“I heard,” Dad says evenly, “but it has nothing to do with Brooks.”
“It haseverythingto do with him! I would never have discovered this about myself if it wasn’t for him.”
The moment I say the words, I know it’s true. Yes, he went about it all wrong, but I’m so grateful—sorelieved—to have this new knowledge about myself. Aidan has changed my life in so many ways, and I can’t imagine spending another minute without him.
“He’s the only person who’s ever made me feel whole,” I say, throat closing around the words. “Like I’m not broken. Like I actually have something worthwhile to offer the world. And that’s… that’s everything.”
My father’s eyes narrow, moving over me sharply. “Is there something I need to know?”
Shit. I hadn’t meant to reveal quite so much, the words just spilled out of me. But that same fierce part of me wants to tell him that I fell in love with Aidan, that he loves me in a way I never knew was possible. He helped me find my strength, and it’s changed everything I thought I knew.
The instinct to shield Aidan makes me hesitate, but he’s already quit. Already burned the bridge behind him. Dad can’t hurt him now, and I’m tired of hiding. I’m tired of hiding my desires, my heart, my needs.
Tired of hidingmyself.
“Yes.” I lift my chin. “We’re in love.”
Dad’s nostrils flare. “He crossed a line with you?”
I stare at him in disbelief. “Are you kidding? You don’t get to play the protective father card now. Too little, too late, I’m afraid.”
There’s a flicker of confusion on my father’s face, and that’s when it hits me. He’s not concerned about me.
He’s concerned about the firm.
Of course. A bitter laugh escapes me as it becomes crystal clear. Blurred professional boundaries could jeopardize the firm’s reputation. Worse, they show my father he’s not in control.
Because he’s not. Not anymore. And I feel the need to make that clear. To punish him the same way he’s punished me.
“We crossedeverypossible line,” I say viciously. “In his office, at job sites, on the mini golf course…”
My father blanches, mouth hanging open in disbelief, and satisfaction sweeps through me. I should have known I’d never get through to him by talking about myself. The firm is all he cares about. All he’s ever cared about.
And that’s not going to change.
The realization settles in my gut, unpleasant, but not unwelcome. It’s a truth I should have faced years ago. He never wanted to see me, to understand me. With that acceptance comes freedom. For the first time, I don’t need to prove myself to my father. Don’t need to be anything other than myself.
And it’s the sweetest sense of relief.
I square my shoulders, meeting Dad’s gaze directly. “I won’t be returning to work here,” I say calmly. Dad draws breath to argue, but I hold up a hand. “I’ll repay every cent you loaned me, but I will do so on my own terms, and if you don’t like that, well…” I shrug. “There’s not much you can do.”
And with that, I turn and walk from his office.
Dani is hovering near Tash’s desk when I leave, leaning close to eavesdrop. She smirks when I meet her gaze.
“I can’t believe he actually slept with you,” she mutters, shaking her head. I lift my hands to my hips, ready to put her in her place, but Tash beats me to it.
“Oh, shutup, Dani,” she snaps. “You’re just jealous.” She turns to me, rising from her chair and lowering her voice. “Thatwas… Good on you. And for what it’s worth, I think you and Mr. Brooks make a good couple.” She pats my arm. “Are you okay?”
I breathe out, long and slow. “I think so,” I say, gaze sliding to Dani again. She shrinks, scuttling back to her desk, and I nod. “Yes. I’m okay. Better than okay.”
Tash hugs me tight, and I thank her for all her help while I’ve been at the firm. And when she asks for my number and says she’d like to keep in touch, I can’t help but smile.
Then I make my way back to the street, where my friends wait.
“Well?” Poppy asks, looking like she’s about to burst.
“I did it,” I say, my body shaking. “I stood up to him, told him about Aidan, and walked out with my head held high.”
