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“What?”
“Shut the fuck up,” my father snaps.
“When it came out that we are together, he tried to bribe me to break up with you, saying he’d get me on the board of Naked.”
He’s always butting his nose into my business, trying to control my life. Another reason why I didn’t want to move to Florida with him. Anger rises in my chest, and I bang my hand on the table.
“Dad, why would you do something like that?”
“I was doing it to protect you, darling. Because you don’t need to be with someone like him. Someone corrupt like his father. No man is good enough for my daughter.”
“I’m not like my father, and you know it. You’re the one who is friends with him.”
Atlas glances at my father, and his eyebrows climb high on his forehead.
“She doesn’t know, does she?”
My dad bangs his fist against the table, rattling the dishes. “Shut the fuck up, Atlas. I swear, I’ll cut you off from doing business with me.”
“Interesting.” Atlas smirks. “Your father bribed your ex to stay away from you as well.”
Shock colors my face. “What’s he talking about?”
Atlas holds my hand, squeezing it tight. “He paid Carter to dump you.”
My father turns his head to the side. “I had to.”
I glance at my father, and his eyes revert to the red carpet. “Why?”
“You needed to focus on your career, and he kept hurting you.”
“How much did you pay him? I want to know what I’m worth, Father dearest.”
“He paid him five million,” Atlas answers. “Get up, Boots. We’re leaving.”
“Stay seated,” my dad shoots back.
“Do you realize how much you hurt me, Dad? First with Mom, and now this. When will you stop? When will you stop hurting me? You cause destruction, but you don’t realize you’re the problem. Atlas was right, this wasn’t a good idea.”
My father glances at me with sadness in his eyes as he digs into his food.
I tuck myself under Atlas’s arm, and we leave the restaurant. Tears spring down my cheeks. I know my father would go to great lengths to protect me, but I had no idea he paid off people I cared about.
Once we step outside, Thomas waits by the car with the door open. I slide inside and lean back on the crisp seat as Atlas follows suit, strapping my legs over his.
“Why didn’t you tell me what my father did?”
“Because I didn’t want to break your heart any more than it already is.”
“You can’t break something that’s already broken.”
I can’t concentrate on my work when we’re back in the office, and all I think about is my father and how he’s so damn conniving. So many questions swirl in my mind. Did Carter break up with me because he actually thought I was ugly? If he didn’t take the money, would I have gone through with the wedding? I don’t want Carter back, but I need answers. Atlas lets me off work a little early. When I exit the building, Thomas stands against the Maybach, next to the open back seat door.
“Mr. Conrad has ordered me to drive you where you need to go for the rest of the week.”
I’ve never dated someone as wealthy as Atlas, so I don’t expect his staff to wait on me hand and foot. I slide into the car and lean back against the cream leather.
“Can we stop by my place?”
