this was going.
I wait to see if he’s going to elaborate. When he doesn’t, I decide to give him his moment. “And why is that?”
“The actions of children reflect on their parents, especially during a political campaign. The media will be searching for any hint of a scandal.”
Upon hearing that, I scoff at him. “What I do or don’t do has no bearing on you. Who I’m dating has absolutely nothing to do with you or your mayoral campaign.”
“Cade, I’m simply asking that you consider your family and standing when choosing the woman you are seen publicly with.”
“Can you hear yourself right now? The man who has cheated on his wife numerous times is trying to tell me that I can’t see an honest, hardworking, genuine woman who wants to spend time with me.”
Not surprisingly, Dad doesn’t bother denying his past—and probably present—infidelities. “She’s a stripper,” he states, looking me straight in the eye.
I narrow my eyes at him. “This isn’t news to me, although I’m surprised you of all people are looking down your nose at someone using their body in such a way.”
“What does that mean?”
“You know exactly what it means. You’ve never been one to shy away from strip clubs, and don’t bother denying it.”
“The Chicago Working Men’s Club is a centuries-old business association.”
The fact that he knew what I was talking about speaks volumes. “It’s also a front for strippers and prostitutes. It’s the worst-kept secret in the city,” I reply.
“She also lived with a junkie who left her with a considerable amount of debt.”
“Hence the need for stripping,” I retort angrily. “There’s nothing that your private investigator can find out about her that will surprise me and if it did, it would simply make me want to spend more time with her. She’s smart, independent, ambitious, and determined to make it on her own, living her life by her rules. She’s worked hard to pull herself out of that debt and now has her own apartment, a successful career, and a fulfilling life. What more could I ever want in a woman?” I know I just laid it on a bit thick, but nothing I said was untrue.
“She’s not worthy of being on the arm of a Carsen.”
Hearing him say that, I lose the loose hold I had on the burning anger searing through me. I drop my coffee cup in the trash and take two steps forward, raising my hand and poking my father’s chest.
“Having the Carsen name does not make us better than anyone else,” I spit out. “If I want to keep seeing Abi, I will. It is not your job to say who I should and shouldn’t date, and it hasn’t been in a long time. Abi will be at my side for any events I’m summoned to attend. Outside of that, you will not have anything to do with her or our relationship.” My voice is rough now, my chest heaving as my father stares at me impassively before taking a step backward.
He regards me momentarily before shaking his head. “I should’ve known you’d act this way. Since your brother isn’t here, you were bound to use my campaign to make a statement.”
“Make a statement about what?” I ask harshly.
He doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he straightens his tie and steps to the side, stopping when our shoulders meet. “Look, I understand that us men have a need to go slumming it at some time in our lives. Just consider doing yours after my campaign, or at least be a little more discreet about it,” he says through gritted teeth. “It wouldn’t take much for a reporter to go digging for gold in your pretty little girlfriend’s past . . . that’s all I’m saying. If you insist on seeing her, we’ll have to look at taking measures to minimize any fallout there might be should it come out.”
“I’m not the one running for public office, and neither is Abi.” I stand to my full height, looking him square in the eye. “And don’t even think of taking any measures where Abi and I are concerned.”
“I’ll do whatever I feel needs to be done, Cade. Don’t fucking cross me.”
And before I can tell him to go to hell, he disappears through the doorway.
I should’ve known that I’d be roped into kitchen duty for Cade and Thomas’s gathering.
I’m standing in Cade’s kitchen, educating Thomas on the importance of having pasta salad at any barbecue, when Cade walks into the room wearing