Page 38 of Grumpy Billionaire Seeking Wife (Billionaires Seeking Wives Club #1)

"Sorry, I was just running to get on the train. What's up?"

"I just wanted to let you know that I have to go out of town for a couple of days."

"Oh, okay." Disappointment floods me. I'm surprised by that as I'd gone a year without seeing him and hadn't felt that bad about it.

"When will you be back?"

"I'm not sure yet. There's a project in New Mexico that has hit some unexpected bumps in the road, and I'm going to see if I can figure it out."

"Okay, sounds good. I'll see you when you get back."

"Sounds good," he says. "Bye."

"Bye." I hang up and feel suddenly deflated, but it's for the best. I need time to really figure out how to ramp up my obnoxious behavior so that he wants to kick me out. I arrive at my mom's house with the money, and she's watching TV and crying.

"Mom, are you okay?" I say as I walk over to the couch and sit down next to her. She sobs.

"I'm okay. It's going to be okay," she says, wiping her eyes.

"Mom." I pull out the envelope and hand it to her. "This is for you."

"What's this?"

"It's for rent. You can pay your landlord. It should cover two months, and then I'll see what else we can figure out. Maybe you'll get a new job by then, but..."

"It's just so sad. I'm just so sad. How could this happen? He just doesn't deserve..." She starts sobbing again.

"Oh, my gosh, Mom. What is it?" I rub her back and feel like I'm about to cry, as well. I hate seeing my mom upset.

"Are you sad because of Dad?" I pull her to me and rub the back of her head. She's crying desperately now.

"Oh my gosh. I just don't know what I'm going to do."

"Mom. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. He shouldn't have..."

She pauses and pulls away slightly, rubbing her eyes.

"What? Sorry, what did you say, darling?”

“Mom, I'm so sorry that you're still hurt about Dad, but you have to remember, it’s not you. He’s the jackass that left us.”

“Your dad." She blinks. "Sorry, I'm not crying about your dad." She looks at me for a couple of seconds. "I'm crying about Bruno."

"Bruno?" I stare at her in confusion. "Who's Bruno? Mom, were you dating someone and didn't tell me?”

“Dating?" She starts laughing then. "No, I'm not dating Bruno. It's just, he's going to die and there's nothing I can do, and…"

"Oh, my gosh. You're not speaking to someone on death row, are you, Mom? You're not sending this money to someone on death row, right?"

"No, no. Thank you for the money, darling. I'm going to pay the landlord this evening. Bruno is Jacobo's dog."

"Jacobo, your neighbor." It's my turn to look confused. “But you're not allowed pets here.”

“Exactly. And the landlord found out, and he said Jacobo has to get rid of Bruno, but Jacobo said he can't find anyone. And if he takes Bruno to the shelter, he is going to get put down, and he is such a lovely dog."

"Bruno is a dog? You're crying over a dog, Mom?"

"He's going to die unless we can find him a home." She starts crying again.

"Oh no, Mom. I'm sorry. I am so sorry."

"I don't know what to do, darling. He is a good dog. I mean, he's not potty-trained yet, but it's not his fault." She hiccups. "He'd make the perfect dog with some training. If someone was okay with the phase where he was pooping and peeing inside and destroying their house, he would be great."

"Mom, no one is going to want a dog that..." I pause. "I have an idea. Mom, let me meet Bruno," I say.

"What? Why?"

"I think I know someone who might want to adopt him," I say softly.

"You do? Come on, let's go next door." She jumps up, and we head to the door.

We walk outside, turn to the right, and she knocks.

"Jacobo, it's me. I'm here with my daughter.

She knows someone who will take Bruno." The door opens immediately, and we step in.

It stinks of dog piss. I try to hold my nose.

I see a medium-sized black lab sitting on the couch, staring at us.

"Oh, is that Bruno?" I say. As soon as the dog hears its name, it comes running toward me, jumping up and licking my arm.

"Hi, Bruno. Hi." I stare at the dog. "Bruno, would you like to go to a new home?

" The dog looks at me with puppy eyes, and my heart melts.

"Okay. I think I know where he can go," I say quickly.

"You do?" Jacobo looks at me. "I would be so grateful. I can't keep him, and..."

"He can come with me," I say. I know I'm making a rash decision.

Taking a dog to Wes's place isn't the smartest idea, and if Wes does kick me out over this, I'll have to figure out a plan for me and Bruno because there's no way I'm taking this dog and letting anything happen to him.

"Don't worry. I promise you that Bruno is going to be fine," I say.

I take a deep breath. Maybe this isn't my smartest idea.

Maybe getting a dog to annoy Wes isn't really the brightest plan, but I knew as soon as I looked into Bruno's eyes that I wouldn’t let anything happen to him.

I don't really need another complication in my life, but I’m going to save that dog.

And if he annoys Wes in the process, even better.

"Are you going to be able to take him on the subway?" my mom asks, looking concerned. "Because we do have a crate for him and some other stuff.”

“I think I have someone who can pick me up," I say, opening my wallet and pulling out the card that the driver had given me. "It's going to be okay, Mom."

"Oh, darling, how are you such a good daughter? How do you care for others so much? Where are you going to take it? You can't have dogs in your dorm, can you?"

"Mom, I'm graduating soon and..."

"Oh, yes, I forgot. How is that going?"

"It's okay, Mom. Thank you for asking, though."

"Of course, darling. I love you, and I'm so sorry that we can't go to your graduation. I'm so sorry that we couldn't afford the cap and gown. I..."

"Mom, it's okay. I'm still going to get the degree whether or not I walk." I smile at her. "Let's just figure out paying your rent and keeping food on the table."

"How did I get so lucky to have a daughter like you?" she says, grasping my face. "I know I'm not always the best mom in the world, but I want to tell you that you're the best thing that's ever happened to me, Sabrina. Even after everything, I'd do it all again just to have you."

My heart melts at her words. "But Dad was a jerk."

She shrugs. “A lot of men are. But you? You’re good, and you're kind. And I did something right with you." She kisses me on the cheek. "You're one of the good ones, Sabrina. You're an angel on Earth."