Page 230 of Damaged Mogul
He said he hadn’t been with a woman since his mom died three years ago.
He said he was going to Sweden and South Korea alone.
He had nothing but contempt for cheater Judson and his deceiving ex-girlfriend.
He lied?
I thought I could trust him.
I’m such a fool.
No wonder I haven’t heard from him in days.
I figured between the time difference and his demanding schedule, he was overwhelmed.
Since I didn’t want to come across as needy, I didn’t push.
I can’t breathe.
I can’t fucking breathe.
I feel the weight of my father’s stare on me.
My eyes lift up to meet his.
His smirk suggests he’s proud of himself.
It would’ve been less painful had he pushed me in front of a moving train.
I will my hand to stop shaking, and give him back his phone.
He takes it, the smug expression on his face turning sinister.
A long, heavy silence passes between us before he deigns answering my question.
“You weren’t receptive at the idea of going to California to check out film schools. Alder sees you in Malibu hand-in-hand with Gage, and a few days later, you inform meafter the fact,you extended your trip. It was clear film schools weren’t the reason why.” The disappointment in his toneis clear and cutting. “So, I decided to do a little digging into Gage, since I had a sneaky suspicion he prompted your decision.”
Manipulation comes naturally to my father, and this is further proof. Who needs a gun or a knife when backstabbing is your weapon of choice?
Conniving weasel.
“I told you to be careful with those Hollywood-slash-LA men.” He shakes his head, tsking. “She’s the one he loves.” He points at his phone. You”—he points at me—“were nothing more than a plaything.” He leans back against his seat, his gaze slithering over me. “Now, do you still want to move to LA, Lily?”
I can’t speak.
“Sending you to Los Angeles was the biggest mistake.” His eyes slash through me like a sword slashing through my withering pride.
Spine stiffening, I force my lips not to tremble.
Don’t give him the satisfaction of letting him see how much he’s destroyed you.
“Not only did you get entangled with Gage, you lost your virginity to a player.”
Whoa.
How did he know I was a virgin until LA? I sure as hell never had the birds and the bees talk with him.
“On top of that stupid decision, you went and lost your phone.” More venom spills from his lips. “When you bought a phone in LA instead of calling me to request a new one, I no longer had tracking software on it?—”
