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CHAPTER NINETEEN
Nico
My rare day off is commandeered when I’m summoned home to meet with my father. It doesn’t happen very often. Our rocky truce is stable enough for him to pretend he’s happy with me studying and living alone, while I pretend the criminology degree I’m doing is tohelpthe family business. Sure. I wonder if I’ll make it to graduation before he calls me on my shit. Pulling up to the house, I square my shoulders and straighten my tie. Here we go.
My uncle greets me at the door, and I’m relieved to see him. He at least attempts to rein my father in, like the not-so-saintly angel on his shoulder.
“Hi, Uncle.”
“Nico,” he says warmly. “How are things?”
“Good, thanks. Any idea why I’ve been summoned?” He shrugs.
“Your guess is as good as mine. You know how he loves suspense.”
“Is Clara around?” I ask, keen to stop in on my sister while I’m here.
“In her wing,” he says. I’ll see her after. I want to get this over and done with, and my father doesn’t like to be kept waiting. My uncle leads me into Father’s office, and there he sits. He’s put on a bit of weight but is clearly not conceding that fact, seeing as he’s still squeezing into the same suits.
“Nico,” he says, devoid of any emotion.
I nod. “Father.”
“Take a seat, son. How have you been? It’s been so long since you were here.” Ignoring the barb, I remain civil.
“Good, thanks.”
“I’m good too, son, thanks for asking. Do you have any new information for us?” I pretend to think about it, even though I have no intention of giving him any information that would help his cause, not that I’ve bothered to gather any. Instead, I use the seconds to think about why I’m here. He’s not called me here for idle small talk.
“I don’t think so,” I say. His jaw tics, but he doesn’t call me out on it.
“Still enjoying your course, son?”
“Yes.” I’m completely lost as to where this is leading. Unless he knows my intentions...
“Still working at that hippy café?”
“Yes.”
“Is that where you met the beautiful blond?” Harlow. My insides turn to ice and I feel my eyes try to widen, but I’ll be damned if I’m giving him a reaction. Creasing my brow slightly, I pretend to rack my brains, hoping it’s enough to cover my surprise.
“Who?” I ask. He stares me down, but I’ve had practice, and I learned from the best. Him.Never let them know your weaknesses. If he taught me nothing else, at least he taught me that.
“I’ve heard about you hanging out with a gorgeous woman. Blond hair. Shapely. You know the type.” I’m doing everything I can to control my body language, resisting the urge to clench my fists and ignoring my pounding heart.
“We hardly ‘hang out.’ She works with me at the coffee shop.”
“And...?” The pregnant silence fills the room.
“And what?” I shrug. “She’s a bimbo. Not really my type.”
The words taste like ash in my mouth, but I’ll say whatever it takes to take my father’s interest off her. If he thinks he can use her against me, he will, in the worst possible way. His jaw clenches, and I know he’s pissed he’s not getting what he wants out of me.
“Well, I hope neither she nor anyone else is distracting you from that very important university degree.” The course is a sore point, with Father having to bend a little and let me attend rather than keeping me locked up here to groom into a mini him.
“Of course not. I’m sure you would’ve heard by now if that was so.” His lips twist into a smug smirk. I know for a fact he doesn’t have people following me like Clara does, but I wouldn’t put it past him to have a mole at the university at least reporting on my grades and attendance. Any reason to say I’m not taking it seriously so he can pull me out of there.
“Well then,” he concludes with a wave of his hand, dismissing me quickly now he’s not got what he wanted from this meeting.
