My jaw almost needed to be picked up from my desk. Did Christine just compliment me? What was the world coming to?
"Close your mouth, Victoria, or you might catch a fly,” Christine advised, knowing that she’d just rendered me speechless.
I snapped my mouth shut as my boss walked away. “And don't let my praise go to that silly little head of yours, Victoria. You have a long way to go before you can walk a step in my shoes."
And then she was gone.
Chapter 23
Tyler
"You don't have to worry about me embarrassing you anymore," I said to my father as I sat directly across from him in his office. "My relationship with Victoria is over."
My father regarded me wearily. "Is that why you suddenly started drinking?"
I nodded. Normally I didn't reveal private things that involved emotion with him, but I felt like I needed to, so that we'd be able to at least function on speaking terms for the betterment of Armex.
“Yes. We haven’t seen each other for a few months now, actually.”
“I suppose that explains a lot,” Dad muttered. He stared at me. "I'm sorry, son. How are you doing?”
I shrugged. "I'm over it."
"Don't try to act all nonchalant with me, Tyler." Dad sat back in his seat. "For a while I didn't believe you cared about Victoria one way or the other. I believed you were just using her to get back at me because I wanted you to have a perfect relationship. In reality, I should have been happy you finally found someone who could rein you in. Lord knows you’ve picked some real keepers. Like . . .”
"Don't even mention her name,” I growled.
He cleared his throat. "Anyway, after I thought about it, I realized standing in your way was just going to make matters worse."
Gee, Dad, I thought wryly. Now you want to come to this conclusion when our relationship is over. How convenient.
I saw no use in arguing about it. What was done, was done.
I held in a groan. I really didn't want to hear all this now after all I’d gone through. After all, what good did it do me? I was dead to Victoria.
"All of that doesn't matter anymore," I said flatly. "It's over, so you can stop worrying about me ruining the company's image, making a fool of myself or going around screwing anything that moves. I'm done with all that. For good."
“That’s music to my ears. But I just want you to be happy, son," Dad said empathically. "That's all I've ever wanted from the beginning."
I snorted. “You sure have a hell of a way of showing it. You threatened to replace me with Charles Whitmore. I mean, I would’ve been pissed either way, but Charles Whitmore? I can’t stand that guy and you know it!" I'd intended to keep my cool during our little talk, but I was shocked at the anger that came through my voice.
Dad made a ‘calm down' motion with his hand. “Relax, Ty. I never had any intention of replacing you with Charles. Well, maybe for a minute out of anger. Of course I knew you were rivals. I hoped that telling you he would take your spot would light a fire under your ass.”
“Well how’d that work out?” I muttered sourly.
Dad ignored me. "And there's another thing, Ty." He paused and I knew whatever he was about to say was difficult for him. "I'm sorry . . . for pressuring you to break up with Victoria. Sometimes, I feel like we're more alike than you know. When someone tells us not to do something, it makes us want to do it that much more.”
I grew silent. For my dad to apologize . . . well, it was unheard of. I can’t remember him ever saying those words to me before for anything. He wasn’t as prideful as me, but he was damn near close.
“Um, thanks, Dad," I said awkwardly. "I know that must’ve been tough.”
Dad wiped at sweat that was suddenly beading his forehead. "You can say that again.”
I stood up out of my chair and stretched out my arms, suddenly eager to get away. "Alright, I'm going to go. Got a report I need to finish. See you tomorrow." I turned to leave.
"Wait."
I paused. "Huh?
"One last thing." He fiddled with one of his favorite pens, a gift I'd gotten him one Christmas that was emblazoned with gold and personalized with his name. "If you should somehow get back with Victoria . . . you have my blessing."
Chapter 24
Tyler
"Shit, I feel like the world is crashing down on my head," Brad groaned, downing a shot. He let out a heavy sigh and smacked the glass back down on the bar, rattling my glass of Sprite. "The wedding is two weeks from now."
Brad had called me to meet up with him to discuss his upcoming wedding and the anxiety he had over it. Not having anything particularly important happening, I was quick to oblige. I seem to have a lot more free time on my hands these days.
"Everything is going to work out fine," I assured him. "I got everything covered. Stop worrying, stop stressing. It's not worth it."