Page 118 of Just Like Starting Over
“I want you to leave,” he says. “I want you to pack up that car and drive right back out of town. I want you to close this restaurant and take your friend with you.” He takes a step closer. “But mostly, I want you to leave my son alone.”
“Mike is an adult who can make his own choices.”
“Mike is a trusting, kind, honorable man who doesn’t deserve to have some slut take advantage of him.”
I flinch at his choice of word, though it shouldn’t surprise me. We have talked before, Mr. Cavendish and I, and those exchanges weren’t any more friendly than this one is shaping up to be.
He inhales sharply. “That picture is an abomination,” he seethes and I know he’s talking about the one in The Empire Chronicle, the one of Mike and I kissing, the one that Sierra has made her lock-screen image. “My son would never make such a shameless display…”
“But he did and it was nothing to be ashamed about.”
Patrick raises a finger. “You leave him alone or I will make youregret it, girl.”
“Mike deserves to know his daughter.”
“Does he? You haven’t thought that for fifteen years. What changed?”
I open my mouth but he continues without giving me a chance to speak.
“I’ll tell you what changed. That girl was never Mike’s daughter. She is Luke’s and you have common ground with him in your lack of respect for any kind of decency. All three of you are bad seeds! I don’t care what you and Luke do together, but you’re not going to do it here, in my town, and you’re not going to drag Michael into your mess. I will not tolerate it!”
“Sierra is not Luke’s daughter.”
“So, you say, now that Luke is getting rid of his money as quickly as he can. He can’t support you in the style you desire, so you’re looking for another mark.” He leans close, eyes blazing. “It will not be Michael. Mark my words, girl, I will stop you, no matter what it takes.”
I haven’t faced such animosity in a long time and I don’t know what to say. There’s a vein throbbing in his temple and I remember that he’s had one loss tonight already.
“Remember your place or I’ll remind you.” He pivots and marches back to his car.
I take a breath. “You can’t control everyone in the world, Mr. Cavendish, not even in Empire.”
He looks over his shoulder at me, then takes a step back toward me. “No? You might be surprised how miserable I can make the life of that girl. Or maybe you don’t recall what anidyllicchildhood Luke had.” He sneers the word, smiles at my reaction to his threat against my daughter. “You will do what I say or I will make sure both of you regret it.”
“You will not hurt my daughter!”
“I will do whatever is necessary to defend my son.”
I’m stunned to silence, as he gets into his car. He drives off, leaving me shaking with anger and fear.
He wouldn’t physically injure Sierra. (At least I don’t think so.) He’s more likely to ensure that doors were closed to her, that people shun her, that cruel things are said.
That’s just what he did to Luke.
He would see that she was cheated of opportunities. Maybe he would find a way to block our settlement agreement and Mike’s support payments. Maybe he would fire Mike to achieve that.
I have no idea how far Patrick Cavendish will go to get what he wants, and I feel sick.
My instinct is to confide in Mike, but I hesitate. I haven’t asked him outright but I’m pretty sure he thinks I’m the one lying about the letters, not his father. He works with his father. He trusts his father. He will inherit at least part of Cavendish Enterprises from his father. It’s not a gamble to pick which story he’ll choose.
My beautiful girl. I would do anything to defend her.
It’s too late to keep from falling for Mike again, but my feelings have to remain secret.
For Sierra’s sake.
35
MIKE
