Page 36 of The Betrayer
For a moment, Paul looked like he was going to refuse, but he stood with yet another sigh and made his way across the room in only a few strides. When I was standing, or paying attention to something else, or Paul was sitting behind his desk, it was easy to forget just how tall my son was. I still thought of him as a little kid in my memory.
But the man who sat down across from me on the couch wasn’t a kid anymore. He was well-grown and self-possessed, his suit immaculate, his bearing assured. If nothing else, I knew he had gotten that from me because I recognized it from the mirror.
He was my kid, even if he wished differently right now.
“I said that because I want you to be happy, Paul. I’ve seen my fair share of people like her, men and women, who are only in a relationship for one thing. I’ve seen the toll it takes on their partners. I’ve seen the emotional and monetary fallout of relationships like that. I’m not trying to bully you or put you in your place. I’m trying to be a father and protect you.”
Paul’s mouth opened, and I could almost see his retort forming, something about my suddenly choosing to be a father. Then he visibly swallowed his words.
“Thank you. I appreciate the concern, but I’ll be fine, and so will the company.”
It was a measured response without heat, one that sounded at least halfway candid. Then he continued talking.
“But on the subject of women and Friday, if you keep bringing young women around who look ready for their senior prom, you will affect this company. I wasn’t lying when I told you the investor isn’t ready to give us the money yet because of your reputation.”
I rubbed my forehead. He wasn’t going to give this one up.
“She was too old for prom—she’s a bartender finishing college.”
Another eyebrow quirk greeted my response. “And that makes this all better, how?”
My stare toward my son was flat, but he met my gaze again, entirely serious.
“Dad, she was way too young for you. Being seen with someone that young hurts your image, which hurts the company. As I keep saying, you could seriously jeopardize relationships with the company if anyone sees you.”
I thought about the image in the gossip magazine in my office and decided against telling Paul about it. He was finally talking to me instead of yelling, and I wasn’t going to screw it up by mentioning anything.
“It was just a fling, Paul. Nothing more. A one-night thing. I met Steffanie at the bar at the club. She was the bartender, and I needed a date for the night.”
My son swallowed and licked his lips, and I caught his shoulders tightening under his suit jacket.
“That’s exactly the kind of thing that will affect the company, Dad. I’ve already said it, and I don’t know how many more times I can say it—people are noticing, and not in a good way. If you don’t want me to make choices and mistakes that will affect the company, you have to do the same. Otherwise, it shows me that you don’t care about the company. It shows me you would willingly damage it by bringing a girl you don’t care about to something as important as the gala on Friday.”
Here we were, back at the same difference of opinion that had begun the argument in the first place. If Paul wasn’t going to give, I guess I had to be the adult in the room. Nor did I want to continue arguing with my son. I had seen the fallout when family in a business couldn’t get along anymore, and it wasn’t pretty.
“I don’t want to argue anymore, Paul. That absolutely won’t be good for the company. What can I do to make it up to you?” I asked, biting my tongue and squashing my pride.
Paul watched me for a long moment, eyes slightly narrowed. Then he cleared his throat.
“There is something you can do for me.”
