Page 165 of Savage Bosses

“Maddy, is that you?” my mother’s voice reminded me I didn’t have the luxury to vent my frustrations. Since I was staying with them until I finished my contract with Kent, I couldn’t act the way I did living by myself.

“Yes, Mommy.” I made my way to the kitchen, where she was wiping the table.

“Do you work this late in D.C.?”

“Sometimes later. Let’s just say there’s always someone doing dirty that needs my finesse.”

“Tsk. While you take care of everybody, who’s taking care of you?”

“All those life skills you and Daddy gave me.” I smiled at my mother as she punched three minutes into the microwave.

Nikita Montgomery had boundless energy. She was a senior partner at Dietz, Simpson, and Montgomery, Douglas’ premier law firm, and she was a hands-on mother. She never missed my competitions or dinner at home; even if it meant returning to the office late at night to work on a case. She set the plate of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and mustard greens before me. It was pointless to tell her I’d had something at the office; she wouldn’t consider a protein drink proper food.

I forked a mouthful and groaned at what I’d been missing as the flavors hit my tastebuds. “Where’s Daddy?” I finally got around to asking when I was more than halfway done.

“You know that man is downstairs playing God with that miniature town he’s been building since you were in middle school. You should go down and talk to him. He won’t say anything, but he’s been sulking since you returned because he hasn’t had enough one-on-one time with you.”

We shared a smile. Dennis Montgomery hid his softer-than-a-plush-toy interior beneath a gruff exterior when it came to me. He took me moving away for college and deciding to stay away the hardest.

I rose and washed my plate. “I’ll go see him now.” With a kiss to my mom’s cheek, I headed to the basement.

“When you return, I’ll have a glass of wine waiting for you. I want to know what had you slamming through my house like a bull elephant in musth.”

Her reminder brought back my rage from earlier, but I cleared the emotion from my face and nodded.

Downstairs, I watched in silence as my father detailed the shingles of a roof for one of the three-dimensional houses he designed. My father was a master carpenter. Dignitaries and celebrities alike sought after his talent, keeping him busy.

Being exposed to his clients helped me when I began my career while I attained my accelerated law degree at Penn. After my disastrous confession to Kent, I’d busied myself with every distraction under the sun, pouring my broken heart into my studies and later into Madison Consulting.

“I know I’m pretty, but my good looks don’t stop you from greeting your daddy properly.”

I smiled at his unsubtle demand for my affection and ran over to hug him from behind. “Did you miss me?”

“Hmph, what’s to miss? I haven’t seen you in so long I almost forgot I had a daughter.” He laid his work down and patted my forearm before turning and breaking my embrace. “Ah, yes, you look familiar now. Almost like looking in the mirror, you so pretty.”

“Daddy!”

“What? Instead of denying who gave you that good DNA, give me a proper hug.” He pulled me into his arms and wrapped me in his warmth. “Now, how’s my baby girl doing?” He released me to cup my face and study my response.

I shrugged, not wanting to burden him with the stresses from my day. “You know how it is. Working for friends is never easy.”

“Ah, yes. How is Kent doing? Ever since Oyinlola passed, he hasn’t been the same. His old place sits empty, and he rarely comes around anymore.”

“Ife never mentioned that.”

“That’s because he stays there whenever she visits, which is a lot more often than some daughters I know.”

Guilt niggled at me because Kent and the odd chance of seeing him were the reasons I stayed away. If I’d known he spent most of his time in his penthouse, I would have visited more often.

I spent another hour with my father, helping him with his never-ending project like I did as a high schooler. By the time I returned upstairs, I was willing to let the stunt Kent pulled go.

“I know you aren’t thinking about ducking me when this glass has been waiting for you.” My mother stopped me as I planted one foot on the stairs to my room.

“Why would I avoid the most cutthroat litigator in Colorado?” I said, reversing course and dropping onto the couch beside her. “I bet you sent me to Dad just so I would be calm enough for you to rile me up again.”

“Guilty as charged. Now, spill. Something’s bothering you and your father’s calming presence isn’t the cure, but your mama’s advice sure is.”

I laughed, although she’d never led me astray. After a long sip of the sweet red wine, I sat with my head against the cushion and looked at the ceiling. “I’m facing a situation where I know I should be the bigger person and let things go, but I also know that won’t solve anything.”

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