Page 34 of One Night With My Grumpy Professor Daddy

Wrapping things up, I’ve got a better grip on the situation and feel satisfied enough to catch some Z’s. The next morning, it’s business as usual. I march into the office and take my place behind the desk. But I can’t concentrate because of the nagging feeling in my mind that has been there since I saw Monica last night. Plus, traces of Ava are everywhere. We’ve fucked on this desk, at the door, and at random places in this office. If Monica has seen us, then it’s only a matter of time. I need to do the right thing.

Walter’s old-school, so it’s only right to slide that letter onto his desk instead of shooting it over in an email. I owe him that for offering me this position and being a good friend. So I print the letter I typed yesterday. I fold up the piece of paper and slip it into an envelope, all while a tornado of thoughts swirls in my head.

Am I really ready to dive back into the law game? I walked away from that a few years back, and it wasn’t for just one reason. I’d been working with my father before I decided to start my own practice. But shortly after, I lost Sarah, Zoe’s mother, and that was wrecking me. Every day that I went back to the office, I felt like I was going to turn into my father, it was an undeniable eventuality. This offer of professorship was the break I needed from anything that linked me to him and my past life.

Now, break times over. Thankfully, I’ve gained clarity and have a new perspective on life, so it’s been time well spent. I study law because I love it, not because of my father’s influence. And regardless of who he is, I’m a great lawyer because it’s what I love to do.

I pick up a few textbooks that are important to me. Looking around, I realize I’d never really personalized this place because I didn’t think I’d stay here for so long. Time has a way of proving you wrong, but I’ve grown a lot. I’m not sure what this thing is with Ava. But I’m glad that maybe this was just the nudge I needed to get back to my practice. I pick up my stuff and the letter and head to the Dean’s office. Just as I close the door to my office behind me, my phone vibrates and I look down at it, frowning at the strange number.

“Hello?”

“Mr. Armstrong?”

“Yes. And who is this?”

“I’m calling from Bay-med Elementary School.”

The second the name of the school hits my ears, all the danger signals in my body go off. I don’t think I’ve ever felt stinging panic quite like this before.

“Is Zoe OK?” I’m frantic.

“That’s why we’re calling. We need to see you. Zoe is being suspended.”

My heart freezes in my chest. “What?”

Chapter nineteen

Ava

Before my father’s law firm scandal, he and I were thick as thieves. My only concern was not being able to measure up to him. So, in my attempt to dodge failure, and afraid of disappointing him by not living up to his expectations, I did what any twenty-year-old would do.

I acted out.

I was rebellious, and I didn’t give a crap what anyone thought. As a result, I made some really bad choices. I met this guy, Chris, at least that’s who he claimed to be. I can’t say for sure if any of it was legit. But what I do know is he was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and he ruined my relationships with everyone that was important to me. He even managed to drive a wedge between Daphne and me. She felt like I betrayed her, and I guess, in a way, I did. But back then, I was so damn into him, I couldn’t care less about who I had to lose.

We were joined at the hip, did everything together - partying, shopping, you name it. So naturally, I trusted him with my life. I told Chris everything about my father’s law firm, deals my father made, business friends, you know, he knew it all. I didn’t see anything wrong with sharing, Chris was my man…and he wanted to be a lawyer, so telling him seemed natural. Not to mention, in my stupid brain, I imagined us married and running the family firm together, a powerhouse couple…I was so naive.

My father had been working a high-profile Nikkon case. The opposing counsel was Daniel of Castle of Law. ‘Daniel Strong’ named by the media for how ruthless he is. He’s old school, and rumor has it that there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for a win.

Nothing.

My father was on track to win, he could feel it, and he’d told me all about it. I’d told Chris specifically what loophole in the law my father was going to use. And a few days later, my father lost the case. The loss was monumental, then the media got ahold of it, and it was an added notch on Daniel Strong’s belt.

Then, a few weeks later, one of our employees was suspected of fraud. The timing couldn’t have been worse. My father was trying to deal with everything quietly and let the guy go. I let Chris in on it, and by the next day, the whole story was blown up in the papers. Fraud is a serious charge— and any employee is acting on the law firm’s behalf. Clients pulled their accounts. The law firm lost integrity, and everything went downhill from there.

I never saw Chris after that day until Daphne found out he works at Daniel Strong’s firm. I told my parents everything, confessed that I suspected him and what my part in the whole scandal was. They didn’t say a word, didn’t point fingers, but I could see it in their eyes - they were disappointed in me.

“Honey…you have to go.” My mother’s voice snaps me out of my reverie.

I blink twice, and my surroundings come into focus. I hate these events. In my opinion, I don’t think I should get much of a say when they want me to do anything these days—I just feel like I owe them.

“OK, I’ll be there,” I say. “But I’m sure I’ll hate every minute of it,” I mutter under my breath.

A few hours later, I’m whining to Daphne while shopping for outfits for the event.

“You might not hate it, you know,” she croons as she waves another dress in front of me.

This is like the sixth one she’s shown me. I guess I should put her out of her misery and choose one.

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