More of Us ( A Love You More Rock Star Romance #3) - Laura Pavlov Page 0,81
you to head up the research of his choosing next year.” His ice blue gaze sent a chill down my spine.
“Yeah, it doesn’t work that way. First of all, I’m going to be gone next year. Secondly, I highly doubt the donor chooses who partakes in the research.” I crossed my arms in front of my body.
“Very na?ve mentality for such a smart girl.”
I pushed to my feet. “What do you want, Mr. Winslow? I need to go.”
“I’m here to make you a proposition. You’ve still got a long road ahead of you, and I think you should consider your options. I’m willing to make a large contribution to the human biology department here on campus in your name. You could decide how to spend the funds. I’m sure a smart girl like you has lots of ideas about how to make the world a better place,” he said.
“I don’t need you to make any donations in my name.” I rested my hands on my hips. I resented this man and his obtuseness, like money could cure everything, assuming everything had a price. Disgusting. He should know by now that’s not of interest to me.
He pushed to stand, towering over me. “Come on, Jade. It’s more than a donation, I’m sure you can read between the lines. We can help one another. Nothing wrong with that, is there?”
I looked down the hall and saw Bernie enter the building. Thank God. His eyes landed on me, and he narrowed his gaze on Steven Winslow. He probably thought it was completely normal for me to be speaking to the man. Because in what other reality would this type of conversation be going on with your boyfriend’s father.
“I don’t need any help, Mr. Winslow, and I’m quite certain you don’t need mine either,” I said, looking up at him. He was tall like Cruz, and he stood a little too close to me.
“That’s where you’re wrong. Exiled is a business, my dear. One that brings in a lot of revenue. Now my son may believe it will survive without him, but I do not. I don’t think you want to be responsible for tearing down something that those boys have worked hard to build,” he said, studying my face.
I shook my head. “This has nothing to do with me. And Exiled will be fine without Cruz. He’s still going to be writing music for them, and Lennon, Adam, and Zach are very talented.”
“Everything alright over here?” Bernie asked as he approached.
Cruz’s father looked up and stared at him, but Bernie didn’t look phased. He met Steven Winslow head-on.
“Excuse yourself if you ever want to hold down a job again. Everything is fine,” Steven raised a brow in challenge.
“I was speaking to the lady. I’m here for her, not you.”
Go, Bernie.
I had a whole new respect for the man. And he was right. Why should we be intimidated by this guy?
I, for one, was not.
“I’m fine. Give us just a minute, and I’ll be ready to go.”
And I’ll never give you attitude again, Bernie.
“Alright. I’ll be right over here. Watching.” He snarled, and I almost laughed.
Steven waved his hand at him, as if he were shooing away an annoying fly on the wall.
“This has everything to do with you, Jade. Cruz was always going to be the lead singer of Exiled, before you came along. And then after you broke up with him and left for Honduras, he stayed with the band. But you come strolling back to town, and my son is willing to toss his whole life aside for you. You can’t really be that na?ve by claiming you don’t see it? He’s putting your needs before his own, and now it’s time for you to do the same. His decision affects a lot of people.”
Steven knew more about Cruz and I than I would have thought. They didn’t speak much, so Cruz’s father was definitely doing his homework. Maybe he and Dex were working together, and Dex had been following me that day as Cruz suspected.