The CEO, the Puppy and Me

Gia didn’t argue. They returned all the research material they’d borrowed and headed out the door. The bright cheery sunshine seemed to mock the dark stormy look on Gia’s face. Right about now, he’d be willing to do most anything to put the smile back on her face. But even he couldn’t work miracles. He’d already run an exhaustive search on the internet for any reference to a man who might fit the criteria Gia had given him. The problem was she didn’t have enough definitive information to narrow down his search enough. Ric had ended up with thousands upon thousands of results. Far too many to weed through.

“Don’t worry,” he said. “We’ll figure something out. This isn’t the end.”

Although he had serious doubts if she was ever going to find her father. He knew what that frustration felt like. He knew she’d never truly give up hope. He still hadn’t. Every now and then he would come across something that would spark a new search, and as usual, it would lead him down a rabbit hole that led nowhere.

He didn’t want that for Gia. And then he had a thought.

“Do you have your mother’s journal?” he asked as he led her to a nearby coffee shop.

“I do. Why?”

He held up a finger, signaling for her to wait. By then they’d entered the nearly empty coffee shop, as most people were at work at that hour. They placed their order. He wanted to wait until they were seated at a table before he posed his proposal to her. The bistro was quick, and in no time they were holding one steaming espresso for him and a latte for her. They headed over to a table by the window.

“I can’t wait any longer,” she said. “What do you have in mind?”

“I wonder if you’d be willing to lend me your mother’s journal. I have a friend who’s good at locating people. I don’t know why I didn’t think of this sooner.” Actually, he had. He knew Gia would resist the idea, but now that they were out of options, she might agree. “But if you were to allow my friend to read your mother’s journal, he might be able to unearth some clues that were overlooked.”

Gia was already shaking her head before he said the last words. “No. I couldn’t do that. It’s private.”

“I can vouch that he’s very discreet.”

Gia continued to shake her head. “It wouldn’t be right.”

“So you’re okay with giving up and never finding your father?” He knew the answer before he asked the question, but he doubted Gia had come to terms with what her decision would mean.

Gia finally stopped shaking her head. She stared at him, and he could see in her eyes that she was turning over the idea and weighing her options. “Your friend, he doesn’t need the original, does he?”

Ric noticed the hesitant look on her face. It was though there was an internal struggle waging within her. “I don’t know.”

“I couldn’t do that. I couldn’t lend someone my mother’s last words. I... I couldn’t.”

“I understand. I’ll talk to him. Maybe we can scan the book or make photocopies. Would you be all right with that?”

She stirred her coffee. “I guess so.”

That was all the affirmation he needed. He reached for his phone and signaled that he’d be right back. He wanted to make the arrangements before she changed her mind.

He knew if she didn’t do absolutely everythi

ng within her power to locate her father, she would regret it. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But one day she would look back on this moment, wondering why she didn’t have the courage to do whatever it took. And Ric didn’t want her to have any regrets—not about this.

After a brief phone conversation and promising access to his yacht for a future unnamed date, his friend said he’d look at it. But Nate made it known there were no guarantees. In his line of work, sometimes things worked out and sometimes he would hit a dead end. Ric told him he understood, but Nate wasn’t referring to him but rather Gia. She shouldn’t get her hopes up, but he would do his best.

“Well, what did he say?” she asked as soon as Ric returned to the table.

“He can’t guarantee results, but he’ll take the case.”

“I understand.” Then the worry returned to her face. “And the journal. Does he need the original?”

Ric shook his head. “He said we can scan the pages and send them to him.”

Gia visibly exhaled. “Okay. I can do this.” And then for the first time since they’d left the courthouse, a smile came over her face. “I have hope again. And it’s all thanks to you. I wish there was some way I could pay you back.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“But I do. You’ve gone above and beyond for me. I will pay you back.”

He knew she meant it, but it wasn’t necessary. “I just want you to have a happy ending.”