“Why? Are we leaving?”
“We aren’t leaving until you do the spreadsheet correctly.” He points to the floor. “Fifty pushups.”
“Are you serious?” I ask, thinking he must be kidding. He’s never punished me with exercise.
“Hurry up!”
I take off my suit jacket and drop to the floor, doing the fifty pushups with almost no effort at all. If he were judging me on physical performance, I’d win every time.
“Impressive,” he says, raising his brows as I stand up.
Did he just give me a compliment? That’s a first.
“If only your intelligence could be on par with your physical performance.” He points to the conference table. “Now sit down and do the spreadsheet again, correctly this time.”
Three hours later, we’re still sitting at the conference table, and I can barely stay awake as he goes over client portfolios and trend data.
I hate this so much. It just proves I’m not right for this job and never will be. I have no interest in it. No passion for it. Maybe I would if I actually liked my father and respected him and what he did, but since I don’t, I want no part of this. I want to do something completely different. I’m not sure what that is yet, but I know it’s not this.
My father’s phone dings with a text. He checks it and smiles.
“Good news?” I ask.
“Very.” His thumbs move over his phone as he texts. “I’ve been invited to an impromptu dinner party at the Hamiltons’ tonight.”
“Do I know them?”
“Not yet, but you will. Emmet Hamilton is a British businessman who recently moved here and is looking to invest with us. I met him at the club last week. It seems I impressed him enough to get an invitation to his house tonight.” My fatherlooks over at me. “You see, son, this is how it’s done. You subtly work your way into someone’s thoughts until they can’t help but take action.”
“You’re saying you brainwashed him?”
“I’m saying I know how to sell people our services without them even knowing it’s happening. It’s a talent of all the Chadwick men. You’re just not there yet, but you will be if you stop focusing your efforts on girls and sports and actually take your life seriously.” He closes the laptop and slips it into his work bag. “Let’s go. I need to prepare for tonight.”
I don’t know who this Hamilton guy is, but I’d like to call him and thank him for getting me the hell out of here. If he hadn’t texted, we’d probably be here all afternoon.
“I need to study tomorrow,” I tell my dad as we’re driving home.
“I assumed so, which is why I already made plans. I’m golfing with Franklin in the morning and then meeting with my lawyer in the afternoon.”
“About what?”
“It’s none of your concern.” He changes lanes and speeds down the road that goes to our neighborhood. We pass Ella’s house, and my mind goes back to that kiss we had. I wish I hadn’t done that. I can’t lose my power over her. She has to fear me, or she’ll never give me the valedictorian title.
“I’ve asked your advisor to keep me updated on your grades,” my father says as he pulls up to the gate.
“You what?” I turn to him. “You called my advisor?”
“I need to stay updated on your progress.” He drives through the gate toward the house. “If your progress doesn’t improve, I’ll have to take measures to ensure that it does.”
“Meaning what?”
He looks over at me. “I suggest you improve your grades so you don’t have to find out.”
What the hell does that mean? That he’ll cut off my allowance? Bruise my face again? I’m so fucking pissed he did that. Everyone keeps asking about that damn bruise, and I have to keep making up excuses to explain it. Ella knew I was lying when I told her a different story than I told Drew, but I don’t care. She knows I lie. I just don’t want her to know the reason why.
When I’m back in my room, I take a long, hot shower, then throw on jeans and a t-shirt, relieved to be out of that stupid suit. Around three, I hear my dad take off, and immediately my chest loosens, and I’m able to breathe again.
Parker calls, and I pick up, assuming he’s calling to see if I’ll go to a party tonight. He thinks people will start to get suspicious if we keep skipping out on parties, which is probably true since we always show up at them. I don’t feel like going out tonight, but I will if I have to.
