Page 153 of The Bitter Words

She settles against the cushions and drops her smug gaze to the floor. I stop, run my hand over my mouth, and try to figure out what their conversation is about.

She lifts her eyes to mine and they’re filled with hurt. “I know that, Daddy. He’s giving me a few pointers before he goes. That’s why we’re meeting now.”

He must have told her I’m moving for a while. Damn, she’s fast on her feet.

It’s concerning how quickly she comes up with her responses. I tuck that information away.

“Of course I’ll tell him and I’m sure he’d say the same.” Livianna pulls the sweatshirt over her wrist and shrinks into a ball. “Let Mom know I said Happy New Year’s and I love her.”

Did she hide her arms under the material because she wants to itch her skin? I figured out last night when I was helping her as she got sick, she was scratching herself to the point she was bleeding.

Immediately, I thought it must be some kind of coping mechanism. My irritation with her drops a little and my compassion for her pain takes over my presence.

Someone knocks on my door. I stomp off to answer it, knowing it’s room service. Okay, her reckless behavior still has me on edge.

I answer the door and give the man in a white uniform a brief directive that he needs to be quiet when he sets up the table.

He agrees to my demands and I let him in. He places our meals out and makes the table up for two. When he’s finished, I lead him out.

She finishes her conversation with her father right as I’m tipping the guy and seeing him out the door.

I trudge back into the dining area, casting my frustrated gaze to her where she sits on the couch. “Would you care to explain why you did that when I was telling you not to?”

“I didn’t know he’d react that way.” She cowers.

“Really?” I plant my hands on my hips. “You’re his baby girl. How did younotsee how spending the night with me would get a rise out of him?”

She rolls back her shoulders. “I fixed it, didn’t I?”

“I don’t know if you did. Your dad might be okay with you, but there’s no saying how he feels about me right now.”

“Why would he have any negative emotions about you? He thinks you’re helping me.”

“That’s if he believes you.”

“Why wouldn’t he?”

“You lied to him, Livianna.” I glower down at her as a realization hits me. “Or do you do that a lot and that’s how you know you’ve duped him?”

She swallows and stares at me with big, sad blue eyes. My insides tighten. I don’t want to be the reason she’s down, but I won’t tolerate being manipulated. Especially when lies are involved.

I take a breath. “Look, I’m not trying to judge you.”

“But you are.”

I glance away and ignore her confrontation. The heating system turns on and hums while we remain silent.

She’s not wrong about me. I sit beside her and treat thishow I would during any business meeting that is going in the wrong direction.

“My reaction to how you dealt with your dad is more than that.”

“Then what is it? If you aren’t labeling me as a bad person for lying and covering for you, then what are you doing?”

“Covering for me? You’re the one who was… Never mind. The point is, if your dad doesn’t believe you, he might say something to someone who’s uncomfortable with this.” I motion between us. “They may choose not to do business with me because of that.”

“Because you let me sleep in your suite? That’s why they wouldn’t work with you?”

“Exactly. Rumors could spread and they’d think this thing that links us together is inappropriate.”