Page 55 of The Betrayer
“Are you really taking my son’s side?” I could feel my annoyance rising again.
“I’m not taking anyone’s side,” was the sharp reply. I had found that Rita wasn’t one to back down. She was far more self-possessed than many people twice her age, her self-confidence radiating from her in waves from the first look at her. “I’m just saying he has a point, too.”
She met my annoyed scowl head-on without looking away. It was admirable, and I relented with a noncommittal shrug.
“Look at it this way. What would you do if you had an employee who always came in late, didn’t show up when you needed him to, and foisted off many of his duties on other people?”
“You don’t have to make me sound so negligent,” I groused.
“I’m not, I’m stating the facts you’ve given me. And you’re the founder and CEO—you’ve probably earned the right to walk in at noon sometimes.”
Why did she have to add thesometimes?
“Seriously, Will, what would you do? Would you trust him?”
Again, she didn’t look away, even when I wanted to.
“No,” I finally admitted. “I’d probably fire the guy, and I wouldn’t trust him with the business.”
Rita made a gesture ofwell, there you go, which should have annoyed me, but she had a valid point. I couldn’t deny it.
“Maybe he doesn’t have to be so rude about it...” Rita’s words trailed off, leaving me to finish her sentence.
Rita and I ate and drank silently for a few minutes as I grudgingly had to admit everything she said was true.
The last two weeks had gone well for Paul and me, but we both had a long way to go with one another. We didn’t know how to be father and son, not really, and it was going to take more than a few gestures of goodwill on both sides to create something new.
“Where did you find insight like that?” I finally asked.
Her secretive smile twisted at her lips again. “I told you I don’t have a stellar relationship with my mom, either. Comes from experience.”
I had to chuckle, and Rita’s smirk pulled into a bright smile as she met my gaze again.
There was something about Rita I liked. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I felt drawn to her. Then again, maybe I didn’t have to. Perhaps I liked many things about the young woman, and I didn’t have to choose just one.
“Well, this is completely off-topic, but I told you about that dinner on Monday? Would you like to join me? Normally spouses or partners come to these things, so the night isn’t entirely boring and about business.”
I hadn’t asked Paul if I needed a date for this dinner, but why not? I knew how these things went, and no doubt whoever was involved would be bringing their trophy wives.
Rita hesitated for a moment.
“It’s nothing big, nothing super fancy,” I added quickly, trying to reassure her. “No pressure, of course.”
“Well—” Her expressive mouth pulled up again into an uncertain line, but then she shrugged again. “Why not? Not every day I get taken to two fancy restaurants in two weeks.”
I chuckled.
“But this doesn’t mean we’re a couple, okay?” Rita caught my gaze and held it to make sure I understood. “And I want that made clear to everyone around the table.”
“Embarrassed?” I asked, half teasing and half serious.
“No,” she sniffed. “I’m happy to be your date, but don’t make any moves on me. We’re still getting to know each other.”
“No moves, I promise. I was going to say the same thing anyway.” I held up a hand in a salute, and one of Rita’s eyebrows rose.
“Were you ever a Boy Scout?”
“No.” I smirked. “My parents bought the popcorn every year, though.”
