Page 101 of Not A Chance

“Indigo, I do not have time for you to have a tantrum. You will be at that fundraiser in two days. Then, once you finish out your contract in Toronto, you’ll attend any other function Julian requires you at, period. Our family will be joined with the Fairbanks.”

Before I could answer, a soft knock sounded against the office door.

“What now?” my father called out.

The door opened just enough for Angelina to pop her head in. “Excuse me, Mr. Layne. There is a gentleman here…”

The door was pushed open all the way before I could process who was behind it.

Theo. I couldn’t believe it. Was he appearing before my eyes because I’d missed him so much that I was imagining things now?

“Theo?” I whispered. “How?”

He made his way into the room, ignoring my father completely, before gathering me into a tight hug.

“Emery. I came straight from the airport,” he explained.

“Thank you.” I squeezed him back.

“Rocky.” He spoke quietly into my ear, his lips sending shivers through my body from where they grazed my skin. “You don’t need me here. But I had to be. I’m always going to have your back. Please don’t leave me in the dark again.” His tone was rough with emotion.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know what to do, but I do now. Wait for me?” I moved my hands to his jaw so that I could bring his mouth to mine for a soft kiss.

“Always.” He leaned back to offer me a wink.

“Excuse me. Who the hell are you?” My father stood behind his desk now, incensed.

Shit. I had totally forgotten where we were for a second. Such was the power of Theo Yao-Miller’s spell.

“I’m here for Indie,” Theo stated.

Theo stepped back from me, mouthing, “You got this,” and went to lean against the wall by the now closed office door, crossing his arms over his chest. Gone was the soft side of Theo that he only showed around me and his family. Instead, the formidable competitor who was used to eighty-mile-an-hour pucks flying in his direction stared my father down.

“This is Theo. My boyfriend. Who I’m in love with.” I raised my chin defiantly.

“Love? You’re joking,” my father scoffed. “You think that changes anything? It doesn’t. You will go through with this engagement to unite our family with the Fairbanks.”

A choking sound came from behind me. I chanced a glance back at Theo, whose eyebrows were aiming for his hairline, his face a picture of shock but not anger.

“Sorry,” I mouthed, putting all the emotions I felt for Theo into my gaze, hoping he would understand I was about to get us out of here.

I turned back to my father and opened my mouth to speak, but he cut me off.

“If you and Julian want to discuss matters”—he flipped a dismissive hand at Theo—“then that is your business. But you will live up to the expectations of this family.”

“No,” I said, not backing down.

“Do I really have to go through all the ways I can make your life difficult in getting your inheritance you want so badly? Julian is even willing to humor your altruistic tendencies.” He spoke like wanting to help people was a disease I was afflicted with.

“Julian won’t have to put up with anything. He can find himselfsome other woman whose goals are similar to his.” My father opened his mouth to speak, but I kept talking. “You can keep my fucking inheritance. I don’t want it anymore. Is that what you want to hear? You don’t even give a damn about me—you never have. You don’t even care about the money; it’s just a tool you used to keep me under your thumb all these years. Well, I’m done. If you want to make it difficult for me to access my inheritance, be my guest and call my lawyer directly. I’m done with this family, the Layne name, and you.”

When he didn’t respond right away, his face beet red in anger or shock, I knew I’d gotten my point across.

I turned and walked to his office door, offering my hand to Theo, who thankfully took it.

As we crossed the threshold of his office, I tossed the final words I would probably ever speak to him over my shoulder. “Goodbye, Father. I hope the ten million was worth it. Good luck explaining everything to the Fairbanks.”

Not that I thought he would miss me or feel a real loss at my departure from their lives, but I had to remind him one last time that it was his own choices that brought us here.

---