Page 129 of Hoax and Kisses
A sharp, cold chill sinks into my chest.
The words I’ve been craving to hear for so long ring in my ears with a strident echo, their meaning completely hollow.
They don’t have the impact I thought they’d have. There’s no warmth to them. No sense of accomplishment washing over me. They feel wrong.
I should have known he’d choose this moment to say them for the first time. That he’d twist the kind of praise that’s held such power over me for years and weaponize it against me.
I feel dirty. Like I’ve been complicit all along.
My stomach churns, nausea rising in my throat, bitterness coating my tongue.
“Dad, I gotta go. I’ll call you back.”
Without waiting for a response, I hang up, my breath coming out ragged.
He wouldn’t really do this to me, would he? He wouldn’t use me so blatantly. And for what? A couple more millions in his and his buddies’ already overinflated bank accounts?
Hand shaking, I snag my computer and open my emails.
I need to come up with something. Shut down whatever this ridiculous plan is and find a way to stick to the original one, the one the people of Pine Falls agreed on.
Fuck,the people.
I close my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose.
If I can’t stand up to my father, if I can’t convince the shareholders to back off…
Then I might as well say goodbye to Pine Falls. And everybody in it.
Dad sent over his disgusting proposal at five, and my head has been buried in it since, trying to make sense of how I could’ve been so blind.
Trying to come to terms with the truth: that he’s been planning this for weeks, if not months. There’s no way he would have whipped up something so outlined, so detailed, in a few days, let alone hours.
No, this was premeditated.
And there’s a nagging voice in my mind that’s planting the idea that maybe, the night I came over, the TV was on the Discovery Channel on purpose.
My own father has manipulated me. Moved me like a pawn when I thought I was his right-hand woman.
This is the last fucking straw.
I’m so lost in my thoughts, so consumed by this profound betrayal, that I don’t even realize what time it is.
I don’t hear Matt when he comes in. Don’t notice his presence until he’s standing behind me, his giant hands pressed on my upper arms.
“Hi, beautiful.”
I startle and slam the laptop shut. “Hi,” I heave. “You scared me.”
Matt watches me, one brow raised. “Are you okay?” He rounds the chair and hooks a finger under my chin, forcing my gaze to meet his. “Zoé, tell me. What’s going on?”
His eyes search mine, a scowl spreading across his face. I hate that I can’t hide anything from him, that he takes one look at me and knows right away that I’m on the verge of crumbling.
“It’s been a long day, that’s all.”
I free myself from his hold, the weight of his gaze too much to bear. But he doesn’t let me get away with it.
Crouching in front of me, he gives me a tender look. “Talk to me. What’s got you so worked up?” He nods toward my laptop. “What’s on there?”
