chair and I handed him the money.

“Thank you.” I nodded and took my seat just as the ten students walked out on stage.

I pulled my phone from my pocket and set it to video so I could record this for Lorelei. Hope saw me sitting in the second row and smiled as she excitedly waved to me.

One child down.

Two children down.

Three children down.

Four children down.

Five children down.

Six children down.

Seven children down.

This was utterly nerve wracking. Hope was one of the last three students standing.

Eight children down.

It was Hope’s turn and the word she was given was one she struggled with last night. I clenched my fist and brought it up to my lips. She looked frightened and unsure and I was terrified she’d get it wrong. I was holding my breath and my phone up. She spelled the word correctly and I let out a sigh of relief. This round went on for another fifteen minutes until the other kid messed up on a word and Hope spelled it correctly. There was silence in the room until I stood up and yelled, “YES!” Everyone clapped as they announced Hope as the winner and placed a gold medal around her neck. I don’t think I had ever been more proud of anyone in my life as I was of Hope.

“You did it!” I bent down and held out my arms.

“I know! I can’t believe I won.” She wrapped her small arms around my neck.

“Your mom is going to be so proud of you.” I kissed her head.

“Mr. Sutton?”

“Yes, Hope.”

“Can we go see her now?”

“We sure can, but one thing first. I want you to call me Jack. No more Mr. Sutton.”

“Okay, Jack.” She smiled.

****

Later that night after I tucked Hope into bed, I took Charlotte’s Web from the nightstand and opened to the page where I had left off. I had reached the part where Charlotte was dying and I won’t lie and say I didn’t get choked up. Looking over at Hope, I saw that tears were streaming down her face as I read.

“Why did she have to die?” She sniffled.

I didn’t know what to say to her, but I was just as broken up as she was.

“Let’s continue the book and see how it ends,” I spoke as I wiped the tears from her face.

“So Wilbur took care of Charlotte’s children and became friends with them. Kind of like you, Jack.”

I closed the book and looked at her. “Yeah, I guess so.” I smiled.

I turned off the light and headed to my bedroom. Climbing into bed, I took my phone and dialed Lorelei.

“Hello,” she answered in a low voice.

“Hey. How are you feeling?”

“I’m feeling a little better. The doctor was in here earlier and said I can go home in a couple of days.”

“That’s great news. I’m sure you’re anxious to get out of there.”

“I am. I just want to go home. I miss my bed and my daughter.”

“I know you do. Hey, listen, I was thinking that I would stick around for a while tomorrow after I drop Hope off at school.”

“You don’t have to, Jack. I know you’re a busy man.”

“I know I don’t have to. I want to. And as for the office, the work can wait. I’ll let you go so you can get your rest. You sound tired.”

“Good night, Jack.”

“Good night, Lorelei.”

I set my phone down and sighed. I missed her and I couldn’t wait to spend time with her tomorrow, even if it was in a hospital.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Lorelei

Jack walked in and I smiled when I saw the Starbucks cup in his hand.

“I thought you could use some real coffee.” He smiled as he handed me the cup.

“You are the best. Thank you,” I spoke as I brought the cup up to my lips. “How’s Hope?”

“She’s good. We finished reading Charlotte’s Web last night.”

I cocked my head as I stared into his eyes.

“You read Charlotte’s Web to her?”

“Yeah. She asked me to read to her while she fell asleep. Did you want me to tell her no?”

“Of course not.” I laughed.

“Have you read that book before?” he asked with seriousness.

“Yes. I read it all the time when I was a kid.”

“That’s quite a tearjerker. I was choked up, Hope was crying. It was a sad night last night.”

“You, Mr. Jack Sutton, got choked up over Charlotte’s Web.”

“Yes, I did. When Charlotte died, it was a little too much for me to handle. Wilbur losing his best friend like that and all. Such a shame. She was a great spider.”

“She was wasn’t she?” I tilted my head at him, trying to hold back the laughter.

“Are you making fun of me, Lorelei?”

“No.” I snorted.

As we were both laughing, the doctor walked in. “Good news, Lorelei. I’m sending you home today.”

“Really?” I smiled.

“Yes. Really. Your chest x-ray came back good and your blood work is good. Your fever is gone and you can finish getting better at home but with restrictions. No going out anywhere. That includes work. I’m writing you a note for the rest of the week. You may return on Monday if you’re feeling better.”