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  Patricia pounced. “Don’t believe a word they say, Hall. They threatened to do this unless I gave Cindy a lump sum of money. She’s playing you for a fool.”

  Hall’s head swung back and forth like a lone cameraman on a reality television show.

  Drusilla ran down the hallway, holding a phone. She threw it at Beau, who stepped in front of Cindy and snatched it out of the air.

  “I deleted your post.” She stuck her tongue out at him. “Go ahead and marry her. She’s just a bug Mother’s going to squish, and then I’ll be the big star.”

  Cindy glanced at Patricia before speaking to Mr. Hall again. “I’m sorry I didn’t respond to you after the funeral. I had just lost my family. My father meant the world to me, and legal issues were the farthest thing from my mind.” Her voice caught.

  “You see how emotional she is. She is in no shape to run a company,” said Patricia.

  Mr. Hall waved her off and motioned for Cindy to continue.

  “Since then, I’ve realized that I do have a family.” She looked at Tomás and Daphne, who had joined the group. And Billy from accounting and Sarah from casting and the dozen other people who had stayed through Knight’s darkest hours and gathered to hear the outcome of this true reality show. Behind them were the actors and actresses, directors and producers for Egypt’s Gold. “This place is full of people who care about me and whom I love very much.”

  Beau nudged her. “Does that include me?”

  She nudged him back and winked. They’d get to the fishing later. “I’ve done all I can to keep this family together, and I would love nothing more than to assume the responsibility of running this company.”

  Mr. Hall put his glasses back on. “You want the trust? If you want it to transfer to you, I need to hear the words.”

  Cindy took a deep breath. “I want the trust.”

  He smiled. “It’s yours.”

  Patricia screamed. “Nooooo!” She lurched, claws bared. Cindy threw her arms over her face.

  Beau stepped between them, Patricia’s nails dragging down his flesh, leaving behind nasty red welts. He grabbed her wrists, holding her arms out to the side. She gnashed at him with her teeth, but he was able to keep her far enough back that she didn’t connect. When she realized she was overpowered, she sagged.

  Cindy spoke low, her voice menacing. “I want y’all out of my office.”

  “You own the house too,” added Mr. Hall.

  Cindy’s hand went to her forehead. Her home? Her home! “And my home,” Cindy added.

  Patricia’s head came up. “But, but we’re family,” she backpedaled. “You said so yourself.”

  Cindy shook her head. “You mourn family when they are gone. After this moment, I will never think of y’all again.” She folded her arms. “Tomás, please have security escort this woman and her horrible daughters out.”

  Daphne grabbed the phone off Cindy’s desk. “I’ll inform the guard at your gate in the change of ownership.”

  Patricia wilted. “We’re homeless.” She wailed much like she had the night Robert Knight died in this very hallway.

  “I’m sure you’ll be able to find the second-smartest man you’ve ever known,” Cindy quipped.

  Jake, the gray-haired security guard, dragged Patricia out of the building. He grinned the whole time. Drusilla followed, walking like a Barbie doll, all stiff and yet somehow remaining beautiful. Natalie was out with friends; she wouldn’t be allowed back. They’d be fine, really. Drusilla would receive residual checks for her movies, though Cindy vowed to never make a teen musical drama again.

  Mr. Hall put his hand out. “I have papers for you to sign.”

  Cindy turned to see the people who had gathered staring at her. Something big had taken place; all their lives had changed for the better. Today was a very good day. She lifted onto her tiptoes. “Knight Studios is officially closing down Drusilla and Friends.”

  A cheer erupted.

  “Starting right now, Egypt’s Gold is our number one priority.” The back of the group where the actors and production crew clumped together clapped. Someone whistled.

  “Back to work,” she hollered. “We have a reading to get through.” They cheered again.

  The group dispersed. Daphne gave Cindy a hug before returning to her desk. That woman was so getting a raise.

  Tomás winked at her and picked up the phone.

  Those who had spilled out of the conference room funneled back in. Beau moved to go with them, but she couldn’t let him just jump back into the fray. She tapped his shoulder, and he turned. “Stay away from page seventy-five.” She winked. “I think we should work over that scene together tonight over cake.”

  He grinned. “It’s a date.”

  Tomás leaned out of the cubicle. “Your things are on their way.”

  “My things?” she asked.

  “Your desk, the bookshelves.” He hooked his thumb over towards her dad’s office. Her office now.

  Cindy’s hand went to her heart. “I thought Patricia sold them.”

  Tomás kicked at the carpet. “She told me to, but I had them stored.” He lifted his chin. “She sucks at bookkeeping.”

  They all laughed.

  Cindy followed Mr. Hall into her office and sat in Patricia’s chair. The metal dug into the back of her thighs. This would be the first thing to go.

  Mr. Hall laid out several sheets of paper. “Sign here, here, and here.”

  She put her name right next to her dad’s. Right where it belonged. Knight Studios was hers, and she was finally ready to put her twenties behind her and step into the role she was always meant to play.

  Epilogue

  The Knight formal dining room hadn’t been used in years. Patricia didn’t believe in eating, so there was no need for a room dedicated to the task.

  Cindy, however, loved to eat real food that required chewing. So, for her birthday, she was going to celebrate in the dining room. She lifted the sheet off the walnut table, revealing the highly polished wood and years of memories.

  Beau set down the two candles he’d carried in from the kitchen. “Is it always this dark?”

  “Patricia had the power shut off and the house account closed down. They’re sending a technician over Monday morning.” She hurried to the kitchen to retrieve the cake stand holding the world’s best birthday cake and returned to place it in the center of the table.

  Beau pulled out her seat. “Remind me to thank her; you look stunning in candlelight.”

  “Just in candlelight?” she teased.

  “In all light, no light.” He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her neck. She breathed in his scent and the security and love that flooded her senses when he was near.

  “Thank you for being there today.”

  He sat in the chair next to her and took her hand in his. He had a bandage over one palm, but otherwise he was fine. The lines on his neck and cheek had already faded. Cindy used her free hand to trace the cleft in his chin.

  “I want to be there every day—be my happily ever after?”

  “Never.” She kissed him quickly. “I have it on good authority that there’s no such thing as a happily ever after.”

  “Never ever after it is.” Beau brushed his cheek against hers.

  Cindy sank into the delicious sensation of butterflies erupting and stars aligning. “My daddy once told me that happiness was a choice.”

  “Hmm.” His lips vibrated against her neck. “What do you choose?” he asked.

  She took his face in her hands and brought his lips ever so close. “I choose you.”

  He kissed her nice and slow. “I choose you, too.”

  “Would you like to taste the best cake ever made?”

  “I’d much rather taste these.” He traced his finger over her lips.

  “That sounds fun.”

  Beau tickled her ribs, sending her into a fit of giggles. When she was desperate for breath, he pulled her onto his lap and kissed her with more passion and love th
an she could ever fit on page seventy-five. Chocolate cake and kisses? Cindy couldn’t imagine a better way to start a never ever after.

  *

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  About the Author

  Lucy McConnell has always been a reader and a writer. She writes fantasy, clean romance, Christian romance, historical fiction, and cookbooks under the name Christina Dymock.

  When she’s not writing, you can find her volunteering at the elementary school or the church; shuttling kids to baseball, soccer, basketball, or rodeo, depending on the time of year; skiing with her family; wake boarding; cycling; or curled up with a good book.

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