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CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Daniel reclined into the white leather seat of his private jet and tapped the tips of his fingers on the control panel. He was tempted to end the video call, turn on some mindless movie, and get trashed on whisky.
But that wouldn’t solve a fucking thing.
Fletcher, Hunter, and Olivia were going back and forth, debating the media response to the Mackenzie press release about this bullshit engagement.
Daniel picked up his phone and his teeth ground together. Still no damn response from his father.
A crew member placed another coffee in front of him and he gave her a brisk nod, then reached for the cup of magic. He had no appetite and hadn’t eaten a bite since, well, since breakfast with Harper.
Harper.
Daniel turned his head and stared out the window. Cloud after cloud rushed past.
He never expected to feel like this. Empty. Dazed. Like he didn’t give a fuck.
Yet he did. He cared about his family business. He cared about his employees. He cared about his family. And he cared about Harper.
So how the hell was he going to fix this?
“Mr. Dufort, what would you like me to do? Every major network is asking for a response from you or the organization,” Olivia said.
“Has anyone spoken to Dad?” he asked.
“No,” Fletcher answered. “He’s not answering any of our calls.”
Shit.
“This is a fucking mess,” Hunter said.
“I know I’m pressing, guys, but the longer we don’t respond, the more speculation there will be,” Olivia said. “We either confirm it or we don’t, and we need to do it today.”
Daniel snapped.
“No response,” he growled and when everyone began to speak, he held up a hand, silencing them. “In case you’ve all forgotten, this is my personal reputation we’re debating, as well as Dufort Hotels, so the media can damn well wait until I have landed. If you need to say something, Olivia, tell them that.”
Daniel ended the call and rubbed his forehead.
He felt ill.
The coffee was sitting in the pit of his stomach like concrete, and all he wanted to do was call Harper. But he knew she wouldn’t answer.
Instead, he closed his eyes and tried to sleep.
––––––––
AN HOUR LATER, FLETCHER’S name flashed on the screen again.
“Fletch,” he answered.
“Hunter and I are following a lead with the HR team. We’ll meet at your apartment when you land and go over the details.”
“Fine,” Daniel replied.
“We’re going to stop this,” Hunter added.
“Do you have enough to undo this?” Daniel asked, and there was silence.
