him. “Maybe I’m not being transparent enough.” He leans forward, lowering his voice to Maximum Intimidation Mode. “You are to stay as far away from Elizabeth Vice and from the child as you possibly can. Christopher Vice is not interested in hearing your bullshit about how you’re going to be some great father. You’re a playboy jock on the cusp of a potentially massive career in the spotlight. You have no business pretending you’re going to be some doting daddy.”
I can physically feel my blood start to boil, and I clench my fists under the desk to stay calm.
“Don’t be so surprised, please. I know more about the Vice family and their affairs than anyone on Earth. More than you ever will, that’s for sure.”
He can’t be fucking serious. It’s my kid! And who the hell is he to tell me how to run my personal life? He’s their lawyer for God’s sake.
“Mr. Richardson, with all due respect—”
“I am speaking completely on behalf of Christopher here. Every word I’m saying is a direct reflection of his thoughts and plans regarding the situation with his daughter,” he goes on, deliberately not hearing me, “I don’t know what sort of idiotic and juvenile fling you two had that caused all of this, but it is not going to continue. She is a Vice. That means something. And that child is going to be a Vice, too.”
I gulp, completely out of things to say.
“And if you truly, deeply want what’s best for Ellie and the baby…which, Christopher is giving you the massive benefit of the doubt and assuming you do…yes?”
“Yes.”
“Then you will kindly remove yourself from Ellie’s life and focus on your glistening football career. Live that life the way you should, and don’t get the Vice’s and Ellie’s baby mixed up in it.”
“It’s my baby, too,” I say quietly, forcing myself to look him directly in the eye. “And I don’t know what you’ve heard about me or what sort of ideas you have about my character, but I’m in love with Ellie.” Physical weight soars off my chest the second those words leave my lips. “I’m in love with her. I want to be with her. I want to be a family with her and the baby.”
Paul leans back in the desk chair and laughs. He laughs in a way that is both condescending and terrifying. “All right, McKenzie. You want to go balls to the wall and fight me on this? You want to argue with me? I got news for you.” He arches a brow. “No one argues with me. I’m the best lawyer in South Florida. There’s a reason I work for the Vices. You don’t mess with me.”
“Well, I am. You can’t tell me to just cut off Ellie and my own kid. I understand that you’re doing your job…in some twisted way. But I cannot let that happen.”
“Hmm. Okay. I think you’re forgetting the fact that Christopher Vice is your boss. And I am representing him. So, in the current situation, I’m your boss. So, if you want to retain any kind of professional career in the NFL whatsoever, let alone play in the Super Bowl, I suggest you listen to me. I might remind you that I have the authority to terminate your contract at any time.”
I can’t breathe. Weight presses on my chest again as nerves and anger ripple up my spine.
“You’re threatening me?”
“I know it seems harsh, but trust me. You’ll realize in hindsight that this is the right thing for everybody. Ellie and the child belong in the Vice family. They will both be more than taken care of. That child will have a better life than you can imagine.”
“But I love Ellie. I want to be with Ellie.”
“Matthew. Oh, Matthew.” He shakes his head. “Between you and me, you and Elizabeth come from completely different universes. You don’t belong with her. She grew up riding horses and vacationing in Newport. You grew up…”
I narrow my eyes and glare at him so hard even he doesn’t dare to finish that brutally insulting sentence.
“As I said, the family tells me everything.” He looks away.
“You think I’m not worthy of her. That’s it, isn’t it?”
He laces his fingers together. “Think about it. You and Ellie are in some sort of emotional entanglement right now. I understand that. But Christopher has made it extremely clear to me that you are to stay far, far away from that family. Every member of it. Consider this: If