Page 57 of Guarding Zuri
He looked up from his phone. “You’re saying she’s not ready?”
Daemon stared at his father’s expression, a mix of genuine surprise and disbelief. “Perhaps you should stop ruling Knight Industries since all that power’s gone to your head. You think you can just walk in here and everyone’s going to bend to your will?”
Arthur laughed heartily. “Of course not, son.” His lips formed thin strips, his eyes flashing with anger. “You certainly haven’t bent to my will. If you want me to stop ruling Knight Industries—an honor that is mine by birthright—then you should do your duty and take over.” He arched one brow. “Have you made a decision?”
“I won’t be coerced,” Daemon said as he fisted his hands beneath his arms.
“And the more I mention it, the more you’ll fight it, right?” Arthur rolled his eyes. “For a man who’s been to war, you’re acting very juvenile.”
“I’m acting juvenile?”
“What else would you call it?”
“Father, you’re trying to force me into a life that I wouldn’t choose on my own.”
“And you think I had a choice?” His father barked and shot to his feet. Your grandfather never gave me a choice, Daemon.”
“And you’re taking it out on me, is that it?”
His father blinked and then chuckled. “Of course not. I’m letting you in on a piece of family history, that is all.” He sighed heavily and ran his hand through his heavily gelled hair, releasing a few clumped strands from the style. “Is she ready?” he asked, appearing flustered. His father was never flustered.
“She’s in the conference room. I’ll let her know you’re ready.”
“Don’t bother.” With long strides, his father brushed by him and exited the room.
Seconds passed and Roland entered the room. “What happened?” he asked, his look concerned. “I’ve never seen your father like that.”
“Me neither. He didn’t tell me why he was here ahead of schedule.”
“He didn’t mention any schedule changes?”
Daemon shook his head. “None.”
Roland angled his head out the door and down the corridor where Arthur Knight had disappeared. “You think she’s ready for him? Why aren’t you in there?”
Daemon took a seat on the couch where his father had been sitting. Roland joined him on the opposite end. “I asked her if she would like me to stay, but she said no.” He smiled, remembering her presentation. “She wanted to do the presentation on her own. Thinks my father will respect her more if she doesn’t have my help.”
“She’s perceptive.”
“But something’s off about my father. Not sure what it is, but I’ll ask him about it after the meeting. Maybe he’ll be too distracted to give her a hard time.”
“She’ll be all right.”
“I know,” Daemon said, while his chest tightened with uncertainty and apprehension for his charge. He wanted to protect her from everything—from failing, from his father.
Blaine walked up with a plate of cookies and Daemon helped himself to three. “Got an update for you on the Bendolan delegation. It’s on your tablet. But first, I transferred a call to your desk. It’s the congressman.”
Knight Shield’s next client. “Thanks, Blaine,” Daemon said as he stood and went to his desk.Roland followed Blaine out of the office.
When he ended the call, he hadn’t realized he’d been on the phone for twenty minutes. According to his father, he only had twenty minutes to give to Zuri.They’re probably finished.Daemon rushed to the conference room and saw the door was already open. He looked inside and saw only Zuri, who leaned against the conference table, her back to him. Where was his father?
“Zuri?” She turned around, a hand going underneath her eyes as she wiped the tears. “What happened? Where’s my father?” He started toward her, but she raised a hand, halting his progress.
“I want to go home,” she said quietly.
“What did he say?” he asked in an equally muted voice. The longer she stared at him with tears in her eyes, the more his ire rose.
She raised her chin. “He said no.”
