Page 71 of Owen

And it was because of him I was there. As soon as I discovered I was to marry someone my parents chose for me it was all downhill from that moment. Drinking away my problems wasn’t the answer, although neither was running away, it seems.

“I know you spent a hideous amount of money on expenses when you were out wining and dining to secure the many contracts we tendered for.”

On his instruction, and it’s what won us those contracts. I search my memory, trying to recall if he’s won any in the last year, and come up short.Why hasn’t he been tendering for more work?

He keeps listing shit I don’t agree with. “You didn’t even give Evangeline a shot; your heart wasn’t in it from the start.”

“That’s a lie.” I shake my head, my pulse quickening at his dishonesty. “And you know that, Dad. I stopped drinking. I dideverything you asked of me. I tried, my God, did I try with her, but nothing I did would have ever been good enough, and let’s not forget that she was far too young for me. Your ideas about love are archaic and, frankly, disgusting.”

He chuckles, fucking chuckles, at my outburst. “You didn’t moan about it when you asked to borrow my yacht to woo her, or when you used company expenses to entertain her for an evening at the opera.”

“See, I tried, and youtoldme to do put it through expenses,” I admonish. He’s got a knack for twisting the truth.

Exhaling a breath, he says, “Yeah, I suppose I did. Oh well, never mind. So, when will you be over this little tantrum of yours and come back? Can you give me a date?” He flippantly moves on as if everything is kosher between us.

“Are you for real? I amnotcoming back.”

Ignoring me, he railroads me with more words. “So, you fancied a little vacation? Great, get that out of your system, and then set a date to come home.”

I’m frustrated by his tone, and my heart thuds against my ribcage, my pulse quickening at sonic speed, thumping so hard I can hear it in my ears.

“I’m not having this conversation with you. I can’t keep going over the same things. I’m done, I’m out.” Even though he can’t see me, I slice through the air with my flat hand. If I could divorce my parents, I would. They should make that a thing.

He growls, making my speaker rattle in the phone casing. “Now you listen here, son, and listen good.” He starts slow and steady. “You will come home. It’s not a fucking option. You were born into a family where loyalty and honor count for more than love.” Then he roars down the phone so loud I have to remove it from my ear. “So get your head out of your ass and fucking growa pair. Youwillcome back and save this business right now or I will…”

Save the business? What does he mean?

“Or you’ll what?” I ask petulantly. “And what do you mean, save the business? Our business is rock solid.” I go through those accounts with a fine-tooth comb, scrutinizing our finance reports. I know every overhead, day-to-day cost, ways to make us more efficient, ensure we get the right funding for our machinery, and meet every tax deadline, so what the hell happened in three weeks?

Or what am I missing?

“Located him.” I hear an unfamiliar voice down the other end of the phone.

“Who the fuck is that?” I snap, panicking now.

“We’ll see you soon, Owen.” Out of breath at his outburst, he pants, then laughs loudly.

I cut the call and throw the phone onto the sofa as if it burned the skin off the palm of my hand.

He traced the call.

“Fuck,” I yell, louder than expected, making it reverberate through the stark marble villa.

Hands on my waist, I look up at the ceiling and expel a long-weighted breath before roaring into the space again as anguish and hate for my father heightens my anger.

I drop my head and look around to find Poppy’s bottom lip quivering.

Oh my God, I spooked her, and she looks petrified.

Feeling terrible, I run to her, crouching down, to reassure her that everything is okay, but it’s too late; tears gloss her eyes and as if it was a delayed reaction, she cries as though I had blown out the candles on her own birthday cake.

Lifting her into my arms, I cradle her tight, rubbing her littleback to comfort her, but my rocking her back and forth skills have no impact as her little chest moves in and out while her sobs continue.

And as if I’m covered in a blanket of calm, a warm set of arms joins us from behind, wrapping themselves around my waist.

Jade.

She moves around to the front to face me, then embraces us both. I pull her under my other arm and press her head into my shoulder, while Poppy rests on the other. We have a three-way hug; Poppy settles almost instantly, her little sobs dying down.

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