I smoothed my suit jacket and made my way for the door to show him out. When he continued to stare, I made a gesture for him to exit. He’s my father, but these days, there was only so much of him I could handle.
“Dad, I have a meeting with executive management in fifteen.”
“I’m not leaving until you see reason.”
“There is nothing for me to see. It’s non-negotiable.”
He stared at me silently, but the tick in his jaw told me he was calculating. “What if I told you if you gave up your friendship with Keiran, you’d be free to marry whomever you wish?”
My hand slipped from the door and my full attention turned to him. “Come again?”
“Keiran or Rosalyn. It’s your choice.”
CHAPTER THREE
A WEDDING
THREE MONTHS LATER
DASH
THERE WERE ONLY two occasions I wore a suit for personal reasons.
Today was one of those days.
Dressed in a black suit, white shirt, and royal blue tie to match the theme of my sister’s wedding, I made my way through the mansion I called my home and where she decided to have her wedding.
The house was full of my sister’s wedding guests. All of which were busy sipping the expensive champagne and filling their time with casual conversation. I recognized some old classmates from Bainbridge though most of the guests were undoubtedly associates of my father.
It took longer than necessary for me to make my way through the first floor. I was constantly bombarded with the pressing, yet unwanted need for conversation from people whose names I could barely remember.
“Lake, darling, I realize you’re her maid of honor, but I am her mother, and I just think we need more flowers.”
“Mrs. Chambers, I don’t mean any disrespect, but the place already looks like a greenhouse because you wanted to add every flower known to man.”
I had heard them before I saw them and entered the kitchen to see my best friend’s girlfriend of four years and my mother both go toe to toe next to a horde of flowers. She wore a simple strapless royal dress with a thin silver chain to encompass the middle. Her feet were adorned with silver strappy heels that made her long legs look even longer. Her hair swept down her back in a tumble of curls. It took a moment to realize I was ogling my best friend’s girl. Lust wasn’t a factor, but I couldn’t deny that she was beautiful. One of the most beautiful women I’d ever seen, in fact. She transformed from a little duckling of a teenager to a graceful woman effortlessly, though she still carried an air of innocence. I could almost understand Keiran’s obsession with her. She was undoubtedly irresistible even to a complete stranger. He had fifteen years to cultivate a connection that he would never be able to shake even if he wanted to.
“Is it wrong to want elegance at my daughter’s wedding?” My mother’s voice brought me back to the situation unraveling.
“No, but there’s a difference between elegance and excessiveness. Adding ten dozen more flower arrangements will turn her wedding into a greenhouse. Someone might think this is a convention to preserve Earth.”
“Young lady, this is my daughter’s wedding.”
“Yes, but I don’t see any other maid of honor in the room.”
I took that as my cue to leave and backpedaled from the kitchen before I could be swept up in the shit storm. When I was safe, I turned on my heel only to meet the stormy gaze of my best friend.
Whose calls I haven’t answered in three months.
“They’ve been bitching at each other for the last half hour,” he offered, his stare never wavering.
I fought not to fidget. Guilt constantly ate at me since the day my father delivered his ultimatum. It nearly devoured me now.
I saw the question in his eyes and the anger, but neither of them gave me pause like the glimpse of hurt I witnessed just before he disappeared.
With a few deep breaths, I was able to will my legs to move.
I needed to make it right with him.
But not today.
I had a plan to appease my father and keep my friendship with Keiran, but one that couldn’t involve him because I knew he wouldn’t go the safe or sane route if he knew about my father’s threat.