Free An Unexpected Love (Complicated Love Series #2) by D M Midgley Page B

work to wallow on my own in my apartment. Whenever Annabelle, my parents or Lily phoned, I always acted my cheery self. It was harder keeping it from Lily, though, but I told her I had the flu and would be back to work soon. Nothing needed to be said now. The baby was gone, and nothing was going to bring it back. I had the time on my own to grieve and I shed a load of tears. I went back to work two weeks later and tried to move on.
     
    “Tracy you there? You haven’t spoken in like five minutes, and you haven’t answered my question.” I jerk awake at the sound of Lily’s voice and try to recover from my trip through the past.
    “Sorry…I was just thinking.” I need to stop reminiscing and fast before I get dragged down with the pain and hurt. “You bet, Lily, count me in.”

 
    I can’t believe I’m doing this, I’m at Heathrow Airport and I’m ready to fly to Los Angeles. I’m going to see my step-brother Brandon because he found out that I was selling the business. He lives in Los Angeles and he’s lived there for quite a while now. He loves it out there and is always saying I should come out for a visit. He used to live in Oxford too until he decided to take the plunge and move abroad.
    My stepbrother has offered me a job at his firm and I decided on the spot to go and try something new. He never actually said what his business was, but I’m happy to take him up on his offer. I’m going to be staying with him while I’m over there, and he’s going to show me the sights. I’ve always wanted to do the usually touristy places like the Hollywood Sign, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Universal Studios and, of course, the beaches. It is going to be epic.
    I’ve checked in and I’m now sitting in the departure lounge waiting for my flight. I’m very nervous since I’ve never flown, but my stepbrother was cool and bought me a first class ticket. Apparently, it’s supposed to be better in first class. I get out my cell and dial the office number. I want to check in with Claudia before boarding my flight. Claudia is looking after the business while I’m in Los Angeles. I’m hoping it doesn’t take long to gain some interest in the place. It would be great to have a buyer sooner rather than later. I really hate leaving Claudia again, but she literally pushed me out the door and told me to have fun. When I told Claudia that I was selling the firm she didn’t actually seem surprised. But I felt terrible for all the staff and especially Claudia considering all the work she’s done over the years, but this is the right thing to do for me. Claudia told me that maybe this will be her time now to finally retire. She’s worked for fifty years and is now coming up on her seventieth birthday. She doesn’t really have to work, because when her partner died he left her with a big sum of money, but Claudia is very active and couldn’t stand sitting around at home all the time. I admire that about her. She says she might retire, but I can’t see that happening. She’d get too bored. She might actually be glad when I’m no longer her boss. I chuckle to myself while I’m waiting for her to pick up.
    “Hello, Reach Architect Design. You have a vision, let us help you reach it. Claudia speaking, how can I be of assistance?”
    “Hey Claudia, how’s it going there?”
    I hear her breathe a sigh of relief. “Oh, it’s you, Karl.”
    “Are you okay, Claudia? What’s wrong?” She seems pissed off or something because she doesn’t really seem herself.
    “I’m getting annoyed with the phone calls I’m getting from people wanting to know more about the sale. On the sign outside it explicitly says who the estate agent is that’s overseeing the sale, yet they keep ringing here!”
    “Wow! Claudia, how many people have phoned regarding the sale?” I’m shocked that there have been so many calls. Maybe it will sell fast.
    “Only two…”
    I can’t help but burst out laughing. The way she said it, I thought