Great. He was already in a bad mood and I hadn’t even asked him for a penny.
“Why are you here?” he barked.
I walked up to his desk and sat opposite him. Father didn’t like talking to people who were taller than he was, even if those people were standing and he was sitting. He said the person looking down always had the advantage and he refused to have that be anyone but himself.
“I asked you a question.”
“Sorry I didn’t call.”
“One last time. Why are you here?”
Maybe I should’ve called first. He was clearly in no mood for me to even be here.
It was now or never.
“Father, I need some money. I’ll pay you back.” It would be in the next century, but I’d do it. “I’d like an advance on the money you’re giving me for this sham marriage.”
“What a deadbeat.” I turned behind me to see Roy. Of course he had to walk in just as I was asking for money. “I hope you aren’t giving him a cent.”
“Your brother has failed to tell me how much or what for.” Father stood up and looked down at me. Of course he pulled a power move.
“Here.” I took the paper out of my pocket, the one with the grand total scribbled on it and handed it to him.
“You must be drinking if you think I’m going to give you that kind of money without so much as a hint as to why you need it.” My father tossed it back at me.
“It’s life or death or I wouldn’t have asked you.” And even then it was only as a last resort. Being here at his mercy was a whole new kind of hell.
“You don’t need to be begging for money. Get a job already.” Roy was on my very last nerve. He didn’t care that this was none of his business.
“Get the fuck out!” The tension in the room thickened as I lost my cool with my brother. The thing was, I knew better. And yet there I was letting my temper blow over stupid shit.
I stood up. This was going nowhere at warp speed. It was time to cut my losses and regroup.
“Something’s going on. I don’t know exactly what it is, but it has something to do with Roy and this arranged marriage.” I almost mentioned Sebastian but left his name out of it for now. Roy would go ballistic.
“You see things that aren’t there, little brother. It’s time for you to leave.” Roy indicated the door but his jaw was tight and he was grinding his teeth.
On this we both agreed. Only as I reached the office door did my father call me back, “Wait. You aren’t going until I have some answers.”
Answers to what, I wasn’t sure. But the sooner I gave him some, the sooner I could get out of there and look for another solution to my money woes.
Chapter 27
The truth comes out
Heston
Despite Dad needing plenty of rest, he was awake long into the early hours of the morning, and it was my fault.
I’d dumped so much information in his lap: me and Dev getting married; the arrangement, us meeting by chance; Sebastian paying for his surgery. But that was nothing compared to what I hadn’t told him.
I imagined the conversation.
Hey, Dad. I’ve got news. Devyn, the love of my life, the father of my future kids, has a something inside him.
Oh no, poor Devyn. Can they operate? Many tumors are benign.
Nope, it’s not a tumor. Guess again.
