I release a bitter laugh. “Because I don’t need to resort to your level to steal your position, but I’m willing to do so if you ever pull a stunt like today ever again.”
“You would ruin our family’s reputation for her?”
“We aren’t family. You made sure of that the moment you told my wife to get her tubes tied, you fucking monster.” My hands clench by my side, but I hold back from throwing another punch. I’d rather use words as a weapon than my fists.
“I’m trying to save you the mistake of having a child with someone purely for an inheritance. You should be thanking me.”
Deep breaths, Declan. Deep fucking breaths.
“If I catch you talking to Iris again, whether about business or not, I’ll release this to the public. No questions asked. No second chances. I don’t care if you need to use a damn smoke signal to get in contact with me, so long as you leave my wife out of it.”
“You’d publish this even if it makes you look weak?”
“That’s the thing, Father. I spent plenty of years thinking I was pathetic because I couldn’t fight you back, but I eventually realized the only weak man here is the one staring right at me. In one way, I guess I’m glad Mom is dead because at least she doesn’t have to face the disgusting excuse of a human you’ve become.” I turn, feeling his burning gaze following me all the way back to my car.
24
IRIS
D eclan has been abnormally quiet ever since our trip to the hospital yesterday. I try to pry him away from his foul mood with a few comments, but it only seems to make him frown like I’m some nuisance.
If possible, the next day back only gets progressively worse. I can’t type with my right hand, so I’m limited to pecking individual keys with my left index finger. I’m tempted to throw my keyboard at the wall after only half an hour of working on a spreadsheet. Instead of resorting to violence, because we all know how that went last time, I text my knight in shining Armani.
Cal strolls into the office thirty minutes later. “I always thought it would be Declan who showed Dad what it felt like to be on the receiving end of his parenting style, but it turns out you did the favor for him.”
My chest aches for the children who grew up with such a cruel father. If only I could go back in time and throw a real punch.
Cal’s gaze narrows. “Don’t look at me that way. I don’t have nearly as many daddy issues as the other two.”
“That’s because you have a whole host of other problems.”
“It makes me layered.”
“No. It means you need to seek therapy.”
He laughs as he pulls out the metal chair across from me. “I’ve been there. Done that. Turns out if you’re not interested in changing, they can’t help you much.”
I shake my head. “Imagine that.”
He grins. “So I heard you needed my services.”
“Depends. How flexible are your plans over the next few weeks?”
“For you? Consider them canceled.”
I release a sigh. “I seriously owe you one. I can’t get much done with this brace when it takes me twenty minutes to type a single paragraph.”
“You’re going to regret asking for my help.”
“Probably, because you can’t focus for shit, but I’m all out of other options. I’m not about to spend hours next to a temp. At least this way you can make my job slightly more bearable.”
“You sure know how to flatter a man.”
“Declan doesn’t seem to have a problem with it.”
“Because, most days, he can barely be classified as human, let alone a man.”
Oh, he’s all man all right. I’ve seen the evidence in vivid detail.
Cal shudders at whatever expression is on my face. “Oh God. Whatever put that look on your face needs to go. Now.”
Declan’s mood deteriorates throughout the day. I’m almost hesitant about introducing my plan, but after all the work I put into it, I can’t go back now.
“Why are we stopping?” Declan reaches out to press the driver’s call button, but I stop him.
“Welcome to phase one of Operation Fake Dating.”
He turns in his seat and stares at me. “What are you talking about?”
“This is my plan. Together, we’re going to squash any doubts about our marriage, starting tonight.”
His lips curve downward. “With fake dating? What does that even mean when we are married?”
“It’s simple really.”