Page 20 of Waiting for Acceptance
“Yeah.” Lucky for me my father can’t see the look of irritation on my face right now. Once again he’s speaking a language I don’t care to learn.
“Why don’t you come back next month and stay just about as long? Get things sorted out there so the place doesn’t fall apartwithout you and then come back home to network. We’ve got some events you could attend while you’re up here.”
Yes, cause that’sexactlywhy I wanted to go back home.
“Sure, whatever you think is best.” The mantra of my life.
“I think it’d be best if you found a date for the events. Jessica Vanderbilt should be around for the Cocktails and Counseling event at the end of next month, so you’d just need to find someone to escort to the damn charity gala.” My eyes narrow and I scoff.
“You already asked herforme, didn’t you?”
“Well, I assumed you’d find some reason not to and show up alone.” I clamp my jaw shut, cracking my neck trying to rid some of the tension there.
“I’m thirty-four years old, Father. I don’t need you asking women out for me.”
“Then learn to do it your damn self. See you next month.”
Beep beep beep.
I look down and see the call is disconnected. Just as another one is coming through from my dad’s best friend and business partner, Frank. I take a deep breath, trying to rid my frustrations with my father before answering this call.
“Fitz,” I answer the phone, pressing the speaker button as I fall into my chair and bury my head in my hands.
“Hey there, Champ.” I hate when he calls me that now. I love Frank. He’s always been like an uncle to me, always supportive and shows up for every damn thing, but ever since Lauren mentioned what a good name it would make for a dog, I’ve wished he’d call me anything else.
“I know he can be a lot, but you know how he gets during big deals. This acquisition is no different. Once Coleson is officially part of The Fitzgerald Firm you’ll be back home in no time.”
That’s the problem, every deal is a big deal and there’s nevernota deal happening.
“The.What?” My head snaps up when I hear Lauren’s lethal tone coming from my doorway. Without a second thought, I end the call with Frank and make my way around my desk.
“You weren’t supposed to hear that.” I pull her into my office and shut the door behind us, causing her to stumble and almost drop the stack of papers in her hands.
“Yeah, no fucking shit. What acquisition?”
“Do you mind lowering your voice?” I growl through my teeth.
“Fuck you.” She frowns. “Where do you get off asking me to doanythingafter I just found out you’re lying to literally everyone here. Do Jack and Barbara even know they hired arat?”
“I’d be more than happy to explain all of this to you over lunch like adults, that is if you’d start acting like one, but I will not ask you again to lower your voice.” I glance up at my door, hoping everyone else has already left for lunch. Or at the very least, are out of earshot of my office.
“You have a stapler I can borrow?” I can practically see the thought playing out in her mind right now of her stapling the papers in her hands to my forehead.
“With the look on your face, I wouldn’t trust you with an eraser at the moment, so no.” I smirk humorlessly at her and she opens her mouth to say something, the color suddenly draining from her face.
“The Fitzgerald Firm,” she whispers to herself, her eyes locked on mine. “Oh mygod.” My fingers twitch to reach out and cover her mouth but I’ve held off touching her this long for a reason, and I’m not giving in now. I can see how pissed off she is at the moment but I know as soon as I explain it to her she’ll understand—hopefully.
“Your last name isFitzgerald.”
“Such a smart girl.” I smirk and her nostrils flare. “My old man nicknamed me Fitz to get me good and branded to take over the company when it was time.” She must not hear the way I loathe the future that’s been forced upon me because she closes her eyes and scoffs.
“I can’t believe I’m so stupid.” Then she shakes her head, her eyes pop open and she turns lethal again. “Wow. Well, congratulations on the elite, upper-class life you have waiting to fall in your lap at any moment. You know, you really had me fooled lately that you mayactuallybe a decent guy, turns out you’ve just been lying this whole time.” That statement hurts way fucking more than it should. “Let your dad know if he ever changes his mind on giving you a real estateempire, you’d be excellent at undercover work. A plus deception, really Fitz.” Her voice cracks and something in me does too.
Just tell her the truth, you idiot. Tell her it’s not what it looks like and fucking tell her who you are!
I’m about to do just that when she swings the door open and the final blow hits.
“There you are, Sour Patch. You ready to go?” Some tattooed building of a guy smiles at her and she immediately relaxes.
