Page 15 of In Charge

Chapter 8

Robbie

I don’t know what Iexpected when I followed Maya to the restroom, but I hadn’t expected her to be so turned on by my pass at her. My only intention was to steal a kiss or two, but damn, she was irresistible. As soon as I was alone with her and my lips touched hers, there was no way I was getting out of there without claiming a little bit more of her. Feeling her come in my hand was sweeter than I’d imagined. Tasting her was going to be fucking decadent. Slipping my cock inside her just might break me.

I thought being forced to talk to Dad this morning was bad. Now it was torture. I didn’t know why we needed to meet. I could read, and I didn’t need every detail about this new client explained to me. Knowing Dad, he thought I didn’t understand. Maybe if he’d taken the time to get to know me, even a little ... But he didn’t. It was always all business with him, even when I was a kid. Not that I wanted him to know anything about my personal life anyway, but I still long for a true father figure.

When I stepped off the elevator and into Dad’s private office, he was sitting on the sofa with a drink in one hand and the newspaper in the other.

“It’s a bit early for a drink, don’t you think?” I said.

“It’s never too early for scotch.” Dad’s voice sounded raspier than usual. “Pour yourself one and join me.”

Sure, Dad. I’ll drink your expensive scotch. I went to the bar and poured two fingers on the rocks. I took my time before turning toward him and sipped from my glass. “Damn, this is the good stuff. So, what is it you wanted to see me about?”

Dad cocked his head to the side and smiled. It was an odd smile coming from him. He almost looked like he cared, which I knew damn well he didn’t. Dad had never cared about me before, just what I could do for his business. Why in the hell would he start now?

“How old are you now, Robbie?” Dad asked.

Seriously? “Twenty-nine.” Where was this going?

“Oh, good. I was afraid you were younger than that.” His father folded the newspaper and sat it on the coffee table. “Please, sit. We have things to discuss.

Come on man, you have got to be fucking kidding me. Worthless piece of shit. “You seriously didn’t know how old I was.” I rolled my eyes and sat in the chair opposite him. “You should be ashamed to even admit that.”

“Well, let’s not go kidding ourselves. I’m a shitty father. There was never any chance I was ever going to be the kind of father a child deserved.”

That was the understatement of the year. No matter how angry his admission made me, I couldn’t help but laugh. It may be one of the few times I’ve ever heard my father admit a wrongdoing. “Well, at least you admit it.”

“I may be a lot of things, but I’m no liar.” Dad walked to the bar and made himself a second drink. He was up to something, and I wished he’d get to the point already. The last thing I wanted was to talk about anything personal with him. This line of conversation was starting to make me uncomfortable. “So, are you ready to take on more responsibility?”

I glanced over my shoulder and met his stare. “What do you mean? You just gave me a new client to sign. Is there something else you want me to do?”

Dad turned to face me, his eyes studying my face. A nervous twitch formed at the corner of his mouth, but I could’ve been mistaken. Dad didn’t get nervous. “Robbie, why do you think I married your mother?”

My blood boiled at the mere mention of my mother. She was a topic off-limits to Dad, and he knew it. My body tensed, my knuckles turned white around my glass, and I had to fight to keep my fingers of my free hand spread out and not clench them into fists.

Despite the rage building inside me, I kept my voice flat and even. “Enlighten me, Father.”

“Now, Son, don’t get yourself all worked up in a tizzy. I see that look on your face, and I won’t stand for it. Business is business.” Dad’s tone was firm, and he stepped forward in an aggressive stance. Whatever hint of nervousness I thought I saw a moment ago was gone. It made my smoldering anger toward him flare up in flames.

“Business is business.” I dropped my glass down on the table and the scotch splattered onto the floor. “Are you calling Mom business? Fuck you. This conversation is over.” I stood and turned for the elevator.

“Sit down,” he yelled. “I’m not done talking to you.”

“Well, I’m done talking to you.” I slammed my hand on the call button with my back toward Dad.

“I needed a son, and your mother gave you to me.” Dad was by my side faster than the doors could open. “And now I need you to take my place as head of this company. You’re my only heir.”

“I have six older sisters. Are you fucking mental?” The doors finally opened with a ding, and I stepped inside. I hit the down button, but Dad stepped between the doors, so they couldn’t close.

“They don’t count. I need a man to take over.”

“What about Maya?”

“She’s a last resort, and only if you don’t work out.”

“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.” Maya was the best thing for this company, but Dad was too much of a chauvinistic pig to see it. “She’s good enough to run your company, but one of your daughters is not?”

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