The inward squeal that’s desperate to surface over the fact he’s not pushing me away and telling me I’m a mistake is hard to keep at bay.
A tinkling sound starts to play in the background, interrupting us.
James leans over and checks his computer. “It’s your dad.” He blows out a breath and squeezes my hips. “I need to take this.”
Sliding off his lap, I quickly pull on the T-shirt, covering myself over.
I grab my coffee from his desk and sit back in the chair opposite, feeling awkward. I haven’t spoken to my dad since before the night in the alleyway, and I’m not sure I’m ready to. There’s an explanation, I’m sure of it. My dad would never put me in harm’s way.
James taps the keyboard, and my dad’s voice rings throughout the room. “How is she?”
He looks over at me, his eyes locking with mine as he replies, “She’s fine.”
“She’s my?—”
His head snaps back to the screen, cutting my dad off. “I’d watch your fucking tone, Drew. You’re on thin fucking ice as it is.” The venom in his tone as he speaks shocks me. I’ve never heard him like this before.
Sitting up in my chair, I lean forward, trying to get James’s attention. He glances over at me, and his eyes soften. “Ask him what he wants,” I mouth.
“What do you want?” he snaps at my dad, his eyes going back to him.
“Why has access to my accounts been frozen? And why the hell do I have Theo sending me correspondence?” he shouts.
I don’t want to hear anymore. The rose-tinted glasses where my dad’s always been concerned are starting to crack, and I’m worried they won’t ever be able to be repaired.
I stand up and gesture to James that I’m leaving. His face is a mask of concern, but he nods his head. I plan on spending the rest of the day reading and pretending none of this is happening.
Chapter Thirty-Six
JAMES
Watching Raven walk away, my dick hard beneath my shorts, I should feel guilty about last night, but I don't. I’ve come to the realization that I don’t know Drew anymore, so therefore zero are fucks given if I fuck his daughter into oblivion. The slight sting of guilt is there, but I shove it away. If I’m going to hell, I might as well have fun in the meantime.
“You need to start talking, and you need to start talking now, Drew,” I snap. “You’re lucky I haven’t had your ass thrown out of the company for this.” I lean back in my chair, watching him on the screen. A multitude of emotions pass across his face.
He sighs as he runs his hands through his hair before hanging his head in shame. “I fucked up,” he says.
I scoff; any sympathy severely lacking for him.
“I took a gamble on a deal, and it went south. I thought I could fix it,” he replies angrily.
Rage like no other fills my body, and I have to clench my hands together to stop myself from throwing something. “Is the company involved?” My irritation with him clear in my tone.
Drew’s head snaps up on the screen. “No,” he venomously disagrees. “I would never do that to the company. All of my money is tied up in assets. I didn’t have the liquid funds to pay the money.”
“Ten million more?” I roar. “If you needed the money, why didn’t you come to me? I would’ve given it to you.”
“I don’t know what you want me to say here, James. I fucked up, okay?” he shouts. “My fucking daughter was attacked because of my issues.” He pauses, taking a deep breath. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. You don’t need to make me feel like more of an asshole than I already do.”
“Help me here, Drew. What could you have possibly done that could have gotten you into this much trouble?” I sigh. “This isn’t making any sense.You’renot making any sense.”
“Just trust?—”
I jump up from my chair, seething with anger as I start pacing behind my desk. “Trust you? Are you out of your goddamn mind?” I seethe. “No, I won’t fucking trust you. Raven was attacked because ofyou.” I point at him to emphasize my point. “You put your own god damn daughter in harm’s way. My wom—” I cut myself off.
“I know, I know. I’ll make it right, I promise. I’ve got a way to sort it out. I just need some time. Please,” he implores, his eyes wide, desperate for me to listen to him.
“I don’t give a shit how you fix it, Andrew, but you fix it now, or so help me god, I’ll fucking kill you myself.” Leaning forward, I disconnect the call, having had enough of his bullshit for one day.
