Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 18480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 92(@200wpm)___ 74(@250wpm)___ 62(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 18480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 92(@200wpm)___ 74(@250wpm)___ 62(@300wpm)
“I don’t understand the problem. Tia is a suitable partner for you then—”
“Don’t finish that sentence.” I warn Cooper. When I got wind of the rumor, I headed straight over to Coopers’ home. This wasn’t a game I was going to play, and I would be cutting the head off the snake. I might allow Cooper to get away with some of his bullshit when it came to money, but this was different. He should know that. I made that pretty clear at our last meeting.
“She’s eighteen.” Cooper tries to pretend he’s offended.
“How old was your last mistress?” I toss back at him. Cooper’s eyes almost pop out of his head. “You think I don’t know what goes on with the people around Petal? I make it my business to know.”
Hell, I knew about all of her friends and their families. All I’ve ever wanted is to keep Petal safe. Sadly, her biggest threat was the people her parents left her to. For years I asked myself why they’d do such a thing, but as of recently I’ve started to understand. Petal could be a lot like her father. They carried this belief that people could change, and I think he held out a small hope that at his core, his brother wasn’t a horrible man.
Not only that, but with how my mother was being about the idea of Petal and me being together, it was clearly a forgone conclusion for both of our parents that we would someday end up together. Thinking back, it might not have been acceptable if my parents had ended up raising Petal. I know for a fact that she would never have gone off to Besly Prep if she’d been placed with them. And then for her to go on and end up with me… People would assume a lot of things.
I’d be a liar if I myself didn’t admit the temptation would have been hard. It was one I had failed at without her even being close. Petal might have been an adult when I touched her, but I’d told myself I was going to wait longer. I couldn’t, though. Not with her right there in front of me. That damn dress had left nothing to the imagination. That smell of sweet roses and sunshine always coming off her had done nothing to soothe the beast inside of me. Even at nighttime, she smelled of the sun.
“Vaughn, would you really go this low? Marie and I are Petal’s solid home. You’d try and destroy that?” I bark a laugh. Not because that’s the stupidest shit I’ve ever heard. They are far from being anything close to that for her. Their marriage is nowhere close to one at all. In some circles, people might consider it one, but when you had parents like mine or Petal’s, you have way higher standards. We both know what a real marriage is. We grew up seeing it. Both our parents exuded real love for one another.
“You do know Marie is fucking the tennis pro at the country club, right? He’s ranked 27th, I heard.” Cooper’s face turns redder than I even thought was possible.
“She is not.” Wow, he’s a lot madder about this affair than I thought he’d be. I honestly thought he knew. Looks like he doesn’t like cheating when the shoe is on the other foot. I’m not surprised at him being a hypocrite.
“You’re right. They stopped a few months ago. She’s with the yoga guy now.” I lie pretending to only know what might be passing gossip. The Prescotts all went to that club. That meant Petal could end up there. Which in turn means that I knew everything about Jacob the yoga guy. “The wives really pass the men around that club a lot.”
“You’ve made your point.” Cooper gets up and walks over to the bar in his office. I guess it’s not too early when you have to have your wife's last two lovers rubbed in your face.
Cooper has not only had a string of mistresses but a few I think he might have been in love with. He deserved every affair Marie had on him. Not that I am giving that woman a pass. She has her own issues. This whole family is filled with them, and it’s time I pulled Petal away from that.
“Then you’ll speak to your daughter.” I stand from my chair.
“I can try, but Tia does as she pleases. She’s an adult. I didn’t tell her to start those rumors. The girl has been in love with you for years.”
“Shut it down.”
“I can shut her down just as much as I can close my wife’s fucking legs for other men. At least my wife depends on me for money.” Cooper takes another shot of whiskey.
Tia has a mildly successful modeling career, I believe. I didn’t pay attention to the images. The agency she works for is legitimate. That much I know. I also know I’d destroy her career if I had to. With enough money, you can do anything. And when it comes to my Petal, there really isn’t much I wouldn’t do to protect her.