Page 54 of Never Finished

I couldn't hold back the laugh. "My behavior?"

He shook his head sadly. "I don't know what has gotten into you, Emma. Your mother and I didn’t raise you to behave this way—carrying on when you should be working—with someone who is way below your station, no less."

I rolled my eyes. "Father, please, who I choose to spend my free time with has no bearing on my position in the company."

"It sure as hell does when it’s the difference between this company flourishing or failing."

I looked at him, confused. "Why would it make a difference? What are you not telling me?"

"Nothing you need to know. Besides, it will be none of your concern soon enough."

"What? Are you going to boot me out? Have you forgotten that I'm a shareholder?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "I have a feeling once the board hears about your philandering, they'll have no problem voting you out."

I glared at him.

"Don't give me that look, Emma. I have tried with you, I really have, but I'm down to my wit's end and I will not have you tarnishing this company or your mother's name."

"Don’t gaslight me," I hissed out. "We both know expanding onto that land is not what she would've wanted—and I will not allow it to happen."

"We'll just see about that young lady. I warned you before you're playing with the big boys now, so I hope you're prepared for what's ahead. I really don't want to use these tactics against my own daughter, but I am prepared to take what's rightfully mine."

"Go ahead and try old man. Mom left that land to me, and I am going to protect what’s mine, including her legacy. That also includes the bartender you keep threatening. You seem to forget I'm not just Lydia Carter's daughter—I have just enough of your nastiness running through my veins to bite back, so maybe you should worry about fighting with the big girls."

With that, I turned on my heel and marched towards the bar. I couldn't walk in there, not when I was this upset. I didn't think Jaime would be so callous as to say I told you so, but I couldn't handle the pity in his eyes either.

I kept my gaze focused on Caroline and she made a hasty exit. We rushed to the elevator and went to her room instead of mine. I rang my newly appointed lawyer and told him about the incident, and he cackled with glee. "Oh, I'm sorry, Emma. I am not laughing at your expense. That is horrible, what God awful man. But I can tell you right now from a lawyer's perspective, he's going to be easy to squash and I'm going to thoroughly enjoy it."

I wish I could say that made me feel better, but seeing the venom in my father's eyes shook me to the core.

I wasn't sure if I wanted to scream or cry, but we were interrupted by an incoming FaceTime call. It was Abby, wanting to know how the meeting with the lawyer went. I was thankful for the distraction and happy when we got sidetracked talking about the amorous lumberjack at the restaurant bar. And yet as we laughed about Caroline's being ogled so thoroughly, my mind kept going back to Jaime. This situation was getting out of hand, and all I wanted to do was talk to him.

The voices were warring in my head. So what if I didn't have everything sorted? Of all people, he would understand, and he wouldn't judge me. Still, I couldn't help but want to go to him victoriously and let him know I had fixed it. But perhaps more than anything, I just wanted him to hold me.

Jaime

The last person I expected to see was Caroline, but when I saw her at the bar after walking in with Emma, I immediately felt comforted. She gave me a sympathetic smile. "Hey there."

Before she could get another word out, I asked, "Is she okay? Her father’s here. She knows that, right?"

She nodded. "Yeah, thanks for the heads up. I think she suspected he was on his way, but still nice to know."

"She's out there alone with him?" I inquired.

Caroline smiled. "She is, but our girl’s got this. I told her I was here to help, not that she needs either of us to rescue her."

I sucked in a breath. "I know I just…"

"You're a fixer, I get that."

I nodded, "That, and… we've been through this before," I confessed.

She nodded. "I get that too, but she's not a kid anymore, and neither are you. You're both equipped to do it better this time. You're going to have to trust her."

Her words hit hard, but they weren't untrue. That's when Emma appeared in the bar's entryway looking for Caroline, presumably because she was avoiding looking at me.

Caroline glanced back at me. "I’ve got this. Have faith in our girl," she said, and I nodded, everything in me wanting to go after her to make sure she was okay. But Caroline was right. I needed to trust she could handle this on her own. It’s not that I didn't think she was smart or tough enough to handle this situation. I just didn't want her to have to do it by herself. But family matters are complex, and the showdown between her and her father was a long time coming.

---