“Nothing is going on. He made that abundantly clear today.”
“Well, maybe it’s better that way. You got him out of your system, and now you can focus on work.”
“It’s hard to focus on anything else,” I said, shaking my head.
“Don’t let him lose sight of what you’re really after. He’s an ass. Sure, he has a big dick, but that doesn’t mean he’s a good person. Or a good CEO.”
“Yeah,” I said softly.
“Your dad will see that eventually. Chandler can’t keep up his façade forever. Your dad has to see his true colors. He’s a smart man.”
“I’m beginning to question that lately…”
“Just give him time to figure it out. Men don’t like admitting their mistakes.”
“True.” I nodded, though I wasn’t totally convinced by my friend’s optimism. Even if my father did realize he had made a mistake, the damage was done. He had chosen a stranger overme. As much as I tried to understand why, I couldn’t. The wound was still fresh, and I wondered if it would ever heal.
As if Juliet could see my swarm of thoughts playing over my face, she leaned in and pulled me in for a hug.
“I’m sorry, Gabs,” she said. Pulling away, she clapped her hands and said, “We need more wine. And pizza.” She stood up and strode toward the kitchen to rummage through her takeout menus. I smiled at her, thankful to have a friend to help talk me off my ledge.
The next morning, I woke up nursing a small hangover and desperately reached for the water on my nightstand. I chugged the entire bottle, and when I felt like my head wasn’t going to cave in, I started getting ready for work. On the way, I stopped at the coffee shop to grab two lattes. A hot one for now, and an iced one for when I would imminently need it in a few hours.
Two bottles of wine had been a bad choice, but staying up late into the night talking to Juliet hadn’t been. I needed the girl talk, even though it was now having its repercussions. I felt better about the situation with Chandler, determined to forget about him and focus on my job.
I was also ready to talk to my father. It had been a long time coming, and I knew he had been carefully avoiding getting into it. But enough time had passed. I was glad to see him in the office this morning and there was no sign of Chandler to come interrupt like he was so fond of doing.
We sat down in my office.
“What is this about, Gabriella?” he asked, looking around the room as if completely oblivious to what I would want to speak with him about. My anger rose in me, and while I had every intention of remaining calm and being the sophisticated woman I wanted to be, I simply couldn’t. The words came out of me before I could stop them.
“Why did you put thatmanin charge?” I demanded.
He sighed, as if knowing this was exactly where the conversation had been heading. He pinched the bridge of his nose in silent frustration.
“You have to give me an answer,” I said. “I deserve that much.”
“Can’t you see it’s for the good of the company?” he pleaded.
“No, I can’t see that.I’mgood for this company.”
He shook his head slightly, looking past my shoulder and out the window thoughtfully. I wished I could shake him, make him see that I was right here. He didn’t need anyone else. Why was he so adamant about letting Chandler take something so rightfully mine?
“I wish you would just give him a chance…” he murmured. His brow furrowed slightly and it was in that moment I could see just how old my father was getting. The wrinkles that crinkledaround his eyes and the impressions that remained in his forehead when he was troubled. A part of me hated that we were arguing.
I shook my head slightly, anger and sadness pitting in my stomach. He wasn’t answering my questions, and I was starting to wonder if I would ever get an explanation. I wondered if I could go on working here without one. If my father and I were ever going to heal, I would have to move on, but I didn’t think I could.
“It’s for the best for all of us,” he said, his eyes meeting mine firmly.
Chapter 14
Chandler
I watched as Gabriella stormed out of her office, leaving her father sitting with his back turned toward the open doorway. I didn’t know he would be here today, or that there would be an impromptu meeting between the two. Otherwise, I would have thwarted it. I clenched my jaw, thinking about what the hell they could have talked about. Clearly, it hadn’t gone well, or Gabriella wouldn’t have that pissed-off look on her face. I smiled smugly to myself. Whatever she had been up to clearly hadn’t worked.
Poor, little rich girl didn’t get what she wanted from daddy.
She must not have noticed me or I was sure she would have shot actual daggers from her eyes. She headed for the elevator and disappeared behind the silver doors. I checked my watch. It was barely 9:30.
