Page 124 of Reckless Harmony

Isaac stayed silent, and while his grip had loosened, Rayna could practically feel the anger radiating off him. She smoothed her thumb over his as his father stared at her again.

He held out his hand. “Alexander Stark. And you are?”

“Rayna Abrams.”

She refused to shake his hand, and after a few seconds, he dropped it and looked her up and down. “You don’t look like my son’s usual type.”

“Get the hell out of my house,” Isaac growled, half-pulling Rayna behind him.

She placed a hand on his back, rubbing in soothing circles as his father said, “I’m not leaving until you speak with me.”

Isaac barked harsh laughter. “Your days of telling me what to do are finished.”

“You owe me!” his father snapped. “You quit the company and became my competition out of spite. You owe me the decency to listen to what I have to say, Isaac. I am still your goddamn father.”

“I don’t owe you shit,” Isaac said. “I won’t let you gaslight or manipulate me anymore. Leave.”

“I’m not leaving until you listen to what I have to say,” Alexander said.

“Fine. We’ll leave.” Isaac started toward the elevator, pulling Rayna with him.

“I’m going to lose the company,” his father said.

Isaac stopped so suddenly that Rayna bumped into him. She stepped back, trying not to wince when Isaac’s hand tightened painfully on hers again. He turned to face Alexander. “You’re losing the company?”

Alexander’s face was a dark red. “Yes, and I want to speak with you about it.” His gaze landed on Rayna. “In private.”

Isaac put his arm around her waist, one big hand cupping her hip. “Anything you say to me, you can say in front of her.”

“I won’t talk about my business in front of your latest… fling, Isaac.”

“Then we don’t talk at all.” He started for the elevator again.

“Fine,” his father snapped.

There was a thick and heavy silence that made Rayna want to find the nearest exit. Instead, she took Isaac’s hand and said, “Why don’t the three of us go to the kitchen, and I’ll make us coffee while you and your father speak.”

Isaac put his mouth to his ear, his voice low for only her to hear. “Don’t leave me alone with him.”

She cupped his face, rubbing her thumb across his cheekbone and smiling reassuringly at him. “I won’t, honey.”

“Listen to your fling,” Alexander said. “Talking to me is -”

“Her name is Rayna!” Isaac snarled. “Call her my fling again, and I’ll toss you in that goddamn elevator and never speak to you again.”

Alexander held up his hands. “Okay, okay.”

“Apologize to her,” Isaac growled, his hand tightening on Rayna’s hip.

“I apologize for my rudeness, Rayna,” Alexander said stiffly.

She nodded, and with Isaac still holding her hand like she was his lifeline, the three of them walked to the kitchen.

Stark grabbed the milk and the sugar as Rayna made the coffee. The thick silence was as oppressive as a Georgia heat wave, and he was so nauseous that he wasn’t sure he could take a single sip of coffee without immediately throwing up.

His father striding into his penthouse like he owned the damn place had sent his head into a tailspin. He’d immediately felt small and insignificant, his brain overwhelmed by the rush of adrenaline, the urge to flee, and that small voice in his head that reminded him he wasn’t smart enough, creative enough, or good enough for his father.

He probably would have completely spiraled if it hadn’t been for Rayna. Her small but comforting presence had kept him grounded. He hadn’t even been embarrassed by his plea for her to stay with him. Her reassurance that she wouldn’t leave had helped center him and remind him that he wasn’t alone. She was right there with him and wasn’t going anywhere.

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