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“It’s Lisa.”
I cock my eyebrow. “What?”
She clears her throat. “My name is Lisa.”
I notice she pushes her breasts up, and I averted my eyes. That is something I missed about Lake, she kept everything professional and didn’t take my shit. She didn’t kiss my ass and always put me in my place. I miss waking up next to her and I miss her laugh, her smile. Lisa is as bad as my old EAs at Naked in the flirting department.
“After work, would you like to go get drinks? I heard about your breakup with your ex-girlfriend, so if you need anyone to talk to, I’m here.”
She’s using the old ‘the shoulder to cry on is a dick to ride on’ trick. Everyone in New York City knows about my breakup with Lake, so I guess news traveled fast here too.
“Don’t ever speak about my personal life again. Your job is to bring me my coffee and schedule my meetings and all the other stuff in your job description. Next time you ever speak about my ex or my personal life, I’ll have your contract terminated immediately.”
Her cheeks redden, and the line in her forehead deepens before she stands up straight.
“Your father will be here in the next ten minutes.”
“Great, send him in when he arrives.”
I know why my father is here. He’s going to tell me if the board will accept my offer. I straighten my spine, remove my dress jacket, and lay it on the back of the chair. My father strides in wearing a custom-made suit, his hair slicked to the side. He sits across from me with his legs crossed. His face is wiped of all emotion.
“Atlas,” my father greets.
I hate how he uses that tone with me, it’s the same tone he used when I was a child and it brings back memories of him scolding me for something I did. I shake my head.
“William.”
He smiles. He doesn’t like to be addressed as Father when we’re at work. To him, I’m supposed to be his legacy. The one who is building our legacy for our future heirs.
“I came here to speak to you about the board. You’re not ready to be on it.”
“Did you and the board come up with that conclusion?”
He shakes his head, and his gaze goes to the window overlooking the city before his gaze meets mine again. “I told them you’re not ready.”
My blood boils, and I slam my palm on my desk. “Why not?”
“You’re too distracted by Lake.” He runs his fingers through his hair. “If I’m being honest, you can date someone with a prettier face. Her body is nice to look at, but her fa—”
I stand up from the chair, stride up to him, and grab him by the collar. “Say another word about her, and I’ll beat you until you’re purple and blue.”
He pushes me away, flattening his wrinkled shirt. “You see, you’re going soft. Women aren’t made to be loved, they are made to be controlled. When will you get it through your skull?”
I sigh, trying to keep my anger at bay. “I pity you. Mother loves you so much, yet you treat her like shit and you think that’s okay. Have you ever loved her?”
“No. Your mother read the prenup before she married me. We had an arrangement when I married her. She has my children and takes care of the home while I work, there is no love involved. It’s not my fault she fell in love with me.”
“You’re the reason why I don’t want to be in a loveless marriage.”
“You need it. Marriage is nothing more than a business contract.”
“Leave, before I throw your ass out.”
“We’ll be in touch.”
As soon as he’s out of earshot, I call the guy my father hates the most, Ken. I don’t want to stoop so low, but that’s the only way I can get what I want. Ken and my father used to be best friends until my father stuck his dick into his wife a decade ago.
“What’s going on, Atlas?”
