Page 90 of Boss Me
He was unmistakably my father.
He scowled, and the expression replaced my anger with a wash of cold fear, even all these years later.
I retreated until the backs of my thighs hit Weston’s desk. “What—?”
Weston stood, and his voice sounded at my ear. “Isn’t it a coincidence that his last name is Fallon, too? I thought it was interesting enough to bring him up here to meet you.”
“Mikey. It’s been a while. How’s your ma?”
Mamá. If Weston had found my father, he probably knew about my mother, too. All it’d take was a tiny slip—intentional or otherwise—and Mick would know where she lived. And if he knew where she lived, it wouldn’t matter that I had a small army protecting her. He’d weasel his way in and hurt her.
I pushed myself off Weston’s desk and took a step toward my father. “What the hell are you doing here, Mick?”
He leered at me. “Is that any way to talk to your dear old da?”
A gasp came from outside the door. Sure enough, Mick had left it open, and three people, Julie, Marlee, and—fuck—Ben, gathered around Julie’s desk, their mouths gaping like Mamá’s in front of one of her telenovelas.
Through gritted teeth, I muttered, “Shut the door.”
He ignored me and stepped further into the office. “Is that porn?” He pointed at the screen beside me. “Gay porn? What the fuck is going on here?”
“It’s security footage of your son and his assistant.” I’d forgotten Weston was still there.
“Former assistant,” I growled. My hands curled into fists. What if Mick thought to threaten Ben, too?
Mick chuckled. “You’re diddling your assistant?” He cocked his head. “Or he’s diddling you. I shoulda known you’d turn out that way. Soft. Like your ma.”
“Shut your goddamned mouth.” My voice was so low I almost didn’t recognize it. “I’m not soft, and neither is she.”
“I guess not.” He snorted at the video behind me. “Not when it comes to your boyfriend.”
Fuck, if he hurt Ben, the way that man had hurt him on the island—no. I couldn’t give him that leverage. I couldn’t let him anywhere near Ben. Couldn’t let him know how special Ben was to me.
My rage scuttled back into the place it had always hidden when my father threatened me. My fists uncurled, and my hands flopped at my sides. “He’s not my boyfriend.”
Another gasp from the other side of the open door. I kept my wince on the inside. I’d explain later. If he’d let me.
“What the hell kinda place is this, Weston?” When Mick took a step closer, I smelled the scotch. Was he drunk in my building? I couldn’t allow Mick Fallon to endanger my other employees, either. When we’d been a family, I’d never been able to protect Mamá. But I was older now, and I had the power of my position and my wealth. I’d do whatever it took to protect my Synergy family, especially Ben.
“No.” I turned to face Weston, keeping my father in sight. I’d learned a long time ago never to turn my back to him. “No.”
Weston’s smile was tight, like the whole drama playing out here was too much even for him. “I’m sorry it came to this. But I’m glad you’re seeing reason, Cooper.”
Footsteps stomped away, and when I glanced past my father, only Marlee and Julie remained, staring at the ruin I’d made of my happiness.
31
BEN
Not his fucking boyfriend. I’d feared our relationship wouldn’t survive the pressure of corporate boardrooms, but I hadn’t predicted it’d take less than an hour for Cooper to crumble.
I threw my tissue box into the cardboard moving container on my desk. I wouldn’t need it. My eyes were dry, blazing with the fire of my anger. Anger at Cooper, but also at myself. I’d hoped he’d seen me and loved what he saw. But that was all it was: hope.
Heels tapped on the floor, and I caught the scent of Marlee’s perfume. “Don’t do this, Ben. Stay and talk to him.”
“Oh, I’ll talk to him, all right.” I stared at Weston’s office door, which someone had finally had the sense to shut.
“So it’s true? You guys are together?”
