Page 48 of Never Your Girl

ColdAsIce17

I’ll admit nothing. But for the record, that was terrible.

FragileLikeABomb

Denial is the first step. Acceptance is the last.

ColdAsIce17

And what’s in the middle?

FragileLikeABomb

Me, telling you more bad jokes.

16

Bridger

Every step that brings me closer to my father’s office has my pulse thrumming with irritation. This is exactly what I didn’t need today.

All right, let’s be honest… I don’t need an ass reaming from him any day of the week.

The eerie quiet of the hallway doesn’t help dispel the dread pooling at the bottom of my gut. I can’t remember a time when it wasn’t like this between us. After Mom picked up and left, everything got a whole hell of a lot worse.

I glance around the outer sanctum and find his secretary’s desk empty, which is unusual. Maybe luck is finally on my side and he’s not here.

Nothing would thrill me more.

I knock once and hear a muffled thud from inside, followed by the faint sound of rustling papers and the low hum of conversation.

Is it possible the old man is stroking out?

Again, nothing would thrill me?—

We’ll just leave it at that.

My brow furrows, and I’m about to rap my knuckles for a second time when the door creaks open and his secretary slips out. A flush fills her cheeks and her blouse is buttoned wrong. She avoids eye contact as she tucks a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

My stomach twists with a sick mix of disbelief and disgust.

She looks like she could be my age.

And Dick has the audacity to lecture me about propriety?

Un-fucking-believable.

“Go on in,” she mumbles before scurrying to her desk.

With a shake of my head, I step inside and shut the door behind me. Dad is seated behind his massive mahogany desk, looking like the king of his little fiefdom. He glances up, his expression cool and unreadable. It’s the tension in his jaw that gives him away.

The man is pissed.

Maybe even embarrassed to be caught in such a compromising situation.

Tough shit for him.

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