“We have a meeting in Chicago with a new…client.”
“You and Elliot?” I asked, not sure if I could handle that he would take Elliot to a business meeting. “Am I going, too?”
His eyebrows furrowed. “For what? Did you need something in Chicago?”
“No, but if you are taking Elliot to a business meeting, couldn’t I go, too?”
“I don’t see why you would need to go to that.”
“Because I have been asking for months,months, to help you with your company more, and now you immediately take Elliot without hesitation?”
Elliot looked at me and then my dad, his face scrunching before he gave a small laugh. “Why would you need to help with the business?” Elliot asked. “I’ll be taking over most things with the business, and I don’t see what you being there would help. There’s no need to confuse people on who is in charge.”
My heart dropped and my stomach flipped, wishing I had heard Elliot wrong. “Did he just say that he is taking over the business?” I asked my dad.
“He is. At least, he is going to show me he can, for now. Nothing is promised until you show me how you handle yourself.”
Elliot had known I wanted this business. We talked about it a few times, and he knew why I came back after college. Now this?
My hand tightened around the knife and fork, trying hard not to stab it into the table. “I’ve wasted a year of my life. I gave up my dreams to come home and be with you. I’ve asked over and over to help with your company, to take it over one day, and every time you have shut me down. Now this?”
“Quiet down,” my dad scolded. “I’ve been waiting to see you do anything other than lie around the house. Then I meet Elliot, and wouldn’t you know it? He has taken all the initiative to help.”
“Because you have let him!” I yelled.
“And maybe you could have helped if you would have tried. But no, you break up with Elliot and he tells me you are immediately out looking for a new boyfriend. That you only seem worried about who you are dating and what Harper is doing. I paid attention, and I believe he is right.”
“Excuse me?” I asked. “Are you kidding me right now? I broke up with him when he left me stranded while we were being mugged because of him!”
My dad looked at Elliot, who rolled his eyes like I was being absurd. It did sound absurd, and there was no way for me to prove it unless I brought Rook in, and I didn’t think that would end up any better than this.
“So, just to be clear, I’ve done nothing but wait for you to let me help. I put my life on hold because you were sick. I’ve listened to everything you told me to do, and now I get told I didn’t do anything good enough to show you I can handle taking overourfamily business.”
“It will be our family business once our parents are married,” Elliot said, beaming.
I dropped my voice lower. “If you say one more fucking word, I’m going to kill you,” I said, surprised at how much I meant it.
He scowled and sat up straighter.
“He’s not wrong, Regan. I’m sure there are plenty of other things we can find for you to do if you want some hobbies, but I’m not giving you an empire just to run it into the ground.”
I didn’t know if I had just spent too much time around Rook and his friends, who seemed to not mind violence, or if I really was just finding my backbone, but the thought of slamming my knife into Elliot’s neck was sounding easier and easier. I should be horrified with myself, but I just wondered how Rook would react if I did it.
Maybe he would help me clean up the mess.
I shoved my chair back, the wooden legs scraping against the floor as I grabbed my bag. “I’ll be back in a second.”
“Good. Collect yourself so we can talk about the wedding,” my dad said, as if he hadn’t just ruined my life.
I nearly ran towards the bathroom, and I was already pulling my phone out as I locked the stall door.
“What the fuck is going on?” Rook asked when he connected the call. I could hear the sound of his bike in the background and I wondered where he was going, wanting him here with me, but I had too much going on in my head to worry about asking.
“It’s not good.”
“What is it?”
“Elliot,” I managed to say before tears welled in my eyes. “He wants to give the business to Elliot.”
