Page 84 of In Love and War
“You still haven’t told me what’s wrong, Milly.” He was watching me with kind, sympathetic eyes. Ones that I didn’t deserve.
“I just told you. I’m quitting.”
A quick puff of air shot out of his nose. “Are you quitting, or are you running away?”
“I have nothing to run away from… I… This is a pretty incredible opportunity, Dad. It would be rather stupid of me to turn it down, don’t you think?”
He took a long sip of his tea, and for almost a full minute, the only sound in the room was the ticking of the antique grandfather clock in the corner.
“Zac also handed in his notice. This morning,” he finally said, carefully watching for my reaction.
“That’s… too bad. Did he say why?” I kept my voice even and sat still, my fingers itching with the need to start fidgeting on my lap. Instead, I pulled up my sleeves again. The stupid things just wouldn’t stay put.
He eyed my arms, and his frown deepened. “Bits and pieces. Why don’t you fill me in on the rest? I’m suspecting it has something to do with whatever’s wrong.”
“There’s nothingwrong, Dad. Why won’t you believe me?”
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Tick.
“You’re skin and bones, sweetheart.” His voice was filled with so much concern that it instantly made me emotional. I looked away.
For fuck’s sake.I’d cried more in the last two months than I had the entirety of the last twoyears, combined.
“I’m fine.”
Tick. Tock. Tick.
“Oh, well, good. I’m glad to hear at least one of you is.”
My eyes flashed back up to his face, blood rushing to my ears. “What does that mean?”
“I’m sure you can put the pieces together, yourself. Clever as you are.”
The tone was shifting. I was sure he was baiting me, but I had no idea what, or how much, exactly,he was aware of. But he definitely knewsomething,that much was obvious.
I forced myself to regain my composure.
“I wouldn’t worry too much about it. He’ll be fine once I leave. I’m sure you’ll have your star pupil back in no time.”
“You fleeing will not make this better, Milly. For either of you. It won’t undo anything, and it certainly will notunbreakany policies and bring him back.”
Shit. Either Zac did tell him, or he put two and two together.
“I’m notfleeing. I’m taking responsibility. Those are two different things.” I threw the bait. This was happening.
“Taking responsibility would mean owning up to whatever happened, andtalking it out,Milly. Not jumping on an airplane the first chance you get.” He took it.
“Except you clearly don’t actually knowwhat happened, Dad. Your ‘bits and pieces’ of information haven’t painted you the full picture. You wouldn’t be nearly as nice to me if Zac had told you the truth. If he had, you’d be paying for the ticket and shipping me off yourself.”
He paused and blinked, his brows almost making contact in the middle of his forehead. He was confused. It was working. I was reeling him in.
“What are you talking about?”
“Before… I say anything else. Can you please tell me what he said? What reason he gave you for quitting?”
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
“He didn’t give me one at first. It took some convincing. But eventually he admitted that the two of you broke the nonfraternization policy between management and staff. But he didn’t go into any other details. Are you telling me that’s not the case?”
