Page 47 of Never Finished

"Emma," I pleaded. "There’s obviously something going on here. I know you’d never go against your mother’s wishes, so why the hell would surveyors come anywhere near this place?"

"Jaime," she sighed, "I told you, I have it covered. My dad is thorough and likes to know what's going on around the resort. That's probably all this is."

I let out a sigh of frustration before I could stop myself, and she looked at me sharply. "What? Just say it—whatever it is you’re thinking, just say it."

I ran a frustrated hand through my hair. "He's doing it again. "

"And by again, you mean?"

"He's calling the shots, pulling the strings. He's deciding for you."

Her lips flattened into an irritated line. "I know he's done that in the past, but I am a grown-up now. There's no way I would let him do that again."

"Maybe not intentionally, but he's vindictive and sneaky Emma, you know that by now."

She stood, looking irritated. "You think I don't know my own father?"

I let out a frustrated growl. "No. You probably know him better than anyone, but you also give him the most leeway and, at some point, it has to stop. He's already made some pretty life altering decision on your behalf. I’d hate to see what happens if you don't learn to stand up to him now," I said as she put up a hand to stop me and I immediately regretted my words.

"That's enough. I am sick and tired of people telling me what I should and shouldn’t do and the dire consequences that await me. I have worked really hard to get where I am and I'm not stupid."

"Emma, you’re the smartest, most talented woman I know. It's just…"

"It's just you still think of me as that naïve teenager who let him drive a wedge between us?"

I bit my tongue, kicking myself for not having done it sooner.

"I get it. You still have an axe to grind with him. No one understands that more than me, Jaime. But I have my mother's legacy to protect, so that means dealing with him. Which is what I intend to do in my own way, and in my own time. I just need everyone to get off my back and let me figure out the best way to approach him. I realize his behavior makes him seem like some evil, capitalistic swine, but he’s my father and he’d never want to see me get hurt."

I couldn't stop the snicker that came out or the words that followed, "Could've fooled me."

"Excuse me?"

I was in it now, no turning back. "The man coerced you into leaving me, the man you loved. He makes you his workhorse for years on end, taking advantage of your grief over your mother’s passing. You jump through all of his stupid hoops, and it's still not enough. Now he's letting some creep go after you? What kind of man does that?"

Fire lit in her eyes and I knew there was no backtracking on this conversation. "I think you said everything there is to say. Now, if you would please leave, I have work to do."

I let out another exasperated groan. "Emma, please, I’m just pointing out what the rest of the world sees. I'm not trying to hurt your feelings or tell you what to do."

"Well, you could've fooled me," she said, with a grim smile parroting my words back to me. "I'll see you later, Jaime," she insisted, effectively dismissing me as she strode to the bathroom.

I waited for a moment debating whether I should stick it out and make her talk to me, but I figured I'd be no better than her father or the schmuck from the other night by forcing her into a corner she didn’t want to be in.

I had to give her space and let us cool down. In the meantime, I was going to figure out what the fuck her father was up to.

Emma

Iwaited until I heard the door to the suite close, and then I let the tears fall. Despite wallowing in my tumultuous emotions all night, I kept the tears at bay, holding onto my anger and fixating on all the ugly words my father had said to me.

Jaime wasn’t wrong, but I didn't need to hear it again. I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that my dad didn’t care about my wellbeing or honoring my mother’s wishes. Deep down I’d known all along, but the confirmation was staring me in the face and I couldn’t ignore it anymore. I felt like I was losing another parent—and was an orphan now.

I glimpsed myself in the mirror and bit back a groan at the raccoon eyes and the tear-streaked redness.

I needed to get out of here and get some air. It's what I should have done first thing instead of moping around my hotel room all morning, avoiding talking to Jaime or Caroline and Abby.

I would have to deal with this situation soon, but I needed some time to clear my head.

Nothing in haste, my love.

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