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“You can and you will.” He takes a step toward my desk. “You forget, son, who is in charge here—”
My fists slam against my desk. “No, I don’t. Because you refuse to let me.”
“Then it’s time you fall into line. You have a duty to this family. Alana has been more than patient. Youwillmake this official. Or else.”
Holding my breath is the only way to keep my fury at bay.
“I’ll let them know you’ll be joining us. See you tonight.” He turns to leave but stops. “And, enough with the assistant. It won’t end well for her. A girl who already has nothing and lives a measly life, spending her free time in a dirty bar? She’s not like us. Let her be.” Then he opens my door and is gone.
The second my door closes, I swipe everything off the top of my desk. “Fuck!” I yell, needing to break something. I can’t do this anymore. I won’t let him control me like this. If he wants to take everything from me, so be it. I’m fucking done.
But I know it wouldn’t end there. It’s not just me who will lose everything. He won’t stop until he ruins her too. Just to get at me and make me fall in line. And I can’t do that to her.
He’s right. He’s always fucking right.
The soft knock echoes in my office, and I know it’s her. She doesn’t wait for me to acknowledge her and opens the door.
“Hey, you okay?” she asks, her tone gentle and filled with concern. I want to bury myself deep inside her and tell her I’m not, knowing she would make it better. But I don’t. I need to do exactly what my father wants. It’s the only way to save her from him. From myself. Until I’m free of him, I have to let her go.
“I was fine until you walked in uninvited.”
Her eyebrows scrunch up in confusion. “Sorry, I heard yelling and—”
“Your job is not to tend to my feelings, Miss Evans.”
“I’m not. I just—”
“You can go now. I won’t be needing you this evening either. Or tomorrow. You’re free to do as you wish.”
I hate myself. The way she looks at me. Shock. Hurt. Anger. But this is the only way she walks away from this unscathed.
“Yeah, sure. Got it.” Whipping around, she storms out of my office. It takes everything in me not to call after her, make her come back, and fuck my apology into her. She doesn’t understand the position I’m in. She wouldn’t.
Instead, I let her go and hide in my office until I know she’s gone for the day. When I’m sure she’s not still sitting at her desk, I grab my suit coat and open my door to a note stuck on it.
Alana Hill called to confirm your dinner reservation for tonight. She told me to let you know she’s looking forward to it.
Fuck.
That call has my father written all over it. I rip the paper from my door, crumble it in my fist, and toss it into Fay’s trashcan. This is just the beginning. I’ve been here before. I need to do what’s best for Fay right now and cut ties. Stay the hell away from her until I’m out from under his control.
The ride to the restaurant is torture. The closer I get, the more I fight not to demand that James turn around and just tell my father to go to hell. In the beginning, it was a struggle to give it all up. I was selfish and greedy. Power did that to me. I craved the shiny little things he dangled in front of me. There was no other reason I agreed to these lies.
But now, those things seem worthless. I’d give it all up to have Fay in my arms. Build a family with her. I clench and unclench my fists and check my phone for the millionth time. She hasn’t called or texted. I select her text thread to message her and stop. I know what’s at stake if I reveal my cards. I need her to hate me and show my father she means nothing to me.
Pulling up to the restaurant, I instruct James to stay close and head in. Everyone is already seated.
“Theo, wonderful to see you.” Katrina Hill stands, offering me her cheek. I greet her and nod around the table. My skin crawls when I reach Alana sitting next to my father. “Alana.”
“Hello, handsome. We just ordered drinks. I got your favorite.” She bats her lashes.
“Theo, sit down,” my father orders. I do, thankful for the drink in front of me.
“Rough day at the office?” Charles inquires.
“Demanding—the way my father likes it,” I say, throwing a jab his way. I finish my bourbon in one swig and raise my glass, signaling for another.
“It’s so lovely to have us all together. Theo, we missed you at last week’s dinner. Right, Alana, honey?” Katrina says.
