“Managing Griffin. Keeping him focused.” He moved further into the suite. “The results speak for themselves.”
My eyes narrowed. “I didn’t do anything. Griffin won because he’s talented.”
“Talent isn’t enough. You know that.” He picked up a baby toy from the coffee table, turning it over in his hands. “He needed stability. Structure. Someone to keep him grounded.”
“That’s not?—”
“Dorian mentioned you two seemed close. At the restaurant in London.” He set the toy down, his eyes meeting mine. “I’m glad.”
Wait, was he talking about Niran’s? That private table where I’d let myself believe, for a few stupid hours, that we were just two people. Not a driver and his nanny. Not Julian Carter’s daughter and his prized asset.
The floor tilted beneath me. I’d been right. I hadn’t imagined it. He had someone watching us the whole time.
“You had me followed,” I whispered, the words strangled and horrified.
“Don’t be dramatic, Violet.” He waved a dismissive hand. “I simply keep track of my investments.”
His gaze flicked to the bedroom, and I understood with perfect clarity which investment he meant. Not me. Never me.
“But this is exactly what I was hoping would happen.”
The words stole my breath. My worst nightmare crystallized into reality.
“You wanted this?” I asked, choking on the words.
“You’re intelligent. Surely you’ve considered how beneficial this arrangement is.” He moved toward the window, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Griffin’s been more focused, more disciplined. His performance has improved dramatically since you entered his life.”
This wasn’t about my happiness. It was never about my happiness. This was about control. About him finding a new leash for Griffin, and realizing with dawning pleasure that I was the one holding it.
“So you manipulated me into?—”
“I didn’t manipulate anyone. I simply provided an opportunity and trusted you’d make the right choice.” He turned back to me. “You have, haven’t you? Made the right choice?”
I scowled at him. “What I do with my private life has nothing?—”
“There’s nothing private about it when you’re my daughter working for my driver.” He stepped closer, and I held my ground even though every instinct screamed to back away. “Though I’ll admit, things progressed faster than I anticipated. You exceeded my expectations.”
This wasn’t happening. He was lying. Trying to twist everything, make me doubt what was real. That’s what he did. That’s what he’d always done.
My hands curled into fists at my sides.
He circled me slowly, like a shark who’d already tasted blood. “You needed funding for your doctorate. Griffin needed someone to manage Hazel. And I needed leverage over my most difficult driver.” He stopped, meeting my gaze. “So I forced you both into an impossible situation and waited to see what would happen.”
“That’s not?—”
“I didn’t make you fall for him, Violet. I just made it inevitable.” His smile turned cold. “Put two people in close quarters. Give them a shared purpose. Human nature did the rest.”
The coffee maker beeped behind me. The mundane sound felt obscene in the middle of watching my life detonate.
“Griffin’s been getting harder to control lately,” my father said, his voice clinical, like he was discussing race strategy instead of destroying me. “Pushing boundaries. Questioning decisions. That stunt with the pram shopping? Defying my direct order to stay out of the public eye?”
Of course. This was the endgame I always saw coming but was stupid enough to hope I could outrun. Every “it’s just temporary” I uttered was a prayer against this exact moment. A futile attempt to keep us off his radar. Watching the satisfaction spread across my father’s face, I realized I never stood a chance.
“But now when he gets difficult, I don’t need to threaten his career.” My father’s gaze locked on mine. “I just remind him what happens to the people he cares about when he doesn’t cooperate.”
I’d walked right into the trap, too busy falling in love to see the walls closing in.
“I won’t do it. I won’t let you use me to control him.”
