Page 4 of The Art of Deception

But there’s one thing I do know.

Xander has me in a spin.

And the fucker doesn’t even know it.

Chapter Two

ALEX

Pulling on my suit jacket, I fasten the buttons and knot my plum tie. I’ve been like crap for months. Now I can’t shake off this damn mood every time I walk into this godforsaken office. Sure, I owe my father everything, and I do find work rewarding at times, but then there are other factors that make this a hellhole.

It’s hard to deal with.

It’s hard to live with.

Sure, we might be bringing a huge profit to Scott Enterprises, but at what cost?

The door to my office flies open with brute force as it smashes back against the frame, making me turn. My father storms in. His fiery demeanor leaches off him in waves. So much so, I feel the burn from here. His graying hair is particularly combed over today, and his suit is impeccably tailored as he leans forward aggressively, ready to lash out at me.

It takes merely a millisecond for his voice to rise to where the entire level can hear. “What in the name of all things holy were you thinking, Alex?”

I lean back against my desk, my fingers wrapping around the edge, gripping on tightly to restrain my anger. They turn white, but I’ll contain myself.

I must.

He’s not only my father but my boss, and I’m in the wrong.

At least inhiseyes.

“In my defense—”

“There isno defense, Alex!You walked out of the final eviction briefing. Damn you! It was the most important one. The last tenants in the area need to vacate, and they’re beingfucking difficult…” His face reddens. Maybe he’s going to have a stroke. “We need them gone, Alex. Like yester-damn-day! You understand this, don’t you? It’s not a difficult concept to grasp.”

I scoff, turning around glancing out my fourteenth-story window overlooking the city of San Francisco. It’s a beautiful spring day, the sun’s shining, but I suspect a sinister storm is brewing in this very room.

“What I don’t understand is why you can’t offer them something more.”

Dad guffaws, rattling the pictures and certificates on my walls. “Something more? Something.More!Boy, we’re offering them a place in the new megacomplex. Whatmorecould I give them?” He stops, composes himself, lowers his voice to deadly serious, and continues, “This is all beside the point, Alex.Youleft the meeting. And for a long fucking time,youdisappeared without a goddamn word.” He glances at my desk, and I follow his line of sight at the wad of Saran Wrap sitting there.

I tense as Dad scrunches up his face with a groan. “Keep your damn office tidy, and don’t have fucking trash lying around, Alex. Have some godforsaken pride in your workplace. I don’t know who the hell you’re turning into, boy. You’re such a disappointment to me right now.”

Fuck! That hit right where it was meant to. I may not approve of everything my father does or the way things are run around here, but his approval means everything to me. If he’s disappointed, it fucking stings. So, I pick up the wad of Saran Wrap and throw it toward the trashcan. As I do, my arm grates on the lining of my shirt, and the pressure of my suit jacket sends a sting through my fresh tattoo.

My father steps closer with rage burning red hot in his obviously infuriated eyes. “It was embarrassing, our second-in-charge merely standing up and walking out like that. How fucking irresponsible of you to leave everyone in the damn lurch,boy!”

I spin, anger now igniting inside of me, which I can’t control. I usually try to keep calm, keep everything under control out of respect to my father, but he’s pushing my buttons too hard this time. I slam my fist down on my desk. Hard. The stapler rattles, my pen rolls off the desk, all while I glare at him with intense ferocity. My nostrils flare as the vein in my neck twitches before I stand and move around the desk. “And what about the people whose lives we’re destroying by taking over their businesses with this deal, Dad? Isn’tthatirresponsible? Putting hard-working people in distress for nothing more thanourgain?”

Dad scoffs, shaking his head. “You’ve never been able to see the bigger picture, son. Sure, some of the retailers who can’t buy into the new megacomplex will have to close up shop.” He shrugs. “But they’ll move on and be fine somewhere else. They’ll get a nice sum of money from us to vacate. They won’t be left in the lurch. And those who can afford to come over and be part of the new megacomplex will beevenbetter off.” He exhales and puffs out his chest. “This initiative isn’t just aboutourgain, son. It’s also about sustainability for San Francisco. It’s about job growth. About makingthatarea a retail experience for everyone…” He exhales. “Therewillbe far more who benefit than the few who lose out.”

I grunt, turning my back on my father, and move to sit at my desk. “I get it, I do. I know the stats on job growth. I know this megacomplex can only be a good thing, but I’m concerned for the people whowilllose out.” My stomach sinks. “It’s not right.”

Dad exhales while stepping over in front of my desk, glaring right at me, his gray-blue eyes appearing old and worn with the number of lines around them. “I see so much of your mother in you. Your compassion and unwavering loyalty are admirable, but… it’s also something you can’t afford to have in this business. If you want to head this company…” he stands taller, his chestpuffing out again, any tenderness of before gone, “… you have to pull your head out of your ass. I don’t know where you go when you run off, but Alex, youneedto focus. I’m counting on you to see this through, son.”

Glancing into my father’s eyes, I simply nod. Guilt riddles me. It flows through every part of my being—toward my father for not working as hard as I should, and of course, for Tomi. Because I actually like her. Guilt because this megacomplex is going ahead whether I like it or not, and it’s going to wipe out Hope & Faith Ink. It’s going to take away the place her parents helped her build, including the memories of her family.

This is the part of business I fucking hate.

And she’s going to have nothing to do with me if she ever finds out.

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