Page 98 of Vow to Hate You

I strode down the hall, panic and nerves crashing into me as I stopped in front of my closed office door. Taking a deep breath, I turned the knob, pushing it open. I spotted Jack first, who was sitting on the small couch against the left wall.

“Damian,” my father greeted me, a cold edge in his voice. “What an interesting place you have here.”

My eyes cut to him as he sat perched on the corner of my desk. He had a smile on his face, but there was no mistaking the anger gleaming in his eyes. A muscle in my jaw ticked as I fought to stay calm.

“Imagine my surprise when I had Jack follow Natalia, only to find out the club she’s visiting is owned by my son?—”

“You’re having her followed?” I cut in sharply.

He pushed off the desk, standing at his full height. “That is not what I want to talk about right now.”

“You have no right to interfere with my marriage,” I snapped. “My wife is none of your concern.”

“She is when her father is my partner,” he hissed, his eyes blazing in fury. “When your marriage contract is the lifeline to my many companies.”

I glared at him, my fists clenched at my sides. “You were having her followed for what? To see if she was doing anything to void the contract?”

“That’s exactly what I was doing. Only to find out it’s my son who is threatening my livelihood,” he roared, standing toe to toe with me. “If Jude found out about this, it could ruin our family. What the fuck were you thinking?”

“I was thinking I wanted to build my own company. Doing what I like,” I shot back. “I’ve been doing this for five years. With no issue until you walked in here.”

“This is done,” he growled. “Before Jude finds out you own a damn strip club.”

“No one gets naked here. It’s completely legal.”

“It’s not respectable. Or decent. Could you imagine the gossip if our investors heard about this?” He paused as if thinking about something. “Are you dancing here?”

“I own it. I can do whatever the hell I want.”

“This is finished,” he ordered, rage coating his voice. “Right the fuck now.”

I kept his stare as I answered. “No. This club is mine.”

“I’ll cut you off,” he threatened. “You’ll have nothing.”

I laughed bitterly. “You think I need the family money? Look around, Dad. I’m doing more than fine on my own.”

Instead of the fight I was expecting, he shook his head as he took a step back, stroking his chin. “Fine. Keep it. I’ll have our lawyers get your divorce papers ready.”

My heart stopped. “What?”

“Your wife has been spending nights with her sister,” he informed me as if I didn’t already know.

“And?”

“They go to clubs almost every weekend they’re together. Jack has followed her twice and each time, he loses sight of her inside the club. She doesn’t meet back up with her sister until the end of the night.” He cocked his head. “It’s clear she’s having an affair. Once we get concrete proof, then it will be her breaking your marriage contract. Most of the companies will go to ourname, and you’ll be free to keep this little club. Though, things will have to change. You won’t be performing. We’ll also make it a place where men can be entertained too.”

The fact that he was trying to change the image of my entire club barely fazed me. Right now, I was stuck on what he said about Talie. My chest tightened painfully, my heart pounding furiously. There was no way she was sleeping with anyone else. While I trusted her, there was a small ball of dread slowly filling my stomach. What the hell was she up to?

“I’m not getting a divorce,” I finally ground out. I wasn’t going to let our families get in between us. I could ask Talie once I was finished dealing with my dad.

“Even if she’s playing you? She was gone for five years, Damian?—”

“I was fine with her being away,” I argued, my voice growing louder with each word. “I have no plans on wrecking my marriage. It’s not fucking happening, so drop it.”

“You can’t have both. Not when it interferes with my business.” He crossed his arms. “Your marriage or this club.”

“Give me a day,” I told him through clenched teeth. “I’ll draft up the bill of sale.”

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