Page 65 of Great Pretender
“No, don’t. I can’t do this with you too.I’m sorry, Dad. I messed up big time, and I know you’re furious.But I’ll deal with myself and make it easier for you.I quit.”
Both Dad and Georgiou look shocked.
“Quit, Chad?” Dad asks.
“Yes.” I reach for his hand and place the keys in his palms.“If I can’t have her, then nothing elsematters.Not a damn thing. Not even theteam.And if I can’t have the team, there’s no way in hell I’m working under Georgiou.” I cut my cousin a crude stare, and helooksthrown.
I have nothing more to say to either of them, so I walk away with a heavyheart.
I lost the team, and I lost my father’srespect.
But losing Piper feels like losingeverything.
All I want to do now is find a way to get my girlback.
Even if it takes meforever.
22
Piper
Dad closes the door and stares back atme with caution.
In his arms are another bouquet of flowers.A bunch of yellow roses this time.
I think I now have every color rose available in New York.
It’s bad enough that I’ve had to impose on my father by fleeing to him and sleeping on his sofa, but the living room and said sofa are covered with flowers.
I eat the last bite of my toast and continue to watch him as he makes his way across to the window and places the flowers on the ledge.
He returns his gaze to me and sighs.
This is my second day here. Dad knows what happened between me and Chad.Just the parts about Tiffany.
I didn’t talk about the fake engagement or anything to do with the money.I don’t think Dad would take that part well.I know what my father is like.He’d think of Chad as some egotistical bastard who was trying to use me, and I’d look like I allowed myself to be used.
I won’t talk to anyone about those parts because I agreed to the arrangement when I was in a vulnerable position.Thinking back now, I must have really loved Chad to want to sacrifice close to three years of my life.The money enticed me, but I won’t kid myself and believe it was all about that.
It wasn’t, and nothing on earth could explain how awful I felt when I watched Tiffany with Chad.Tiffany was naked like she was posing for one of her Playboy cover shoots.
I walked in when she was reminding him about their skinny dipping venture.Chad said he didn’t sleep with her, but everything else she said was enough to let me know they didn’t just skinny dip.
I came straight here after I blew the whole operation by telling all in front of Chad’s dad and Georgiou.I didn’t know they were there, and I feel terrible for my lack of tact and awareness.
I just wasn’t thinking about anything besides Chad and Tiffany.
The press could have been there and would have had a field day with that story.I only know they weren’t there because there hasn’t been anything in the papers about us.That night all I was thinking about was getting away.
When I got here, Dad was about to get in the taxi that came to pick him up to take him to the party.My impromptu visit and flood of tears stopped him.
I haven’t spoken about Chad since, but it looks like Dad wants to talk now.
“Sweetie, any more flowers, and I’m going to have to rent another place just for them,” he states, moving over to me.
I pick up my coffee from the table and lean against the wall, not knowing what to say to him.
I don’t want to talk about Chad, but I know Dad must be curious about what's going to happen.This would have been the only thing in my life to be so bad as to sever the lifelong friendship I’ve had with Chad.And severed it truly is. I got my stuff on Saturday when I knew Chad would be out and left him a note telling him I’d pay him back for everything.On top of the note was my engagement ring.
