“I don’t think–”
“Philip is my husband!”she snapped.The little girl winced as her mother’s grip tightened on her shoulders.“What do you want?”
“My business with Mr.Remington is personal.But expect a visit from the police, Ms.Remington.”
“The police?”she gasped, pulling back.Thankfully, her surprise eased the tension in her hands and the girl pulled away, escaping into the back of the house.“Why?”
“You will be arrested for breaking and entering and theft.”
The woman’s jaw dropped.“I did no such thing!”she hissed, then furtively looked over her shoulder.“Who the hell are you?How dare you come to my home and accuse me of such things!”
Rafi refrained from rolling his eyes.“You were caught on a security camera breaking into Carys Remington’s apartment.Your fingerprints are everywhere and the police are getting a warrant to search your house.You will be charged with breaking and entering as well as stalking, vandalism, and petty theft.”Rafi took a breath, letting his words sink in.“However, I’m not here because of your misdeeds.I’m here to speak with your husband.I understand he’s here.Iwillspeak with him.”
“You can’t!”she hissed and tried to close the front door.But Rafi put a hand on the door and pushed it open, stepping into her home without permission.“Get out of my house!You can’t just barge in here like this!”
“Beth?”a male voice called, coming from a room just off the foyer.“What’s going on?”he asked, then noticed Rafi in the doorway and froze.“What do you want?Who are you?”
“I am here to discuss Carys, Mr.Remington.”
Beth made an inelegant snort, crossing her arms over her chest.“Is this about that stupid girl?”She snorted again and moved to stand by her husband.“That ungrateful bitch has no place in our home!”
Rafi restrained himself, but it took more effort than he wished.
He glared at her until she couldn’t hold his gaze any longer.When she finally shifted uncomfortably and looked at the floor, Rafi turned to the man.“I need to speak to you privately, sir.”
Philip must have grasped the severity of the situation because he nodded slowly and gestured to a door behind him.“We can talk in my office.”He brightened slightly.“If this is about Carys, then I can’t wait to hear what you have to say.I’ve been trying to get back into her life for the past several months.I just…” he sighed dramatically.“I just want to get to know my oldest daughter again.”He led the way into his office and waited until Rafi was inside before closing the door on his wife’s objections.
“Have a seat,” Philip offered, gesturing to an old wingback chair that had seen better days.He chuckled and waited, rubbing his hands together.“So, Carys sent an intermediary, eh?”He chuckled as he moved to the sofa, jerking his slacks up as he lowered himself to the cushions.“I understand.Women are so emotional, right?I mean, she could have just come to speak with me herself.It’s not as if I haven’t given her enough openings!”He sighed, rubbing a hand over his thigh.“But that’s women for ya, right?They just can’t get over their wounded feelings.But if this is her way of telling me–“
“Shut up,” Rafi snapped, losing patience with the pompous man as he dropped the heavy envelope on the low coffee table.
After a startled moment, Phillip demanded, “Excuse me?”
“I told you to shut up,” Rafi replied, completely calm now.Negotiating was his thing.He enjoyed setting the terms so that they were beneficial to him.And Carys.
The man opened his mouth, ready to speak, but Rafi wasn’t going to listen.He started first.“First of all, your daughter hates you and is considering changing her name to remove the last association she has with you.”
The man waved a hand dismissively.“Oh, that’s just silly.She only wants to change her name to show me that her feelings were hurt because I remarried.”He shook his head as if his thoughts were once more demeaning women.“But once she and I talk, she’ll get over it.That’s just…she’s just a silly girl, you know?”
Rafi mentally rolled his eyes.“Actually, she’s a woman.Your daughters are girls.Carys is a twenty-eight year old woman who is intelligent, creative, and beautiful.”Rafi stared at the man, daring him to say otherwise.“And Carys will never speak to you again.She has chosen to cut you out of her life.And that is her right.”
“That’s just…she’s being silly.I just need to talk to her.That’s what I’ve been trying to do for months now.It’s why I hired a lawyer to assist me in getting her to talk to me.”He offered a patronizing sigh as he gestured to the manilla envelope.“As soon as I talk to her and explain my side of things, I can make her see reason.”He shook his head again.“She’s being irrational.”
“So you decided to sue her?You’re using the judicial system to force a conversation with your daughter?”Rafi asked, then shook his head, stunned by the man’s stupidity and arrogance.“Actually, you will never speak to her again.And she’s not being irrational.”Rafi moved to stand in front of Philip.“You see, my fiancée has created a shield around herself that she’s developed to protect herself from men who will hurt her.Like you did when you rejected and abandoned her.”
Philip stood up and huffed.“But that’s just it!Ididn’tabandon her!”
“Did you have an affair while still married to her mother?”
The man’s mouth opened and closed, but eventually, he admitted the truth.“Well, yes, but that’s all ancient history.”
“Did you then divorce your wife and marry your mistress?”’
Philip rolled his eyes and huffed slightly.“Yes, but I had to follow my heart!”
“Yes, I see that you were a highly impulsive man who didn’t give a damn about the tender heart of a young girl who needed her father.”
Philip’s mouth pressed into a thin line, revealing that he was offended by that interpretation.Then he blurted out, “See?That’s exactly what I’m trying to do now!I want back in her life.”
