Page 54 of Scandalous Secrets

“Showing up thirty minutes late doesn’t show me you canhandleit.”

“It was one time,” I lied.

“Cut the bullshit. Kathy tells me every time you’re late,” he snapped.

“Oh, great. So happy Kathy is keeping tabs on me,” I said sarcastically.

“She is. That’s whyIhired her.”

“I don’t need a babysitter,” I said softly, even though I wanted to yell it.

My father looked at the door, as if he could see through it to where Monica sat.

“Clearly, you do,” he said before turning back to me. “Because I don’t think you’re serious about this firm. My ass is on the line if it fails.”

“It wouldn’t have to be if you would just let me have something that’s my own.”

“And how would you do that? With what money? You think you can create something from the ground up?” He laughed as he shook his head.

“Maybe I can.”

“Well, you just might have to. Because if I don’t think you’re fit to run this place, there is no way in hell you’re taking over my legacy.”

His words stung, but I didn’t say anything. There was nothingtosay. I would never be good enough for my father, even if I did try harder. Even if I did show up on time. Even if I did stop making a move on my personal assistants. None of it mattered because he wouldn’t let go of what he built. He had too much pride.

My father stood from his chair and opened my office door without saying so much as a word before slipping out the door. I could feel my face was flushed and red, as if all my feelings were coiled up inside of me and striking against my skin. The small amount of relief I felt that he didn’t come here to talk about my relationship with Monica was outweighed by the anger I had toward him.

A moment later, Monica knocked just outside my door.

“Not now,” I said, a little too sharply.

“Hey, don’t be like that,” she said softly, taking a step into the room and closing the door behind her.

“You shouldn’t be in here,” I said. Not with Kathy around and probably more alert than ever.

“I just wanted to see if everything was okay.”

“Just peachy. Now go.” I nodded to the door.

She tilted her chin up as if to show me that what I was doing wasn’t hurting her, and turned on her heel, leaving my office. I knew I was being an ass, but it seemed better than letting her see me when I was down.

Chapter 25

Monica

Itried to hold back the tears that burned at the backs of my eyes, threatening to fall down my cheeks that were drained of color. I couldn’t believe how Troy had just treated me. His words had stung, but it was the way he looked at me that really left me bruised. He had dismissed me so coldly. I wondered what could have possibly happened from when I left him last night to now. My guess was it had something to do with his father, but my insecurities came out to play.

Sitting behind my desk, I blinked back the tears. I wouldn’t let him see I was hurt. I reminded myself that I was a professional and this was my job. I also internally scolded myself for letting the lines blur between my work life and my personal life. It was either heaven or hell. There could be no in between. This morning was proof of that.

I opened up my calendar to remind myself of what was on the itinerary for today, but found it empty. I did a double take as I refreshed the page, but as it blinked back to life, it remained empty. It hadn’t been this morning when I arrived. The whole day had been full of meetings and calls and a lunch at Ocean Prime that I was looking forward to because it meant alone time with Troy.

I looked from my computer screen to Troy, who sat stoically at his desk. He looked serious with his fingertips pressed together. He was a completely different version of the man on the beach, drunk on pina coladas and letting his hands riskily explore my body with that smile that tugged at one side of his lip.

He didn’t meet my gaze, but must have felt it because he stood up and closed his door. Shutting me out in more ways than one. I breathed in a shaky breath and looked around the office. Everyone was busy on their computers or on the phone. No one noticed as it felt like my world was crashing down around me. I suddenly felt unwelcomed in a place I was expected to show up to almost every day.

My notification bell dinged on my computer. My eyes darted to the screen to see an email from Troy. I felt a little blip of hope that he had some sort of explanation or apology, but it quickly disappeared as I opened it.

It was a list of tasks, much like the lists he emailed me weeks ago when I first started. Menial to-dos like picking up dry cleaning, editing his email drafts, and taking documents to get signed. It felt like déjà vu in the worst way. Every letter that was typed out was just another way of telling me that he was avoiding me.

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