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“Money?” he countered. “I’m willing to pay you off for good.”
“I already have more than I could possibly spend in my lifetime.” I turned around to face him. A flicker of worry flashed in his eyes.
“Is there anything?” He finally asked the question I’d held the answer to for twenty years.
“When was the last time you saw her?”
My father dropped his gaze and twisted his head away. He wouldn’t tell me what I already knew. It’d been years, maybe a decade, since he’d walked through the front door of our family home in Greenwich. He had separated himself from her.
“What do you want from me, Lucas?” he demanded, still not facing me.
“Guardianship. Over every aspect of her life.” I threw down the gauntlet. “Only then will you have my vote. I won’t discuss this matter until one of your legal clowns makes this happen.”
There was nothing left to say, and I didn’t want to hear his response—if he even had one—so I left his office. There wouldn’t be any more private meetings between us. The ball was in his court and my rules were on the table.
“My apologies, but he’ll be a bear today, so prepare yourself.” I stopped at Vanessa’s desk to pass on a warning.
“When isn’t he?” She rolled her eyes. “Don’t be so scarce around here, okay? You have my number if you need anything.”
“Thank you, Vanessa.” She jumped as my father’s voice roared from his office. “You know you deserve better.”
“I’m going on a month-long vacation starting this weekend. Maybe I won’t come back,” she added with a slight wink.
“He’d end up sending out a search party. No one else will put up with his shit. Enjoy your freedom while you can.”
We shared a sad laugh as I left the office and headed to the elevator, wondering if my dad would finally give in. If he gave up his power concerning my mother, I could leave this company for good and never look back. Live a different life and be my own person, instead of feeling forced to become what was expected of me.
My chest tightened and shoulders tensed at the thought of heading to my office for another day of this pointless grind. I needed an escape like I needed my next breath. Without hesitation, I called my assistant.
“How did the meeting go?” Jared asked.
“I’m taking the rest of the day off. Cancel everything.”
“Okay. You have a meeting with Joseph Rickman at ten. Should I get your morning coffee beforehand?”
“Didn’t you hear me?”
“Wait, you weren’t kidding?” It was a fair question. I was proficient in sarcasm.
“Nope.” I punched the p.
“But you never take an unscheduled day off.”
“See you tomorrow morning, Jared. Maybe.”
“But, sir—” I ended the call before another word rushed out of his mouth.
As I rode down the elevator, I loosened my tie and unbuttoned the top button of my stiff collar. I took a deep breath of sweet freedom and exhaled, then switched off my phone, giving myself a reprieve from my fucked-up life for a few hours.
The first thing I wanted to do was something normal I hadn’t done in years: order my own damn coffee. After that, anything was possible.
Since my journey started at the top, the elevator was crowded by the time it stopped at the tenth floor. A petite young woman dressed in black—nothing unusual there—marched inside with such fervor, everyone moved out of her way. She was mumbling under her breath, but I picked up her distinct southern accent in the mix of “I never” and “how dare she.”
Her raven hair was twisted high, exposing the pale skin of her delicate neck. I wanted to see more than her button nose profile, but I stood toward the back corner of the elevator.
As she cursed an unknown enemy, she tore the visitor’s pass in her hand to pieces, then threw the remains into the air. Muffled laughter broke out around her. A corner of my lip turned up.
What a fucking spitfire.
I exited the elevator and followed her into the lobby. Slowing my pace behind her gave me the chance to appreciate the way her skirt hugged and highlighted her sexy curves, and how her high heels showed off her toned calves.
Adjusting the bag on her shoulder, she headed toward the coffee shop. An older businessman exited, holding the door for her. His eyes drifted from her face to her legs, then back up again. He walked away with a tall cup of coffee and a wicked smirk. I wanted to call him out for being a creep, but I had the same thoughts while I trailed behind her.
A few moments later, I was standing in the order line behind the young woman. She reached up, pulling the pins from her hair, one by one. I held my breath, as if I was waiting for her to start removing her clothes.
