Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 96513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
My father had done his best to keep me down. I’d long thought that it was something to do with me. Something to do with my mother. But now, I knew the truth. He was just a worthless, piece-of-shit human, and he would tear down anything in his path.
I’d spent my life silently saving my friends. Enacting revenge on the people who had hurt them. It was time to do the same for myself and for my mother. Time to take matters into my own hands.
On my way back into the city, a group text came in from Lars, letting all of us know that Candice was about to have the baby. Elizabeth responded immediately, saying that she and my father were on their way. I didn’t respond. Just tucked the phone away and changed the direction of the limo.
The hospital it was.
I arrived thirty minutes later and headed up to Labor and Delivery. Part of me wanted to check in on Katherine first. But knowing her, she’d need more time to process what had happened. I would have liked to have her at my side through this though.
My father and Elizabeth were in the waiting area when I arrived. Elizabeth stared out a window. I could see the anxiety in her body language. My father was seated, reading The New York Times. Not a single care. I was surprised he was even here for this.
“Oh, Camden,” Elizabeth said, rushing toward me and enveloping me in a hug. “I’m so glad you could make it. Have you heard from Harmony? Or Katherine? I thought they’d both be here already.”
I shook my head. “Katherine isn’t feeling well. I’m going to check on her after this. No word from Harmony.”
She sighed heavily. “Well, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. But at least you’re here.”
“What took you so long?” my father asked, folding the paper and looking up at me.
“I wasn’t in the city last night.”
My father raised his eyebrows. “It was the Fashion Week gala last night.”
“I am well aware,” I said through gritted teeth.
“Leave him be, Carlyle,” Elizabeth said, returning to her window.
“Allow me to parent my son,” Carlyle snapped. It was more forceful than I’d heard him be with Elizabeth.
A hole in the careful facade of their relationship he’d put up. I hadn’t seen them argue. Not that it meant they didn’t argue. But usually, my father was careful with who he showed his faults to. This was his fourth wife after all. He likely had a system down.
Elizabeth didn’t say anything. She clenched her jaw and looked away. Apparently, she was going to let it slide. Big surprise.
“Parenting? That’s rich,” I spat back.
“I have done nothing but give you every opportunity to succeed. You’re helping to run my company. You’re living on the penthouse of my hotel.” He stood to his considerable height. There were a few feet between us, but we might as well have been nose to nose. “A little gratitude goes a long way.”
“Gratitude,” I said with a shake of my head. “How could I feel gratitude to someone like you?”
He raised his eyebrows. “What the hell does that mean?”
“You’re really going to make me spell it out, aren’t you?”
“Clearly, I have no idea to which you are referring.”
“How about we start with the Ireland deal?”
“The deal that you managed to lose for the company?” my father asked. “Doesn’t seem like the place you’d want to start to gain my goodwill.”
“Oh, I’m well past wanting anything from you. You lied to me. You lost the Ireland deal and then blamed the entire thing on me to save face. You lost the company millions and wouldn’t even own up to it.”
“I have no idea where you’re getting this.”
“From the person who ended the deal,” I told him. “The deal that I saved by following up with him. He’s coming into the city next week to close it. You’re welcome.”
My father’s face contorted into one of rage. I’d gone behind his back. This was a matter of pride.
“I think the board might be happy to hear about that, don’t you?”
“Are you threatening me?” he snarled.
“Yes.”
My father cleared the distance between us. “How dare you go behind my back for this deal. You’re even more worthless than I thought. The board is going to hear none of what you said. None of it.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes, because, effective immediately… you’re fired.”
I laughed. I couldn’t help it. I laughed in his face.
His cheeks turned a bright red. Not from embarrassment. Though he should be embarrassed. But it was that Percy fury. He was offended that I’d laughed at him.
“What are you laughing at?”
“I’m not fired,” I told him. “I already emailed the board about what happened. Actually, I’d be shocked if you weren’t let go.”
“I can’t be let go from my own company.”