Page 75 of Her Possessive Daddies

"Us meaning...?" Seth leans forward, his expression knowing.

"You. Me. Apparently Donovan too." A bitter laugh escapes as I remember the way she'd looked at all of us that night, equal parts intrigued and overwhelmed. "Christ, what was I thinking? Setting up that dinner? Might as well have thrown her to the wolves." Three grown men, all of us wanting her in our own way. No wonder she ran.

"You couldn't have known."

"Known what? That Chandler would show up and blow everything to hell? That she'd run? That for once in my life, I thought maybe I could have something real with someone who understood what I wanted?" The tumbler goes flying, shattering against the wall, amber liquid dripping down the expensive woodwork. "Fuck!" My chest heaves as I run both hands through my hair, pacing like a caged animal.

Seth stays quiet, letting me breathe through the anger, watching me with that calculating look he's perfected over years of business deals. When I finally look at him again, his expression is unreadable, but there's something knowing in his eyes that makes me want to throw something else.

"You really care about her, don't you?"

The question hits like a punch to the gut, forcing the air from my lungs. I brace myself against the desk, shoulders slumping in defeat.

"Yeah. Yeah, I do." The admission costs me something, speaking it aloud making it more real than I'm ready for. Abbie had gotten under my skin in a way no woman ever had, and now she was gone.

Seth bores into me with that no-nonsense stare he reserves for difficult negotiations. "You need to talk to Chandler."

"And say what exactly?"

"The truth. That you've bent over backwards for that kid since the day his mother dumped him on your doorstep. Remember how you pushed pause on everything - your social life, dating, half your business ventures - just to give him stability?"

My jaw clenches. "That was different. He was twelve."

"And now he's twenty-five, still acting like he's twelve and the world owes him something." Seth's words cut deep because they're true. "From what little Abbie shared that night, he treated her like absolute shit. Called her boring. Belittled her job. Made her feel worthless for trying to better herself with night classes."

"She told you all that?"

"Yeah, while we were in the car. Before everything went sideways." He stands, straightening his tie. "Look, you sacrificed enough of your life trying to fix his mother's mess. You don't owe him your happiness too. Especially not when he's throwing a tantrum over someone he didn't even value when he had her."

The truth of Seth's words settles heavy in my heart. Every time I've tried to have something for myself, Chandler's somehow managed to make it about him. His needs. His wants. His feelings.

"You're right." The admission comes easier than expected. "I need to talk to him."

"Damn straight you do. Before you lose something real because your son can't handle that his ex upgraded."

Seth shifts uncomfortably in his chair, running a hand through his hair. "While we're being candid... I need to tell you something."

I already know what's coming. His eyes followed her every move. Hell, the night we shared her, I saw it then too.

"I have feelings for her too." His words hang in the air between us, heavy with implications I've been anticipating for weeks. "Real ones. Not just physical attraction. There's something about her that's different."

"I know." The words come almost paternal in their understanding. "I've known since that night at the bar. The way you looked at her when she wasn't watching - it was written all over your face."

"And you're not...angry?" Seth leans forward, his normally confident demeanor wavering with uncertainty.

A dry laugh escapes me, echoing off the mahogany walls of my office. "How could I be? She has that effect on people. Gets under your skin without even trying. Hell, she got under mine before I even realized what was happening."

"It would be a shame if this all fell apart because of Chandler's tantrum." Seth's voice carries an edge of frustration, his fingers drumming against the arm of his chair. "She deserves better than that. So do we. After everything we've built here..."

"She does." I push away from my desk, grabbing my jacket with determined purpose. The leather feels cool against my palms as I slip it on. "Which is why I'm going to talk to my son right now. Sort this mess out before we lose her for good. Before he ruins something none of us were expecting to find."

"What are you going to say?"

"The truth. That for once in my life, I'm not letting him dictate my happiness. And if he can't handle that..." I shrug into my jacket, determination settling over me like armor. "Well, that's his problem to deal with."

38

COREY

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