Page 78 of The Wallflower

It's a threat more than a bid for privacy. Every muscle in my body tenses, and I meet his eyes. I’m not a little boy anymore. I have no reason to fear him, not in a physical sense, and I hate that he has that power over me still. "What do you want me to do?"

He shrugs. "It’s honestly very easy. Wear the suit I send you. When you get to the party with your date, which I'll provide, you will be cordial and attentive. Hell, you’ll get on your knees and eat her like Thanksgiving dinner if that's what the girl asks of you."

"You’ll provide? I can get my own date. I don't need you to find one for me."

He pinches his lips and nods a few times. Obviously, his patience is very slim.Shit. He's pissed.

"I’m assuming you’re referring to that little white trash tutor you've been playing around with? I heard through the grapevine that you’re spending a lot of time with her. That she's yourgirlfriend."

I tense and clench my fist in my pockets. I don't want her name in his mouth, and if I explode at him, it will only get worsefor me. He’ll know she’s a weakness to me, and a man like my father only ever uses a person’s weaknesses against them in the worst possible ways. Maybel doesn’t deserve to have any more shit heaped on her.

"Not really sure what you mean. You know I don’t date."

"Don't bullshit me, Drew. I know how you operate. You're not that different from your dear ole dad. A new girl every week, and you sure as hell don't keep the ones you run through that little play gauntlet of yours."

"Still don't know what you mean. Like you said, she's white trash. A white trash flirtation to pass the time as the season winds down. Nothing more than that, not until you told me to get a tutor, then she became my tutor, who I can fuck when the need arises. She’s nothing more than a business transaction."

He nods once, but I can tell by his expression he doesn't believe me.Shit. I need to sell myself better. I lean forward and give him a smile. "Like you said when school started, it's the sluts at the bottom of the ladder who will doanythingfor money, and she definitely lets me do anything."

This sets a lascivious glitter in his eyes, and I try to keep my face neutral so he can't spot the relief there.

"Well, boys will be boys, I guess." He relaxes back into his seat. "The party will be a firm-wide event, with many clients in attendance, so I expect you to be on your best behavior. I even invited young Sebastian and Lee. Their parents are coming as well, being a couple of my top clients."

I switch the subject back to his demands. "I’ll be there, but like I said, I can find my own date.”

His smile slips. "And like I said, you will take the girl I tell you, and you will keep her satisfied for the entire night. No slipping off when the party gets going, no hiding out with your friends. You’ll stay by her side and keep her happy and smiling."

I've lost this round, and if it keeps his gaze off Maybel, then I'll take whomever he wants me to take to his stupid little party. "Fine. Should I pick her up, or will I be meeting her there?"

The gloat on his face makes me want to punch him. "She'll arrive with her parents, and then you'll show her around the party and be the perfect gentleman, unless of course, she doesn’t want you to be a gentleman."

I want to ask him how he can be such a motherfucker. How he can pimp out his own son for business, but it's not an argument I can win yet, so I don't even bother.

"Fine. I'll wait for the suit to arrive. I’ll play my part as I always do."

Silence surrounds us for a moment, and I stare out the windows at the city beyond to keep from saying or doing something stupid. I can still feel his eyes on me, and I don't want to show him how much I hate his fucking guts. I have to wonder how I can hate my own father so much, but then I remember all he’s done to me—all the pain, embarrassment, the guilt and regret. It makes me question how a father could live with himself after doing all he’s done to me.

"Good. Don’t fuck this up, Drew. I’ve warned you before of the implications of disobeying me. Don’t make me do something that we both know I don’t want to do. I know it doesn’t seem like it, but every single thing I do is for your future, and I won’t have you ruining all the hard work I’ve put in.”

“I get it. No worries, Dad. I’ll play my part. Can I go now?” I grit my teeth, asking for permission to leave. I hate the lack of control I have when it comes to my father. He nods, and I stand, ready to get the fuck out of this office, this building, except my relief is short-lived when I reach the door and hear the loud clearing of his voice.

Instead of turning to look at him, I just wait to hear what he has to say.

"Oh, and get rid of that little white trash whore before the party, or I'll do it for you. There's no reason for you to keep seeing her when you're going to be dating my client's daughter. We can’t have rumors being started."

I grit my teeth, my jaw aching from the pressure. He never fucking said anything about dating this woman.

When he's done speaking, I head out. There's no reason to respond, not when I want to slam his head into the desk and pound out my frustration.

I don't bother keeping the scowl off my face as I walk to the elevator and down to the car. I walk right past the car and head uptown. I'll get an app ride back to campus. I don't want a goddamn thing from my father right now. Standing on my own means no life, no money, nothing. It means he'd actively work to destroy everything I've worked to build the last few years since I started at Oakmount.

I can't allow that. Not when his first target will be the only people I care about. My friends. My mother. Maybel.

I walk faster, using the burn of the cold air in my lungs to cool my boiling blood. If my father wants me to fuck this girl, fine, I’ll do it, but I’m doing it my way. This bitch has no idea what she's getting into or better yet, who she’s getting involved with.

CHAPTER 28

BEL

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