“Well get with the times. This isn’t the 1800s anymore.”
“You’re right, sir. I’ll try to be more thoughtful of that in the future.” He paused. “Will we be taking the customary drive to Armex headquarters?”
I shook my head, turning away from the mirror and walking over to the bed to shoulder on my business coat. “No. I want to head by the Locklin estate. I’d like to pay my father a little visit.”
* * *
“I trust your relationship with Victoria is over,” my dad said as I stood before his desk in his study. A steaming coffee mug was before him, right beside the morning newspaper he routinely read before being chauffeured off to his office at Armex.
I did my best to hide my grin. “No. As a matter of fact, it’s not.”
Dad’s head snapped up sharply. “What did you say?”
“Our relationship, it’s not over. It’s only just begun.”
He pushed the paper across his desk and narrowed his eyes at me. I could tell he was pissed off, though he was doing his best to hide it.
“I warned you what would happen if you didn’t break this thing off, Tyler,” he growled.
“I know,” I said in an offhand manner that I knew would make him want to jump my shit.
His jaw bulged, a sign that I’d indeed gotten to him this time. “So why are you still with her? She’s your stepsister.” He continued, his voice raising a few octaves. “Do you have any idea what kind of image problems this relationship will cause for Armex?”
I chuckled. "You know what? You're hilarious. First you badger the fuck out of me about settling down. Then, when I finally do find a girl to settle down with, she’s not good enough for you."
"That's not true and you know it, Tyler,” Dad growled. "You know very well why I don't approve of this relationship." He snorted with contempt. "If you can even call it that. And by the way, you haven't fooled me one bit. I still don’t believe that you're willing to settle down. You want to know what I think?"
I crossed my arms. “You’re going to tell me anyway, so go ahead.”
"I think you got scared shitless when I threatened to replace you with Charles Whitmore, so you hastily latched onto the first girl you could find to put up with your bullshit to show me you’d changed." He scowled. "Well, you can drop the act now, Tyler. As long as you end this farce of a relationship and continue to behave, you’re in no danger of losing your position with our company."
I hated to admit it, but for the first time since entering the room, I was pissed. My father was implying that I was scared of him and his threats when the truth was, I wasn't afraid of any fucking body. "Is that what you honestly think? You think that my relationship with Victoria is a farce?"
Dad gave me a puzzled expression. "It is, isn't it?"
“No!" I said sternly with my most convincing voice.
My dad stared at me for a few moments before a surprised look took over his face as it dawned on him. "You're telling the truth, aren't you? There really is something between you two. I must admit, Tyler, I'm shocked."
I swallowed, feeling a heavy sensation pressing against my chest. I hated it. I hated how Victoria made me feel . . . like I was in . . .
I can hardly even think those words. I even promised her help with her career, I thought, when I don't even know if I'd be able to keep my word.
Hiring her was one thing; that I could do. But promising that I’d help her start a fashion business? What the fuck was I thinking?
I wasn’t thinking, that's the problem, I thought. My mind was mush. I'd have said anything if it meant I’d be able to fuck her again.
There was something about being with Victoria that fucked with me.
She's dangerous, a voice in the back of my mind warned. She could ruin you. Not that I wasn’t well on my way to doing that myself.
My dad's voice broke me out of my reverie as I pushed the unwanted voice out of my thoughts.
“Well, Tyler?”
“Look,” I growled. "We aren't related. I really don’t see the big deal here.”
Dad stared. “You’re not stupid Tyler, but let me spell it out for you. It’s not that big of a deal, you’re right. But you know how the media spins things.”
“Who cares what these people think, Dad? Maybe they shouldn't live their lives judging others and mind their own damn business."
He took a deep breath, gathering himself. "Maybe in another time and place I'd agree with you, Ty, but these people that you need to please are not just regular old people. They’re our customers, or potential customers. The very people that allow you to live the lifestyle that you do. You do care about that, don’t you?" He shook his head. "I don't even see why I have to point this out to you. You know better. You know that our competitors will have a field day with this.”
“Well it’s too late now, Dad. What’s done is done, and this isn’t just any old relationship that I can just end . . .”