Page 32 of The Art of Deception

ALEX

A Week Later

As I study the new design for the megacomplex, I notice Dave, the design engineer, has positioned the new tattoo studio almost exactly where Hope & Faith Ink is right now. I couldn’t be more pleased with his work. The size of the store is almost double that of Tomi’s studio right now, and I’m thrilled that the approval has gone through, so I can get the designers working on the layout for the internal design.

The problem—I haven’t been able to talk to Tomi about all this, about the new shop, about me. I know that in a little over a week, Tomi is going to have to say goodbye to her current place.And then what?She’ll be out of a job with no income to keep her and Levi going. She’s already started talking to me about going to work as a checkout clerk. It will be a dramatic wage drop, and I have no idea how that will support them both.

She’s so fucking stubborn.

I’m caught in the dead zone. I want to tell her about this amazing place I’m going to build for her. When I do, she’ll know who I am. I’ll lose her anyway. I have to do it right, or the entire thing could fail.

The door to my office swings open with a harsh creak as my father storms inside in his usual manner. I casually glance up from my work as he slams a file down in front of me, making a gust of air woosh into my face. He stands back with his arms crossed, his eyes narrowed, his ears practically flaming.

“What is it this time, Dad?” I figure it’s best just to get this over with.

He barks out a laugh like he’s offended by my tone.I don’tparticularly care.

“You going to take that attitude with me, boy? When it’syouwho’s being the damn fool?”

I slump back in my chair, staring him dead in the eyes. “What are you talking about?”

“You think I wouldn’t find out?”

Raising my brow, I shrug. “Wanna expand a little more there, Dad?”

He slams my desk, the vein in his neck throbbing so much it might burst at any second. “You and this tattoo studio. I did some digging… why thehellwould my son care about a damn tattoo studio?”

I sit taller, my muscles going rigid. “It’s a great shop, it brings in a good profit—”

“Bullshit! This is all just some ploy for you to get yournew piece of assintomymegacomplex!”

“You know nothing about Tomi—” I erupt.

“I. Don’t. Car—”

“You should! Her parents and sister died, leaving her alone to raise and support her younger autistic brother. She’s theonlyone who can provide for him, Dad…” I pause, inhaling a breath. “Taking this shop from her, taking the memories and the stability away from her, is uprooting their entire lives. Youhaveto see how we’re affecting her, affecting them. It’s all about the bigger picture, Dad.”

With his face scrunched, he crosses his arms again. “No. I won’t be a party to handouts. I only want retailers in the megacomplex who’ll better the street appeal, and if this woman won’t make the rent and keep up her end of the bargain, then the studio goes.”

Oh fuck! This was the ace up my sleeve, the only way I could see Tomi possibly forgiving me. If I had a shop for her waiting, maybe, just maybe, she could forgive me.

I can’t let this go.

I need to fight—for my futurewithTomi and a futureforTomi.

Because if this doesn’t happen, we’re both screwed.

“Then I’ll do it,” I blurt out.

Dad squints as he slumps. “You’ll dowhat?”

“It doesn’t matter if she can’t pay the rent…I’llpay it, in full, upfront, for a year, and then I’ll pay it each week from then on. She doesn’t even need to know about it.”

Dad’s entire body jolts back, his body wracking with his booming laughter as it echoes off my walls. I grit my teeth as I watch him. “Jesus fucking Christ, son. You’re so whipped, you don’t even know when you’re making a fool of yourself.” He exhales. “But sure, go ahead, pay the rent, design the studio, deck it out how she wants… then tell her who you are, Alex, because I know you haven’t.” His eyes narrow on me. “See how she takes the news.”

His words take precision aim and hit right where they’re meant to. I slump as my father turns, storming out of the room. I spin, grab my chair, and turn it upright, then slouch into it. Dad slams my door behind him, making my certificates on the walls rattle with the force. I groan as I glance back at my desk, sliding the file out of the way to see Tomi’s new outline of Hope & Faith Ink lying before me.

I know I’m making all the wrong judgment calls, but I’m doing them for the right reasons.

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