Page 115 of The Rivals' Touch

“Go to hell!” I growl under my breath and take a seat, reaching for the napkin on my plate. I flatten it over my lap, spending too long smoothing it out. With my luck, I’ll spill scalding sauce on my bare legs or cover myself in grease from the chicken wings.

My father and Mr. Beaufort waste no time talking business jargon I don’t understand, so I help myself to food while Bennett types on his phone. It’s overcast outside, which contrasts with the sunshine from this morning. The tall windows overlook the sprawling backyard. Toward the side is an old treehouse. I lost my virginity to Bennett up there when we first started dating.

Speaking of the asshole next to me, he puts his phone on the table and helps himself to food.

“Your father tells me you’re excited to start working for him after graduation?” my father asks, leaning back in his seat.

Bennett scoops peas on his plate. “Yeah, it should be a good challenge.”

“I wish my own daughter shared your enthusiasm.”

I roll my eyes as Bennett replies, “She will.”

Pleased by Bennett’s assured response, my father smirks

“Where’s your engagement ring?” Mr. Beaufort asks me, and my heart leaps into my throat. I glance down at my hand, and memories of Zayd’s lips on my skin flash through my mind. It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him it’s somewhere on Zayd’s bedroom floor, but I bite back my response and shrug. “I took it off when I showered and forgot to put it back on.”

My father puts more pepper on his steak. Annoyance radiates off him like heatwaves. “You’re going to put it back on when we get home.”

I watch him while I slowly chew, but I don’t reply.

When they fall back into the conversation, Bennett leans in close. “Your father is about to blow, and I can’t wait to watch it happen.”

I glance up. My father is stiff as a board, the tick in his jaw is unmistakable, and his shoulders are tense. He and Mr. Beaufort engage in conversation about things that sound as exciting as bingo night for seniors.

I pick up a chicken wing and bite into it like a neanderthal while Bennett looks at me disapprovingly. He’s always disliked how I eat the chicken off the bone. In his opinion, I should use a knife and fork, but how do you eat a chicken wing with cutlery?

“What?” I ask, smirking at him as I lean back and wipe the grease off my cheeks. It’s a win in my books if I annoy him. Maybe then he’ll convince his dad what a stupid idea this arranged marriage is.

He opens his mouth to speak, but my father beats him to it. “We’re here because Remi would like to apologize. Isn’t that right, pumpkin?”

I swallow down the chewed-up chicken and reach for another napkin with trembling hands to buy me some time. Bennett gives me a questioning look.

“Dad, don’t.”

Mr. Beaufort waves over a staff member and says, “Bring us some scotch.”

“Go on, darling. Tell them what you did.”

I shake my head and plead with my eyes. “Don’t.”

My father pays me no attention. The server fills his glass with scotch and proceeds to do the same for Mr. Beaufort while my father pierces me with his dark eyes. If I’m not mistaken, he enjoys seeing me squirm. “For this to work, we need honesty.”

“Dad…”

He slams his hand down on the table and roars, “TELL THEM!”

I jump in my seat, and my heart begins racing inside my chest like a frightened rabbit’s. I look from my dad to Bennett’s father. “I—”

Mr. Beaufort takes a sip of his scotch, watching me over the rim. “You did what, my little lamb?”

I look to my father again, but he’s merciless. My breath trembles, and I glance down at my lap, fidgeting with the gold bracelet on my wrist. It used to belong to my grandmother before she passed away. “I slept with Zayd.”

My father lowers his glass. “Slept with? Don’t be modest, daughter. Tell your future husband and father-in-law what you really did.”

I curse myself when my eyes sting with unshed tears. I won’t let them fall in front of these men. They’re in the wrong, yet with a sniff and a look, they reduce me to a pile of shame. “Fucked. I fucked Zayd.”

“So you did.” My father spins his glass on the table. “This agreement between Mr. Beaufort and myself is of utmost importance. I won’t let your whorish ways get in the way of that. Do you understand?”

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