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“For completing the programme.” He pressed his hands together. “Your brothers took this course and passed with flying colours. Sebastian is a senior technician in R&D now, and Dominic is a level four accountant in the finance team.”
“Whoopty doo, you must be so proud.”
“I am,” he said. “Of all of you.”
“Save it,” I snapped. “I don’t need your approval.”
“You have it anyway. I’m your father. I want to see you do well.”
“Yes, well maybe I don’t want you to see me do anything! Maybe I just want you to clear off and forget I existed. Should be easy enough for you,Dad.”
He waved me quiet, just like always, and I felt the tears prick. Stupid fucking tears. I should never have come here.
I stood to leave but he stood, too, and his hands were out, his expression sad and horrible.
“Please,” he said. “Let’s start again. Just give me five minutes.”
I shrugged and I hated it. I hated to want the incentive he was offering. I hated this place, and its horrible stuffy corporate everything, and my stupid horrible stuffy corporate father. “Five minutes.”
“Your motherthinks you should take this opportunity. It would make me very happy if you did. Your sister enrolled, just last week, andyou could slot right in, I’m sure you’d pick it up.”
“It’s already started?”
He nodded. “I should have told you sooner, but your mother advised against it, she said it would give you longer to talk yourself out of it.”
“As if I was likely to ever talk myself into it.”
I pictured Verity, flouncing around in her posh little pinafore. Bitch. I bet she was loving it, I bet she was doing so well, so bloody well, so much better than anyone else.
“There’s no small print, no extra conditions. You complete the internship programme and I will send both you and Verity for a month on the ranch with Harrison Gables. It’s that simple.”
If only it was that simple.
But itwassimple. He’d picked too well, too fucking well. And even though I was proud and stubborn and full of bitterness, I was still that little girl watching Harrison Gables on YouTube and marvelling, and dreaming, and imagining a day when I could be like him.
“What do I have to do?” I said, and my voice was quiet. “What does this internship programme thing actually mean?”
“Sales training,” he said. “The best of the best. Some field experience. Some product experience. A little stint in marketing. You can specialise for the final section. It can mean whatever you want it to mean.” His eyes met mine and they held firm. “Please,” he said. “Katie, I know things haven’t been smooth for you, and I know you don’t think the best of me, but please, just think about it.”
I’d done sales around college, insurance telemarketing to earn money for Samson’s livery. I’d been alright. More than alright. My bonuses had bought him a new saddle, a fine job from a proper saddler.
“And there’s no underhanded tactics, no moving goalposts? Just six months of a stupid programme and I’m on that plane?”
He nodded. “That’s exactly how it is. Unless you want to stay.”
Never. Not in a million years.
“Salary?” I said. “What’s the salary?”
“Twenty grand to start. Bonuses on top.”
Twenty grand could see me right, with my other little earner on the side. Twenty grand was nearly three times my rate at the restaurant.
“Working hours?”
“Nine to five, Monday through Friday. It’s all regular stuff, Katie.”
The thought of being away from Samson pained me. It fucking hurt. And I knew then he had me. I was already considering it, already feeling it.
