Page 56 of Caden's Situationship

My eyes flew to Caden, neither of us seeming to recall that. Then I remembered that Jordyn had left us some weed smoothies that we finished together and I recalled that I’d wanted to call my parents and tell them my plan. Clearly, I’d done just that.

“And then I get sent this.” After my dad pulled up something on his phone, he showed me a picture. “Is this the two of you in compromising situation in a public place?”

I studied the picture and could immediately tell it was from the show Caden had performed at in Nashville when he lifted me out my chair.

“We were at an event,” I explained.

“With strippers,” my dad said. “Phillip’s sister was at the table next to you and she snapped this photo and sent it to him. Like a decent man, he brought it to me first.”

“What I do in my personal life is my business,” I told him.

“Not when you’re engaged to be married.”

Cringing, I chanced a glance at Caden. He’d kept the same stoic expression on his face throughout the entire conversation, but I knew it was only out of respect for me and my father. He probably figured this talk shouldn’t involve him.

“I’m not engaged to Phillip,” I reminded him. “And just because you entered into a business deal with his family based off a set of traditions that I no longer believe in, nor do I follow, doesn’t give you a right to try and dictate my future.”

“You wouldn’t have a future if not for your mother and I,” he said, the vein in his forehead popping from frustration. It was strange that when I was younger, I used to agree to do anything to avoid seeing that vein. Seeing it meant I was in trouble, or worse, he was disappointed.

Yet, now that I was older, I understood that I couldn’t control his level of frustration, nor was it right that I place his heavy burdens on my heart.

He clenched his jaw. “How many times will you screw up for this family before you understand that this is why we treat you the way that we do? This is why you don’t have a larger role in the company.”

“That’s not true,” I told him, glad I’d brought my phone down with me. I pulled up the contract I signed a few days ago. “Since I’ve gotten to Arkansas, I’ve been working with Lance on a proposal we submitted to the board for joint partnership.”

“You couldn’t have.” He took my phone out my hands.

“We did. Lance is stressed out and tired, and even though you’ve retired, the business traditions that you and the rest of the family put into place is taking a toll on us and the business. Lance doesn’t want a business engagement any more than I do. And whether you want to admit it or not, I’m great at my job. I may have lost myself for a little bit, but I found Cordelia Sugar Rose here in Arkansas, so after the board agreed to our terms, Lance and I decided that it was past due for us to open another office.”

My father scrolled through the contract, looking angrier by the minute. “This is absurd.”

“It’s also a done deal,” I informed him. I breathed a sigh of relief that I’d been able to finally tell him how I felt and take control of my future. Yet, when he dropped into the kitchen chair and dragged his fingers down his face, my heart broke a little.

Walking over, I sat beside him and placed my hand over his, grateful he didn’t pull it away. “Father, I know this is hard to accept. But I really want you to ask yourself that if I was your son and not your daughter, would you feel betrayed by the steps I had to take to get you to recognize that I’m an asset? Or would you have congratulated your son on making a strategic business move that benefited everyone?”

He actually seemed to think about my words, but didn’t give me the satisfaction when he said, “I don’t see how this benefits everyone, and I feel like I see the legacy of the Rose family dying with your generation. Lance was supposed to keep you in check, but instead, he conspired against me.”

Okay, screw the nice daughter take.“Well, I’m sorry you feel that way, but you really don’t have a say so in this. In case you didn’t understand what I meant earlier, I won’t be moving back to Dandelion Hills. In a week or so, I’ll pack up my things and put my condo on the market. Mom’s birthday is soon, so I’ll be by the house to see her.”

I had hoped he was listening, but based off the way he stood from the table started speaking to me, I’d say that was a firm no. “You are a disgrace to this family.”

I stood as well and was ready to try and get him to listen again when Caden stepped in between us.

“With all due respect, Mr. Rose, it’s time for you to get the hell out my house.”

“How dare you speak to me like that and kick me out while I’m talking to my daughter?” he bellowed. “I’ll have you know that I had an investigator run a background check on you, so I know everything you’re involved with and Red Rose doesn’t do business with despicable men.”

“Father, don’t waste your breath. Lance and I are well aware of Caden’s business dwellings and we don’t think it’s going to be an issue. And in case you’ve forgotten what I just told you, Lance and I share responsibility for Red Rose now, so I know for certain it’s not a problem.”

My dad grunted and shouted out expletives that I’d never heard him say before. Even after Caden escorted him all the way to his car, I could still hear him through the crack in the window.

“Are you texting your mom?” Caden asked when he came back inside.

I shook my head. “No, I’m giving Lance a heads-up that my dad is out for blood, and I’m texting my other cousin, Harper, that I am finally free of the crazy family traditions she escaped from years ago.” When I’d told Lance and Harper about my mom’s latest stunt, they hadn’t been surprised, but were disappointed in her. Understandable considering how I still felt about it.

I’d just hit send on my last text when Caden came and hugged me from behind. “I’m trying not to be insensitive,” he whispered into my ear, “but watching you get all authoritative was sexy as hell. I’m ready to head back to the bedroom and let you take advantage of me.”

I giggled. “Nice to know my dad didn’t scare you off from wanting to be with me.”

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