The line is silent for several moments, and I brace for whatever he has to say about that.
My father is old-school when it comes to most things, and I’ve heard him drop a lot of homophobic comments over the years. But, just like everything else in his life, he has no problem keeping his bigotry to himself and will happily work with queer men if it means he’ll make money.
I have no idea if I’ll be extended the same courtesy, but it should help that he sees me as a resource and an extension of himself and his empire and not as an autonomous person.
“And you felt the need to bother me to tell me you have a boyfriend?” he asks dryly.
“Yes.”
“Are you expecting me to congratulate you?”
“No. But there’s more.”
“What is it?” he asks, and I can hear the irritation in his voice.
“His name is Xavier Hawthorne, and he’s a Rebel.”
The silence that stretches between us is long and heavy, and I just cling to my phone as I wait for the fallout.
“He’s a what?” he asks, his voice even, but I know him well enough to hear the anger behind it.
“A Rebel,” I repeat. “And a Hawthorne.”
I have no idea if my father knows anything about Xave’s family, and I’m pretty sure he’s never done any sort of business with them, but Silvercrest is a small school with an even smaller feeder base, so there’s a good chance my father knows exactly who Xave and his family are.
There’s another long silence. “Are you willing to give up everything for him?”
“Yes,” I say without hesitation.
“Really? You’d give up your place in the company, and your position in the Keepers?”
“Yes?”
“And you’re sure about that?” he presses. “You’re really willing to throw away your inheritance, your family, my name, and everything I’ve provided for you?”
“Yes.”
He lets out a derisive snort. “You’re an idiot.”
“Maybe, but I love him.”
“You really think a college fling is worth losing everything over?” he asks snidely.
“No, but I know he’s worth it. And this isn’t just a fling. Do you really think I’d be willing to put everything on the line like this if it wasn’t real?”
“And what happens when he breaks up with you and you’re left with nothing?” he asks. “Have you thought about that?”
“I have. And if that happens, then I’ll deal with it.” I pause for a few beats. “Is this your way of telling me you’re disowning me?”
“I should,” he says, and I can hear the disgust in his voice. “But you know as well as I do that I can’t.”
A relieved smile tilts my lips, but I keep quiet.
“Not after everything I’ve put into you, and not now,” he continues. “But you’re young and stupid, and you’ll learn your lesson when he gets tired of you. Then you can focus on what’s important and forget all about whatever phase this is.”
I bite my lip ring so I don’t tell him that my sexuality isn’t a phase, and neither is Xave. This is a way better reaction than I was expecting, and if he’s accepting it because he thinks we’re just going to break up in a few months and I’ll go back to fucking around with women, then I’ll take it.
“But make no mistake, Damon,” he says, the threat in his voice clear. “If I find out that you’ve done anything to compromise me or my life’s work, or if he does anything to sabotage what I’ve built, then I won’t just disown you. I willerase your entire existence and make sure no one ever finds your body.”
