Page 53 of Winning Bid

“I don’t mean it that way?—"

“You could have cost me my job, Dad! Do you get that? You still could!”

He sighs. “Come on. You know I’d never do anything to put you in jeopardy.”

Another laugh pops right out of me. “Do I know that? Because I seem to remember a childhood where you did exactly that, over and over, ruining any chance I ever fucking had at a normal life.”

His lines and wrinkles deepen, and for once, I can see the years on him. I can’t tell if it’s sadness or guilt that coats his voice, but whatever it is, he’s good at making it sound like I should feel bad for him. “You’re right about that. I’d like to say I’m a different man now, but I’m still the man who did those things, and I thought you’d started to forgive me for them. But I guess I’m wrong about that, huh?”

“If I thought that any of this was sincere, then yeah, I would have forgiven the shit you pulled back then. The abuse, the selfishness, the way you acted like me and Mom weren’t shit to you. But you hijacked my email and went behind my back to meet my boss, which means you’re up to something, and it will ruin my career. So, no, Mitch, I don’t forgive you. I don’t accept that you’re some new man because all I see in front of me is the same bastard who broke my mother’s heart and is setting up to do the same to his daughter.”

“What do you think I’m up to, June? Tell me that. Aside from befriending your boss, the only other thing you seem to be hung up on is the email part of things, and I’ve apologized for that, so really, this is on you.”

“Befriending him? At lunch, you told me you had a multimillion-dollar business proposition for him.” I smirk up at Mitch. “So, which is it? Friends or business?”

“Now you sound like your mother.”

I shake my head, smiling. “You were always one hell of a gas lighter, and I see that hasn’t changed, either.”

“You know something? You could stand to do more to ingratiate yourself with Andre. Your father befriending him will go a long way for your career. It’s called networking, June. Something you can’t easily do from your high horse.”

“Oh, so not only did you do me a favor by hijacking my email, but now you’re helping my career? What, out of the goodness of your heart?”

“Friends go into business with each other all the time. I don’t know why you’re making such a federal case out of it.”

My fingers ball into fists as I count to ten. It doesn’t really help. It just leaves me with two fists and ten more seconds of anger. “What business are you getting into with Andre?”

“I didn’t say I was getting into business with Andre. I just said I could help you with your career by befriending him. You are so paranoid?—"

“Don’t.” The word comes out hard like steel. He says this to me now? After all the years, I heard him call Mom paranoid when she confronted him about another pair of panties in his car, or another bill that showed up marked “Past due,” or any number of people who stopped her in the supermarket and asked what he was doing with their money. He told her she was paranoid, that he had things under control, and to stop snooping around. That shit was not going to cut it with me.

“Whatever you’re doing with Andre, it ends now. You two are not friends. You’ll never be friends. You’ll never be business associates, either. Andre Moeller is my boss. I do not want my personal life and my professional life to cross. Ever. I am drawing this line in the sand. If you cross it, we are done. For good. Forever. I have never asked you for a thing in my life, but I am asking you for this. Prove to me that you want me in your life by giving me this.”

His jaw clenches. “I want you to think about what you’re saying, June. You’re telling me you think so little of me that you can’t trust me not to screw things up for you here. Do you understand how hurtful that is?”

“If you can’t do one simple thing for me, then I guess we’re done.”

“You are a grown woman. Ultimatums do not become you.”

I laugh. “You are a grown man. Bullshit does not become—oh wait. Maybe it does.”

He sighs, shaking his head at me. He looks defeated, but I know better. There is nothing that puts him down for long. With a heavy tone, he says, “I am so sorry for everything I did that’s made you become this cynical. I did a number on you, and I am sorry, kiddo.”

His apology is as hollow as I feel right now. “We’re done here. You can go.”

His lips smash into a flat line of disappointment, then he pats my shoulder. “I’ll give you a couple of days to think about what you said. You’re still getting better from your cold, and I’m sure that’s playing a part in how you’re being right now. All that attitude. Maybe give me a call this weekend when you’ve got your head on straight.”

I shrug his hand off. “Thought you had a playdate with Andre.”

“Not if it costs me you.” Then he walks out.

Whatever strength I had is gone when the door closes. It’s easy to be stubborn and angry when we’re face to face, but now I’m just a girl who wishes she had a normal dad. I crumble onto my couch. I’m on the verge of tears, somewhere between sadness, regret, and pure anger. I know for a fact he didn’t want to meet with Andre for shits and giggles. He already let slip that he’s got to land some big account for his firm and that he wants Andre. My father is a liar, a cheat, and a criminal. What the fuck was I thinking by letting him back into my life?

I try some deep breathing to relax, but it’s no use. I feel like a firework with a smoldering fuse. All I need is someone else to fan the flame.

28

ANDERSON

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