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“Uh…”
“I arranged a job for you to get some experience, but Jesus, I didn’t think I had to clarify that the experience was supposed to be professional.”
“Um, what?” I’m still not sure what has him so upset. I can feel the rage rolling off him, even through the phone. His voice shakes with anger like he’s barely keeping it together.
“Titan,” he spits out.
My stomach twists into a million knots before sinking to the floor like a brick. Why didn’t I think about my dad’s reaction to this before now? Of course, he wasn’t going to take it well. I guess I thought we’d have more time to figure out what to say or if Titan even wants to be with me after I leave. Why would I risk making my dad mad over nothing?
“How… How did you know?”
“I have eyes and ears everywhere. It’smygoddamn rig, after all. So, you’re not denying it, then? You won’t even pretend like that’s a preposterous accusation?”
“I didn’t mean to upset you,” I start, scrambling to find the right words. “This wasn’t about you at all. It was between Titan and me.”
“Don’t you dare say his fucking name,” my father snarls. “This is unbelievable, Cora. Truly, I thought more of you than this. Stooping so low as to fuck the degenerate Foreman?”
“Dad!” I gasp. “He’snotdegenerate. He’s kind, strong, fierce, and has a big heart.”
“Even worse than I thought, you dumb girl. You think you’re in love with him.”
“Iam,” I insist, tears stinging my eyes before falling down my cheeks. I wanted to tell Titan so many times over the last few days, but I thought it would be too soon. He’s made amazing strides with talking about his traumatic past, and I didn’t want to derail that progress by scaring him off with the “L” word.
“You’re not.” His tone is serious. Vicious. Laced with ill intent. “And if you are, it doesn’t matter. You’re done. Done with the special project. Done with Titan. Done with the rig. I’ve arranged a boat to escort you back to shore, where I’ll be waiting.”
“What? When? I can’t leave.”
“You can, and you will. Right now. I’m serious, Cora. Don’t talk to Titan. Don’t look at Titan. He’ll be done with soon enough.”
“No!” I nearly shout. “Please. Don’t fire him. It’s not his fault.” This job is the only thing he has. I can’t be the reason he loses it.
There’s a slight pause, and his familiar used car salesman's voice emerges. “Well, now that you mention it, there’s something you can do to spare his job.”
I grit my teeth, a sickening feeling rising from my stomach. I hate that my father had already planned to use this as a bargaining chip. He probably found out about it a few days ago and waited until he could blackmail me to say anything about it.
“Anything,” I say, grimacing when I hear a dark chuckle on the other end of the phone.
“I lined up a job for you at a real estate firm with mostly women in the office while the men go out and do the real work.”
I nearly gag at his description of the place. Clearly, he went out of his way to find an office environment with the same sexist view of the world he has.
“You’ll be the front desk receptionist. Of course, you’ll need to get into a regular exercise routine and reduce your food intake. I pulled some strings to get you this position on the promise that you’ll drop a few pounds within the first month.”
“Excuse me?”
“Well, no one wants a chubby woman to be the first thing their clients see when they walk through the door. You’re pretty, Cora, but your mom was right about one thing. You need to cut back the carbs and sugar.”
My mouth opens and closes, and I pull the phone away from my ear, staring at it in pure shock. I knew my father was shallow and materialistic, but this? It’s too much. It’s all too much.
“Do we have a deal?” he asks, pulling me from my spiral.
I hold the phone up to my ear again, clearing my throat. “Titan keeps his job?”
“As long as you never speak to him again and start work at the firm on Monday.”
A void opens in my chest, draining me of any hope and joy I’ve found over the last few weeks with Titan. It was worth it to spend a few nights with him, to get the closed-off, grumpy Foreman to smile and share more of himself with me. I’ll always cherish the love we found, even if I couldn’t say that four-letter word out loud.
“Cora? Time’s ticking. The next call I make will be to the board members.”
