Page 84 of Bound By My Father's Best Friend

“We were at Radiant,” I said softly.

“Fuck.”

“Yeah, fuck,” I murmured. “Before I left work, he told me that he was spending the night with his assistant at her place, and then this fucker walked right into our club. It’s my fault. I should’ve been more careful.”

Steven let out a breath. “He walked in on you together.Damn.”

“In the middle of a punishment,” I said, crossing my arms. “I don’t think that he’ll hurt Heather, but I’m worried what he’ll say to her and what this will mean for our business. I let my emotions get the best of me and broke his finger.”

Steven glanced up from the food. “I’m sorry. You broke his finger?”

I ran a hand over my face again. “Long story.”

“I can tell. You keep jumping around all over the goddamn place.” He paused and moved the spatula around in the pan, not knowing what the hell he was doing. “You think he might try to sabotage your business?”

“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “He has connections, and he’s not one to shy away from using them if he’s pushed too far. I have seen it many, many times while we were climbing to the top. Now, I’m the one who’s pushed him.”

Steven leaned against the opposite countertop. “So, what’s the plan?”

My gaze flickered up to meet Steven’s. “Hell if I know.”

I glanced back into the living room and sighed softly, watching Heather’s bottom lip tremble. All I knew was that I didn’t quite care as much about what happened to the company as long as I could protect Heather.

CHAPTERFORTY-NINE

HEATHER

Soft city lightsflooded through the large windows in Hector’s high-rise. I lay in his bed, my chest heavy with guilt and my mind racing with images of what Dad had walked in on earlier. Hector’s entire dick had been in my mouth.

I squeezed my eyes closed, trying to erase the memory. Distant sounds of traffic and the occasional city murmurs drifted through my ears. Hector tightened his grip on my waist, his warmth spreading through my body.

And yet I still couldn’t sleep.

Minutes stretched into hours, and the darkness in the city only became light.

The confrontation with Dad replayed in my mind, his anger and disappointment cutting deeper than any blade could. I hadn’t been ready to tell him. I hadn’t prepared myself yet. I wanted to make him proud of me first at work, and this had done the complete opposite.

Hector’s steady breaths against my ear played like a soothing rhythm. Even with everything going on, even though I’d acted crazy by crying all night just because I wanted my father to not be disappointed in me, Hector stayed by my side.

He traced patterns on my arm, and I let my gaze look into the distance, to the city skyline beyond the windows. Pittsburgh was twinkling with Christmas lights, yet I didn’t feel the holiday joy. Would Dad ever find it in his heart to forgive me? Could I ever make him proud?

After gently squeezing me, Hector pulled me closer. “Can’t sleep?”

I turned my head to meet his gaze, the moonlight casting a silvery glow upon his handsome face. I sank down in the bed and allowed my lips to quiver once more. They had barely stopped since earlier.

“No,” I whispered. “I can’t stop thinking about my father.”

Hector brushed away a stray strand of hair that clung to my tear-streaked cheek. “I know it’s hard, Heather. But you need sleep.”

In the distance, light glimmered through the city skyscrapers, pinks and golds painting the sky. I gripped my phone on the opposite side of my body and tilted it up to see if Dad had returned any of my messages.

Me: I’m sorry.

Me: I didn’t mean for you to find out this way.

Me: Can we please talk?

I had texted him in hopes that he’d respond, but it had been hours with nothing.

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