“Sorry, Sally. Too old.” Ted stands. “Well, that was exciting, but I gotta get going. I feel like I have an appointment.”
“You do, with Warren from Starlight,” Joey says.
“Right.” Ted turns to me. “Anyway, just see if you can add that thing about the fifty percent off. I didn’t get rich by giving my stuff away for free.”
He starts walking out, then says, “Oh hello, Preston.”
“Hello, Ted.”
I wince at Dad’s voice. That cool, even tone means he’s furious.
He appears in the doorway, dressed in a bespoke three-piece suit somewhere between midnight blue and navy. His tie is a muted wine color and knotted impeccably into a classic Windsor. As a senior partner, he exudes the confidence and authority many at the firm would love to emulate.
He gives me an unreadable look. “Joshua. To my office.”
Chapter Four
Josh
As soon as Dad issues the order, he turns and heads toward the elevator. His office is on the floor above. Klein looks at me, eyes wide.
“Boss, I’m so sorry! If I’d just stopped her…” she says in a small voice, biting her lip.
“Ah, don’t worry. Nothing I can’t handle.” She shouldn’t worry about it. It’s the blonde’s fault for barging in the way she did.
“You aren’t in trouble, are you?”
I have to smile. “Why? Worried about me?”
“A little.” She squirms. “But maybe he won’t be too upset because it’s never happened before.” She sighs. “I’m sorry. I should’ve called security sooner.”
“Not your fault. You did what you could. Who could’ve predicted she’d be so…out there?” I shrug and give Klein a reassuring smile before going up to face Dad.
Dad has one of the nicest corner offices at Huxley & Webber—a perk he’s earned through his brilliance in the legal field. He has the kind of career and admiration I’d love to have.
One of these days, I’ll have an office like this, too. After all, it’s the family legacy I was bred to take on, and I plan to embrace it—and prove to myself I’m nothing like my mother.
He looks up from his throne-like seat behind the massive mahogany desk as I shut the door behind me. He steeples hisfingers. “Have a seat.” He gestures with a raised eyebrow at a plush armchair.
I sit, keeping myself relaxed. Dad has wide-set gray eyes, straight eyebrows and an even straighter mouth. He has a booming voice to match the girth of his chest, but he keeps his tone modulated. He says that only people who’ve lost the argument raise their voices. Despite that, he has a way of commanding attention when he speaks.
One heartbeat. Two… Three… I wait, not willing to start. Dad’s upset about something, and I’d rather have him tell me plainly, rather than me trying to guess.
“Just what wasthat?” he says finally. “That mindless screaming. Everyone on the floor must have heard it. Hell, even I heard it from here. I actually thought there was a damn murder.”
Irritation surges at the unfair reprimand. It’s never happened before, and it isn’t my fault that the woman has the intelligence and honor of a banana republic bureaucrat caught siphoning public funds. But getting into the nitty-gritty won’t make him feel any more generous toward me right now. “A minor incident. Sorry. She won’t be back. I’ll make sure to let security know.”
The end of Dad’s left eyebrow twitches. “A minor incident? She made quite a spectacle.”
“If you’re worried about Ted’s reaction, he won’t mind.” My tone is a tad defensive, despite my effort to stay calm and even. “He thrives on drama.”
“I’m not worried about him. I’m worried that she did ithere. At the office. It’s disruptive and unprofessional.”
My mouth tightens. I have no defense for that, as infuriating as the situation is. “I apologize. It won’t happen again.”
“Won’t it? I know you find Ted and his lifestyleaspirational.”
The statement stuns me into silence for moment. Finally, I gather myself. “I don’t—”
