“Richard and I were meeting to discuss my new role, I understand you’re running the meeting?” I say, standing where I am.
Malice lifts the corners of his mouth into an imperceptible smile that is the proverbial record player’s needle finding the one tiny scratch on your record, the one you’ve spent your life trying to buff away. And because everything had been going so smoothly, you’d allowed yourself to believe the scratch had been polished away.
That smile says I was a fool to think this record could ever play right, again. My father will never forgive me. And he will never let me go.
I say the words I know are coming next. “You fired Rich.” And take a seat next to Duke before my wobbly knees give out on me.
“Effective immediately. I’ll be announcing Duke as his successor.”
I whip my head in Duke’s direction, expecting to find him looking as puzzled as I feel. He doesn’t meet my gaze, instead he’s watching my father with a look of solemn acceptance that makes me want to scratch his eyes out. With my heart now racing and dread lodged in my throat, I force a patient, expectant smile.
“Congratulation, Duke.” I turn back to my father. “Rich and I were meeting to discuss my candidacy for the Manager role in his—”
“The role has been eliminated,” my father informs me.
I blink and frown in confusion. “I’m talking about the Joint Venture Finance position.”
He looks up at me. His steely gray gaze full of impatience. “So am I. We decided the role was redundant, Duke can absorb the responsibilities.”
“Duke?” I gawk incredulously.
“Yes, it’s the first stop on the leadership track.” He gives me a tight smile and then turns his attention to Duke. “As you know, my son isn’t here to assume the role I’d hoped. The daughter who had the natural strength and intellect to step into his shoes is dead. Duke has become like a son to—”
“But, what about me?” I wince at the infantile whine in my voice, but I can’t help it. “I mean, I applied for the job. Rich chose me. He’s run this department for as long as I’ve been alive.”
“Longer,” he corrects me, his gaze going steely. “It hurt to let him go, but he forced my hand by hiring you.”
“But…I got the job. I was the best candidate,” I sputter, my voice breaking on that last word.
If he sees or hears my devastation, he doesn’t give any indication. He uncrosses his legs and leans forward, resting his hands—the hands so elegant I used to marvel at how cruelly he used them—on the desk. “You’re not fit to lead. Duke and I have spoken, and he agrees.”
Propriety, deference, and self-preservation fall away as the future I’ve toiled, sacrificed and pinned every single one of my fucking hopes on is snatched away by a man who should have done everything he could to see me happy. I slam my palm down on his desk and surge to my feet.
“This isn’t right. I’ve worked hard, I’m best the best person for that job.”
His eyes narrow, and the shadow of geniality he’s been feigning completely evaporates. “I’ll be damned if you’re gonna traipse off to New York City just because that stupid aunt of yours made you think marriage is an option and that men are evil.”
“She doesn't think men are evil. She's happily married to one," I don’t know why I pick this point to argue about, but it’s the only coherent thought I’m capable of as I try to make sense of what’s happening.
“That fucking pussy lets his wife run his life. That’s not how it works and you don’t get to walk away from your obligations.”
“I wasn’t trying to walk away. I’ve worked my ass off so I can keep working for Wolfe. I graduated summa cum laude—”
He sucks his teeth. “I don’t care if you’d won fucking Nobel prize. You are the reason I don’t have a child of my own loins to leave this company to. And if you won’t do the right thing, I’ve got no choice but to do it for you.”
The first time he’d hurled those accusatory words at me, it hurt me in ways I couldn’t measure. But I’d forgiven him because I knew he had spoken while in grip of his grief. But more than ten years later, there’s no pain in his eyes as he looks at me. Just impatience and boredom.