Page 78 of Billionaire's Desire
I follow him to the living room and we sit down to talk. Finn tells me that he hired a private investigator, after he found Pen’s diary. He also tells me that he went to find and meet Maggie.
My head is spinning with the news, and I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut. Hearing her name hurts so much.
“What did you find out?” I ask.
“Pen was actually driving that night. She was drunk, and according to her diary she could not control her alcohol intake or her actions when she was drunk. She needed help. And I did not see it, I did not know about it. I wish I would have been there for her to help her through that difficult time.”
Finn lost his voice.
“I can’t believe this,” I say, running my hands through my hair. “I had no idea.”
He nods sympathetically. “I know, it’s a lot to take in. But you need to understand that Maggie did not drive that night. She just found out about Pen’s problems and tried to protect her.”
I feel a sense of anger rising in me. “But she must have known that our Pen is her Poppy.”
Finn leans forward, his voice firm. “You love her. You can’t let your own guilt and anger blind you to the truth. Maggie is the woman you love, and you can’t let her go without a fight.”
As he speaks, I begin to realize that he’s right. I’ve been foolish and I’ve let my own emotions cloud my judgement. Maggie is the woman I love, and I can’t let her slip away because of my own mistakes.
“I have to go after her,” I say, feeling the determination rising in my chest. “I have to make things right.”
He nods, a small smile on his lips. “I knew you’d come to your senses, eventually. Go get her, Max.”
I stand up, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. I grab my keys and head out the door, ready to make things right with Maggie.
As I drive to Maggie’s apartment, a sinking feeling sets in. What if she’s moved on? What if it’s too late to make things right? But I can’t give up before I’ve even tried.
When I arrive, I find the apartment empty. There’s no trace of Maggie, no sign of her belongings. I ask around, but no one seems to know where she has gone. My heart sinks and I feel a sense of despair wash over me.
I take out my phone and dial Finn’s number. “Hey, Finn,” I say when he answers. “I went to Maggie’s place, but it’s empty. Do you think the P.I. could help us find her?”
Finn doesn’t hesitate. “Of course, I’ll give him a call right now. Just hold tight.”
I wait anxiously, my mind racing with possibilities. Where could she have gone? Has she moved away? Is she trying to forget about me?
Finally, Finn calls me back. “The P.I. has a lead. He thinks Maggie and Hilda moved together to a new apartment not far. He’s sending me the address now.”
Relief floods through me. “Thank you, Finn. I’ll head over there now.”
I jump back in the car and make my way to the address. As I drive, I can feel my heart pounding in my chest. What if she doesn’t want to see me? What if I’ve already lost her for good?
When I arrive at the new apartment building, I take a deep breath and head inside. I make my way up to the fourth floor and knock on the door.
Seconds later, the door opens, and there she is, standing in front of me.
Chapter 17
Maggie
I’msittingathome,feeling frustrated and stressed. I need to find a job quickly to support myself, the bakery, and the new life growing inside of me. I’ve been submitting resumes and applications, but nothing has panned out yet.
Suddenly, there’s a knock on the door. My heart skips a beat. Could it be Max? No, it couldn’t be. He made it clear that he never wanted to see me again. I shake my head, trying to push the thought out of my mind and make my way to the door.
When I open it, I’m surprised to see Max standing there. My heart starts pounding in my chest. I can feel the heat rising to my cheeks, and I’m not sure what to say.
“Hi, Maggie,” Max says, his voice low and hesitant.
“Max,” I reply, trying to keep my tone neutral.
