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“We cannot alter the news,” he said, leaning against the chair.
“That’s bullshit, and you know it. A certain story about a woman named Leila vanished from the bulletin years ago, or did you forget about that too?”
His hand flew up in a rage. “Don’t you dare mention her name around here, or I’ll squash your inheritance so fast you’ll be homeless before you even realize what happened.”
Asshole.
“Fuck you,” I spat out.
“Heard that before.” He shrugged, feigning indifference.
Rumors of an affair with a woman called Leila had been the talk of tight-knit Manhattan circles for decades, but when the rumors got into the hands of journalists, they suddenly vanished overnight, with all fingers pointing to Alfred.
“What are you really here for, Alfred?”
He made himself right at home, taking a seat on the leather and chrome armchair opposite.
“You know why I’m here.”
I slammed my fist down. “No.”
“Yes.” Calmly and authoritatively, his tone was completely different from his earlier tone.
“We are a family in crisis. Our reputation is in tatters. House at six o’clock tonight. You, me, your sister, and Barrett. She can no longer see Barrett.”
“For this to be forgotten and swept under the rug, my retirement will be announced after the family charity ball next week. Distraction mitigates catastrophe.”
Pain lashed my chest as I felt my rib cage tighten. Suddenly, my crisp white collar cut off any breathing room. Sliding my finger between my neck and the fabric on my collar, I tried to create some breathing space.
“We need a good news story. My retirement means your engagement to Francesca can be announced. That was always the deal.”
“I don’t want to marry Francesca.” My hands balled into a fist on my thighs.
“As Diamond men, we don’t have other choices. See all this?” He flapped his hands around like his royal highness. Maybe he was channeling his friend the Duke.
“Your granddad and great-great-grandfather before him worked their butts off to build this empire. None of this just happens automatically. The wealth that you’ve been born into comes with privilege. And yours is to marry Francesca. That way, the Diamond name will marry into royalty and continue to be wealthy and noble for generations to come.”
“And how much do they get out of this exactly?”
“Plenty. It’s an amicable deal for everyone involved. That is why it was penned decades ago when you were both born, just years apart. Genius if you ask me.” He let out a sly smile.
“It’s a good thing I didn’t ask you, Ein-fucking-stein.”
“The announcement will be forthcoming. I’ve informed the board of my decision to step down in one week.”
Fuck me. This was fast becoming a nightmare.
My fists tightened, the skin around my knuckles burning.
“They will leak it slowly, filtering today’s media, burying the sleuth of articles around Barrett and Lourde.”
Well, at least that was something. Maybe he had thought about Lourde and Barrett after all.
“I’d do anything to protect this family. You know that.”
“You mean, protect the name? You’ve done nothing to protect me. Instead, you’ve put me out to burn, shamed me, cast me out for your own benefit.”
He laughed, beating his chest. “You still haven’t got over that, have you, Connor?” The smug look he gave me did nothing but fuel my anger. “You were naked on Madison Avenue, drunk and high as a kite. What could I do?”
