Page 3 of Pretty Rings and Broken Things

His back straightens as he looks out the office window. This building has one of the best views in the city; it just takes me by surprise that Dad is facing that direction, with his back to me and a drink in hand when most of the time he’s seated at his desk.

“Take a seat, Winifred.” His tone is dry and void of any emotion.

I try not to flinch at the use of my full name. It was my great-grandmother’s name, and no one really calls me that. I’m just Winnie. But my dad reserves using it in times when I’ve disappointed him.

The large office chair on the other side of his desk makes a loud groaning noise as I pull it back slightly. I slide into it as quietly as possible, trying not to make any more noise than necessary.

“Everything okay?” I ask, hating how meek the question sounds coming from my lips.

I’ve always been naturally quiet. Maybe it isbecause my life has always been planned out for me. There’s never been any point for me to speak up and give my opinion.

The most free I ever felt was in college when I first met Margo and Emma, my two best friends. Even then, I’d have to check in with my dad weekly to update him on my life. I still wonder if he’s disappointed I didn’t find someone rich and powerful to marry while there.

Something I’ve been reminded of at many family dinners because of how I could help the family by marrying someone that we could use to our advantage.

I try not to think about his regret if he ever found out about me and Blake. Blake has nothing to give to my family. He had a rough upbringing, one he wouldn’t tell me about. He certainly doesn’t bring anything to the table to help my father or Bishop Hotels.

Maybe that’s why I liked him so much.

“Dad?” I push, my skin prickling with anxiety at the fact he’s stayed silent.

His sigh is loud and full of regret. Finally, he turns to face me, and the moment our eyes connect, the pit in my stomach intensifies. The look on his face can only be described as immense disappointment.

He keeps eye contact with me the entire time he goes to take a seat. The chair groans underneath his weight. His knuckles turn white from the aggressive way he holds the sides.

“We have a problem. Abigone,” he tells me, his voice stern.

My foot taps anxiously against the ground. Luckily, it’s completely out of view from him. He doesn’t like weakness, and I don’t want him to see how much his words rattle me.

My adrenaline spikes. “What kind of problem?”

“One that is because of someterriblechoices you’ve made recently.”

I swallow past the lump in my throat. He uses the silence as an opportunity to open the drawer to his desk and slap down aphoto. My mouth falls open when I see who is in the picture—what’s happening in it.

“What?” I gasp. A tremor runs through my entire body.

“There’s plenty more where that came from,” he spits. “A video, too,” he adds at the last minute.

“I don’t understand…” I blink repeatedly, trying to stop the burning in my eyes.This can’t be happening.

“Blake dropped them off with my assistant first thing this morning. He’s coming after our family, Winifred. How could you be so stupid?”

“Hewhat?” My voice breaks at the end of the second word. I’m shocked I’m able to get any sound out at all with the feelings coursing through my body.

“He wants to take down our family as some sort of revenge. He’s threatening to send this to every major publication.”

“Revenge for what?”

Last night, I was questioning if I’d slowly fallen in love with this man. I thought I knew everything there was to know about what kind of man he was. Our secret romance had been going on for so long behind closed doors, and I thought last night was the first step in something new.

It turns out it was both the beginning and the end.

“We’re still figuring out the details. He didn’t give us a reason. He said he didn’t have to, that he was the one with the power, not us.”

I sit back in my chair, fearing my heart might beat right out of my chest from anxiety. “I thought he wa?—”

“You clearly weren’t thinking at all,” he booms. I try not to jump at the venom laced within his words. “How could you be so stupid? How long has this been going on?”

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