Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23292 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23292 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
“If it was up to me, he wouldn’t have left you one red cent,” he sneers, and I feel my lips twitch in a smile.
“I know. My lawyers told me how many times you tried to take it.”
The way his cheeks turn red lets me know that I’ve had a direct hit. Maybe this visit won’t be so bad, after all.
“He must have known you’d grow up to be a deadbeat.”
Fuck. I should know better than to play tag with a shark.
“Why are you here?” I say, getting to the point. I can’t spar with my father for too long because my soul ends up dark and withered for days afterwards.
“Your seat on the board is still open.”
I can’t hold back the audible scoff that comes out of my chest at his mention of my seat. “As it will remain until the day you die.”
With the last name Evermore and being one of the majority shareholders of Evermore Holdings, he’s desperate for me to come to the dark side. It will never happen. I’ll eat my own ass before I agree to work for him. For now, I send a proxy to vote for me when the need arises, but I keep my power locked away. It’s the other thing my grandfather left me when he died and I’ve always wondered if he did it to bring my father and me closer. Or more likely, he knew that my father would try to control me for the rest of my life and this slice of EH would give me the freedom to do what I want.
“You’re a spoiled little shit,” my father hisses. “I’ve given you every advanta—”
“Along with the bruises, right?” I cut him off, and if possible, those cold blue eyes of his turn glacial. “You gave me every advantage while beating me to within an inch of my life. Isn’t that what you were going to say?”
“You got what you deserved for your insolent behavior. And it wouldn’t hurt you to have another smack or two.” His fists clench at his side, but it’s been a long, long time since I feared him physically.
“I’m sure it’s frustrating that I got bigger than you and now you can’t beat on someone weaker. Thank God Mom’s dead.”
“Don’t you dare mention her name.”
“I’m glad you loved something in your life,” I admit as I look out over the vast land in front of me and try not to let him get in my head. “Truly. I’m glad you didn’t treat her the way you treated me.”
“You were out of control and wouldn’t listen. I did what I had to do to get you to behave. Stop being so dramatic about it.” He huffs. “It’s called punishment. Which is what more of your generation needs, if you ask me.”
There’s a stretch of silence between us as I scan the area where the men are working. My mind is already picturing her here and all the things she could create. I don’t want my dreams to be stained by this monster, so I decide it’s time to end the conversation.
“When you leave, take a good look at the house,” I say as I tuck my hands in my pockets and take a step off the terrace. But before I walk away, I pause and glance back. “Because it’s the last time you’ll see it. If you show up here again, I’m calling the cops.”
“Flynn, you can’t be serious,” my father tries, but then I give him my back and step onto the cobblestone path.
I smile when I remember how much Zelly loves cobblestones.
Chapter Three
ZELLY
“Have you come up with a costume for the Halloween party?” Ella’s eyebrows pull together as she pushes her hands against her cheeks. Mom wanted to do this party to make Ella feel like a part of our family, but I think we might be giving her anxiety instead. That makes two of us, but I’m better at hiding it.
“The point of Halloween is that you get to dress up extra sexy and no one can give you shit.” The second the words leave my mouth, Leo is out of his seat.
A sister has to get her jabs in here and there. God knows I wouldn't be showing up bearing it all. I bite the inside of my cheek, wondering how it would go over if I could ever bring myself to do it. Would it get a reaction out of Flynn? There were a few times I thought he might be a little jealous, but I’m sure showing off too much skin would only remind him of my scars. I keep hiding them in hopes he’ll forget and we can go back to the way it was before.
It’s an insane thought because I never give him the time of day. All I do is allow these fantasies between the two of us to play out in my mind. If I could stop them, I would, but they hit me out of nowhere all on their own.