Page 26 of The Rules Of Attraction
Neither Preston nor Johnson could stand me. If I didn’t up my game now, and allowed my father to choose Johnson that would be it. They wouldn’t pick me when my father retired. Being a senior associate would be the furthest I’d get here.
I opened my eyes again and focused on him.
“I’ll do it.” I answered but with reluctance.
“Good. You have a month to prep an answer for a mediation meeting. Devon wants to meet with you in two weeks to go over the suit.”
I groaned inwardly, hating this already.
“What were the other terms.”
“No more loose women, party girls or college girls. I was thinking that working on Devon’s case would give you a chance to possibly get to know Celeste a little more.”
Well if this wasn’t the day from hell I didn’t know what was.
The sound of the woman’s name made my skin crawl and my balls shrink.
“Why would I need to get to know Celeste a little more?”
“You two have a lot in common. She travels in our circles, you two know each other, you two together would make sense.” My father said that like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Me on the other hand, well…
My mouth dropped when I realized what he was saying. “Dad what the fuck are you saying to me?”
“Alex, I hate your vulgar language.” He hissed looking well and truly annoyed.
Since I was the only one of the two of us who deserved to be annoyed I was going to show him how vulgar I could be. “Dad, please clarify what the fuck it is you mean for me to do with Celeste.” I demanded. I wanted to hear him say it to me. Confirm my thoughts, my horrors.
“You’re thirty two years old Alex, you can’t play around anymore. It’s time for you to think about settling down.”
“Jesus, God in heaven. You want me to settle down with Celeste!” I shrieked.
“It’s not a bad idea. You should consider it.”
“Dad, the woman sleeps around like she breathes oxygen.”
“Son, you do the same thing.” He pointed out.
“No. I do not.” I couldn’t have been more offended that he thought that. I didn’t care what anyone thought of me, but this would be the exception. I cared that my old man thought I was like her. “I don’t cheat, ever. My woman knows I’m with her a hundred percent and I’m loyal.”
I’d had a few long term relationships, nothing really to shout about or miss. I preferred being free and untied because it was less drama, but I was no cheater.
“And I don’t split up families,” I added.
“That was speculation and rumors.” Dad had the audacity to say.
“It wasn’t, the maid caught her live in action. You know Celeste was sleeping with Will Bryn, and worse while his wife was in hospital in labor. Damn it, dad, and damn you. How could you want me to be with a woman like that? My dick’s not going anywhere near her.”
“Alex.” He looked furious.
“No.” I held up my hands. “The case is work related. I accept that but you don’t get to pick any sort of woman for me, and definitely not a woman like that. No.” No way in hell would he do this to me. And, especially not since the one woman I had on my mind had managed to slip through my fingers.
I didn’t have a way of finding the angel, but it didn’t stop me from trying, and the more time I spent here listening to this bullshit, the less chance I had of seeing her again.
“Fine, but I stand by my terms. The case isn’t negotiable. You are to stop this loose behavior with these random women you’re with and no more beautiful PA’s.”
I loved the way he snuck in that last part, as if I had anything to do with choosing my PA’s.
