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23
Maddox
I let out a deep breath, watching Cece’s Lexus drive away. Spinning around, I can finally spit out what I’ve been holding back this entire time.
“What the hell is this?” His only reaction is an arrogant smirk. “I already told you, you can’t buy me. Not with thousands of dollars, and you damn sure can’t buy me off with a sixty-dollar steak.”
The smirk stays in place, and now it’s joined by a chuckle. “No, I realized that after you left the office. That’s why I’m here tonight.”
My eyes narrow, unsure what I’m hearing. “Seriously? You really wanted to get to know me tonight?”
The valet drives a gray Mercedes up to us, and the runner gets out, hurrying over to Chester. He waves him off, keeping his eyes on me. “I’m here for the good of my daughter. I’ll always do what’s best for her. When she was younger, I bailed her out of situations time and time again. Back then I knew it was just immature happenings.”
He looks me up and down, then adjusts his tie.
“But this? No, this is something I cannot let pass. I looked you up after you left.” His words catch me off guard that he’s actually learned a little about me. “Your little band pulled in an estimated three hundred million last year, correct?”
I shake my head, growing more annoyed by the second. “You can’t buy me. If you got that info, then you can’t be conceited enough to think you have anything—”
“You’re right, I can’t buy you. There’s nothing I can offer you to get you out of my daughter’s life.”
“Good. Look, I don’t care if you want to put on these little shows every once in a while, but if you’re cool with us, then I won’t tell her how big of a douchebag you are.” Another stoic response from him, except for a self-righteous smile. “What?”
“I cannot and will not stand by and watch my daughter fall in love with someone like you.”
For the first time tonight, I let out a pleasant chuckle. “That’s too bad because you don’t get to control things like that.”
“Oh, I do. You’re going to break up with her.”
My eyes widen, unsure I heard him correctly. “I’m sorry, I’m going to what?”
“You’ll end your relationship with her. I obviously can’t buy you out of our lives, and I already know I can’t order her to do something she doesn’t want to do. I learned that a long time ago. So, the only option left is for you to do it. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized it’s the perfect resolution.”
With my jaw open, my head swivels back and forth, still perplexed by what I’m hearing. I never thought I’d feel like I do, especially for a girl who seems to be completely different from me. So there’s no way in hell I’m letting her dad come between us now.
“You are crazy. Your daughter’s amazing, and I can’t believe an asshole like you is her father, but I’ll even put up with your insane self to be with her. Give me one good reason why I would ever do what you’re asking. Why would I even consider it?”
“What are you, eighteen? Nineteen? You don’t know what real responsibility means when it comes to family. I’m Chester Mavin.” He adjusts the cufflinks on his shirt, staring out into the night sky. “The Mavin empire, what my daughter will eventually inherit, is worth billions.”
I honestly can’t believe what I’m hearing. Not only the arrogance but the full-blown apathy of me. Not that I’m some lowly musician who’s grasping on to the strings of fame I have right now. No, he’s dismissing my entire existence as a human, believing I shouldn’t even breathe the same air as him.
“You two can be together,” he continues. “Have your little story-book romance you think you’re having. And I hope it’ll be enough because it’s all she’ll ever have.”
“I don’t care if you cut her off. You already know how much money I earn. I have more than enough to take care of her.”
He chuckles. “Oh, I don’t mean money.” His glare stays in place while he grins. “She’ll be cut off from everything else. Me, her mother, her little brother. Money will be the least of her concerns. I won’t have some irresponsible, drunken musician known for making headlines in gossip magazines, dirtying my family’s name. You might be at the top right now, but fame is fleeting. What happens when your star burns out? You want her? I hope you’re enough because if you stay with her, she’ll have nothing from us. Money, cars, clothes, family. It’s all gone.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. He’d cut her out of his life completely? But not only his, out of the lives of her brother and mom? I can’t imagine how he’d do that, but then again, he’s gone on and on almost like a comic book villain about how great he is. Maybe he is possible of doing that, but how could he?
“You …” I try to respond, but I’m still aghast. “You’d do that to your own daughter?”
I’m unable to hide the shock while his grin grows wider. “To keep our family name free from the likes of you? To make sure my daughter marries into the right family and is eventually where I am? Or make certain she isn’t linked to a washed-up drummer, who after your few years of notoriety, that’s all you’ll be? Absolutely yes.”
If you’d asked me only a few months ago, I’d say girls come and go. I would’ve told EJ to never get too attached because you can always find another one. But after Cece, I can’t say that. I want her. More than that, I want her to have the best life imaginable. If I stay with her, this bastard will cut her out of her own family. How can I do that to her?
“I see I finally have your attention.”
That smug smirk is still in place. It’s enough to make me want to punch him. I glance around, knowing we’re still outside with a few valets standing near, as both of our cars are ready to be taken away.
