Chapter 2
Home to Her
Prince Walker
Islumped back into the seat of the limo and rubbed my face as Horatio discretely shut the door beside me. I was exhausted. Back-to-back meetings since the start of the day, and now as I took refuge in the plush interior, my phone was ringing again. I glanced at the screen and scowled.
“What do you want, Dad?” I replied, trying not to snap. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be facing this whole damn mess my life had become.
“What, no small-talk, son? Not interested in how your old man’s doing today?” Drew Walker may have been my father, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t a dick of monumental proportions. Frankly, he was probably more of a dick to me than anyone else. And I didn’t have patience to deal with another one of his fucking games. I was tired, I’d been running on full-steam all day, and I wanted to get home to my—
To Sasha.
I heaved a sigh. “How are you, Dad?” I asked, knowing it would be easier not to rise to the bait.
“I’d be better if I knew what was going on in my fucking son’s life, that’s how I am, Prince,” he replied. “What’s this about an engagement?”
“I’m getting married. I’ll be sure to send you an invite,” I answered, staring out of the window as Horatio pulled into the afternoon traffic. Even on a Saturday, it was going to be a nightmare to get home at this hour, and I braced myself for a long ride.
“Who is this girl, kid? You didn’t think to run it by me before you jumped into the deep-end?”
Run it by him?What the fuck?
“Oh geez, Dad, I’m really sorry. What did you need to know? Her family history?” I put a sneer into my reply now, although as I said the words, it occurred to me that I’d never met her family myself. But why should the old bastard care either way? After all, he was the one who forced me into this position. “Or maybe her bra size?” I added.
“Oh, Prince…Why would you say such a thing?” he tutted. He knew exactly why. My dear father had bedded half my girlfriends before I’d hit my prime. Though it had given me incentive to keep in top shape – and now that he’d seen the wrong side of 50, I knew I had our ridiculous rivalry under control.
I reined in my annoyance and started again. “I’m sorry,” I said. I wasn’t, but it was better to play nice. “Shall we get together for dinner? I can introduce her to you.”
“Well, it’s a bit fucking late for that, don’t you think? Might as well shut the damn door after the horse has bolted,” he snapped.
“Look, Dad, you gave me an ultimatum and I’ve done something about it. Now do you want to keep playing this goddamn game, or would you like to meet the woman I plan to marry?”
I heard him huff and mutter a curse beneath his breath. I’m pretty sure I blindsided him with this move, but that suited me just fine. Keeping him on the back foot was just the way I liked it. And it made a refreshing change, considering he’d been the one throwing curveballs for the past few weeks.
“Fine,” he puffed out eventually. “But only because your mother will never let me hear the end of it if I don’t.” I could hear him shuffling papers. “Come around this weekend. Friday evening. 6 p.m.”
“Good,” I replied, not letting it bother me that he hadn’t asked if that time would suit me. I wasn’t playing that game either. Best to get it over with and move forward. I had other things to worry about.
“And, son,” he went on, “try not to upset your mother, alright? Don’t surprise us with one of your usual tramps. That last one was half-decent – what was her name? Angelique? I don’t know why you couldn’t make that work.”
I felt my jaw clench. “She’s engaged to Dmitri Sysenov, Dad. You remember? The man whose company just screwed us out of a billion dollars?”
I heard him exhale sharply. “Don’t remind me, Prince. I don’t need to think about how you fucked that up for us.” There was no point in trying to explain it wasn’t my fault. But he was still talking, “Frankly, it doesn’t surprise me that you couldn’t keep her happy either. Jesus, some days I can’t understand how I managed to raise such a loser.”
“Wow, thanks, Dad,” I replied, stifling the annoyance. I didn’t need his approval anymore. And after the day’s meetings, pretty soon I wouldn’t need anything from him at all.
“You know, I—” he began, but I didn’t want to hear it.
“So, Friday at 6 p.m. Fantastic. Looking forward.” I cut the call and stared down at the screen. Normally there’d be anger swirling right now, but there wasn’t. Mild regret, perhaps, that he’d never be the father I needed. But aside from that, there was just the anticipation of seeing his face when my plans came crashing around his arrogant fucking head.
I stared out the window balefully as Horatio skillfully maneuvered through the traffic. The day’s meetings had gone better than I could have expected. Andy had really pulled out all the stops this time. The investors were hot, a fact that was borne out by the fact that they hadn’t hesitated to make themselves available at short notice over the weekend. I hadn’t had a minute to myself since morning, but it was worth it. And for the first time in my life, there was someone I wanted to discuss my day with. The thought made my lips tilt up. There was a warm woman waiting at home for me.
We pulled up to an intersection, and a flash of yellow caught my eye. I tapped the interleading window to the driver’s seat sharply.
“Stop the car!”
Horatio nodded and pulled up to the curb, oblivious to the cursing of the drivers around us as he crossed lanes. On the sidewalk, a vendor had set up a vivid display of fresh flowers. They were breathtaking. Why had I never paid attention to flowers before?
