Page 60 of Her Filthy Mistake

Lake Tahoe? Macklin? Oh, my God. Is this Karissa’s father? Karissa is Zoe’s cousin. We’ve hung out together lots of times, but I’ve never met her father. “Are you Karissa’s father?”

“Yes, I am.” Damon smiles. “Do you know my daughter?”

For several minutes, we discussed his half-niece and daughter, and how I’ve known them for years.

“I’ll see you around. I’m headed to New York in the morning to meet with my new business partner.” Damon tips his chin outward as if he senses my father has no intention of working that deal. That’s probably the stupid band that he’s trying to sell to Ethan.

The second Damon disappears, my father returns his attention to me. “Sweetheart….” His eyes are fierce as they bore into mine. “This is business. If I didn’t operate this way, I wouldn’t have gotten to the top.”

“But–”

“Do not tell me how to operate my business.” His chest puffs outward as he tips his chin up, making him appear even more imposing than usual.

“Yes, Sir.”

“Drinks?” The waitress stops in front of us.

“Thank you.” I grab a glass of champagne off the black tray. Not that I feel like drinking, but I need something to get rid of the nasty taste in my mouth.

I knew my father made lots of deals with Ethan, but I thought it was to help the clients get bigger contracts. And all this time, he was stealing their money. Granted, when they went to Ethan’s company, they went higher on the charts so in the end they’d come out on top. Or as on top as they could get.

“Don’t be so naive. Business is business and not for the weak. It’s time to put that bleeding heart in the corner where it belongs if you want to make money and take over the company when I retire.” He squeezes my shoulder and smiles. “Actually, with your sweet and innocent demeanor, I’m going to start letting you take the lead. Ethan seems taken with you, and the artists we sign won’t suspect a thing.” His eyes twinkle with glee. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of this already. I’m going to be able to double my profits in a year. And if I could get you married off to him, we could merge the two businesses together. Also, to my benefit.” His eyes grow distant as he studies the wall behind me. “I need to think.”

My teeth grind together as I down the champagne. The second the liquid hits my stomach, it rolls. Lord. I cough and drop the glass onto the nearest table. No more of that.

After my father disappears to schmooze and scheme against some more unsuspecting people, I wander around the party, chatting with guests and trying to figure out my next move. I’ve always wanted to be involved in the music industry, but taking advantage of people goes against everything I believe in. I don’t want any part of the shady dealings of the business world.

“Hey, Zoe.” Felix, my boss, grabs my shoulder and studies me with a concerned expression on his face. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes.” I frown and shake my head as my stomach continues to roll as if I’m riding on a boat in the middle of the ocean. The day with Jace comes to mind, and sadness mixes in with the underlying nausea and disappointment in my father. How can he even think that I’d willingly go along with his plans? That I’d follow in his footsteps with no questions asked.

Does–

Never mind. I straighten my shoulders. I’m not going to ask. It’s disrespectful to talk about my father with one of his employees. Likely, Felix knows how he operates because they’ve worked together for years anyway.

“I’m sorry. I was feeling nauseous for a second, but everything is fine.”

“Good.” He grins, making his ruddy complexion brighten to a more volatile shade of red.

A woman I’ve never met walks up to us and lays her arm around my boss’s waist. “Hello, Felix.” she smiles and kisses his cheek. The woman has long auburn hair and a stunning figure. The man following behind her is older, but very attractive. Perfectly trimmed graying dark hair, sun kissed skin as if he spends lots of time on a yacht out in the Caribbean, and an air of old money.

“Beatrix.” Felix’s eyes light up, and he hugs her before standing back. “You must be Hudson.”

“Yes, in the flesh.” The man shakes my boss’s hand.

Before I can remove myself from an awkward conversation, Beatrix pins Felix with a look. “You’ve got to sign Jace Graham.” She shakes her head. “The man is delicious and can sing the telephone book. Why hasn’t he been signed to the label? You know I’m willing to contribute to the fund if necessary. He was fabulous when I brought him to your attention four years ago when you said you’d sign him.” Her eyes narrow into slits. “And you failed me then.” She tweaks his cheek. “But the man is absolutely divine now. You’re a fool if you don’t sign him.”

“Thanks.” Felix’s face is tight as he steps back, putting distance between them, and looks everywhere but at the three of us. “I appreciate the intel.”

“You should.” She tweaks his cheek again as my heart hammers in my chest. Jace is putting out new music? A wave of darkness rushes over me. I’m trying everything in my power to forget about him and move on, but it’s killing me. I can’t sleep. I can’t eat. I’m crying at the drop of a hat.

For fucks sake, yesterday, someone said the word gazebo, and I bawled in the bathroom for fifteen minutes. Normal people don’t do that.

My heart stops in my chest. Four years ago? What in the fuck? This woman brought up signing Jace four years ago?

“Lord.” Felix rolls his eyes after she leaves us and snatches a drink off a tray as a waitress traipses by. “I get tired of her pushing that guy. Not that he isn’t good, because he is. Even before Beatrix came to me, I asked your father to sign him, but he refused.” His face is hard, as if he’s thinking back to a previous conversation between them. “Basically, he blackballed the guy for some reason.”

“What do you mean?” The whooshing in my ears makes it hard for me to hear him.

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