Page 14 of The Labor Date
She fusses with a few dishes in the sink and then sighs and dries off her hands. She comes to me, leaning her back against the other side of the doorway, crossing her arms, too.
“You didn’t seem happy sitting with your father today,” I start.
“He hasn’t been happy with me since I broke things off with Peter.”
“Quite a long grudge to hold.”
“Douglas is a powerful man. Peter is his protégé,handpicked by him to be groomed to take over as CEO when he retires. He’s like the son he always wanted. And…” She hesitates, sighing heavily again and dabbing a tear at the corner of her eye. “The man my father wanted me to marry. He still wants me to, and that was why he met with me today. He gave me an ultimatum. If I don’t go back to Peter and follow through with the wedding, he cuts me off.”
“What an asshole?” How dare ol’ Doug do this to his daughter?
So, I finally have the whole story. This is more than a mess, but a cluster. And more than I bargained for when I landed on this team. The old me would have run far away from this. But the new me, the one who found heaven between her legs, stays against the door frame, glued to her sad, blue eyes.
What she needs is someone to boost her up, help her stop wasting another tear on men like that. What she doesn’t need is an asshole parent forcing her to marry for anything but love. They don’t deserve her.
But do I? I’m just a self-centered and egotistical player who never does long-term relationships. What do I have to offer her?
Whatever I have, I’d give it to her it, I know that.
What the hell is happening to me?
“I can’t marry Peter. I don’t love him, not since I found out he was only in the relationship to appease my father’s plans. Then there were all his indiscretions, like I couldn’t tell he’d been cheating. Besides, Peter would force me to give up Winston, and I could never… ever…” She breaks down, shaking and crying into her hands.
As much as the fur ball and this situation frustrate me, I know how much Winston means to her. I cross an arm over her head and lean against the doorway. My other hand cups her chin, forcing her to look at me. I swipe away the tears and say the first thing that comes to mind.
“Hey. Where is that confident woman I met in Vancouver? The one who stood in front of five hundred people and passionately gave a speech for a cause she cares about? Huh? Seems to me, you need to bring that woman out right now to give yourself a talking to.”
She sputters through her tears. “And what would she say?”
“That you can do better than all the Peters and Dougs of the world.”
“You’re so good for me.” She wraps her arms around me, fitting perfectly under my chin as I always knew she would. I hold her tight while she trembles through the sobs, but it’s not enough.
I lift her and carry her down the hall to my room. I shut the door behind me, not giving a crap about Winston’s schedule right now. What does he need? A cat massage? A pedicure? Fancy food direct from France?
Holly needsme.
I lay her down on the bed and hover over her, planting sweet and soft kisses with every swipe of her tears.
“What am I going to do, Scotty?” She asks, her voice barely audible.
“Forget them, baby. If they can’t see the incredible woman you are and give you the freedom to fly, then they shouldn’t be allowed in your life. You make money being Winston’s manager, right? Enough to be self-sufficient?”
“Yes. Plenty. And I just signed two more movie deals. He’s booked solid for the next few years.”
Never thought I’d be grateful for the star power of a grumpy cat.
“Perfect. Then, let Doug cut you off. No big deal, right?”
“You make it sound so easy. But it’s more than money. Ever since my parents’ divorce, I’ve done everything to be noticed by him, done what he’s asked of me, hoping he’ll love me. But he considers me only a pawn in his game. A piece to force and move around the board. I’m never enough. Why can’t I be enough for him?”
My blood boils at what douche-canoe Douglas has done to her. Good thing I knew none of this when I came face to face with him in that coffee shop. My hand would have found its way into his face instead of a polite handshake.
“Enough? If you ask me, you’re too much for him. Can’t you see that he’s afraid of you and your star power? That’s right, you’re a star just like Winston. You don’t need him. You definitely don’t need Peter.”
“You’re right.” She sniffles and kisses along my jawline. “So right. All I need is Winston—and you, hot shot. Need you right now. So bad.” Her hands roam down into my sweats where she massages my cock and balls. I’m hard in seconds flat, but I can’t yet forget everything.
“Need me as a friend… or more?”
