“We’re nothing alike.”
“Of course not. You couldn’t handle someone like her. She needs a firm hand to show her the way. You don’t have it in you. That’s the difference between you and me. I am always in control. Women want a man with authority.”
“You’re not in control of anything!” I snarled. “Half of your sister wives cut and run, and your sons hate you.”
“Sons are worthless,” my father said with a shrug. “I should have drowned all of you.”
I sucked in a breath. I had a terrible feeling that I had miscalculated, and I was making everything much, much worse.
“We’re done,” I said.
“I’m not,” my father called out after me.
I clenched my jaw. It was starting to rain as I sped down the road.
I need to talk to Garrett.
50
Sadie
Parker didn’t come back the rest of the day, which was unfortunate, because that meant I had to contend with Kaitlyn. She was waiting in the office when I walked in and set Parker’s computer bag on his desk.
“Where is he?” she snapped.
“He had another meeting. Can I help you?”
Kaitlyn glared at me. “You’re trying to steal him from me,” she hissed. “Do you honestly think he wants someone like you?”
“He wanted me well enough thirty minutes ago.”
Kaitlyn’s face screwed up. “You two are having a workplace affair.”
“Yep, and it’s a lot of fun,” I said, going back to my office.
“Of course it is. You’re the fun little thing that Parker’s using to sow his oats.”
“No oats are being sown,” I said. “I have specialty large condoms called Frankenstein. He needs them, you know. Or wait, I guess you don’t.”
Kaitlyn huffed out of the office. I shouldn’t have been so petty. I also probably shouldn’t have spread Parker’s business around, but who did she think she was? Also, she had thrown my own insecurities back in my face. Maybe my father’s treating me poorly and stealing my money and identity had screwed me up psychologically.
Sadie:Am I having an affair with Parker?
Erika:Yes. Isn’t that the point? What are you guys doing? I thought you were having sex. Are you just watching Minecraft videos?
Sadie:No, I just want to be clear that he and I are not in a relationship.
Jasmine:Ooo, you’re getting attached.
Sadie:Parker’s going to get tired of me and then he’s going to ghost me and then Kaitlyn is going to zoom in and have a big wedding and babies.
Jasmine:Dear Lord, you really fell for this guy hard.
Erika:Back away, Sadie, back away! He’s a man with a tragic backstory. It’s like catnip. You won’t be able to change him though. You can’t help people that don’t want to be helped.
Jasmine:Make up an excuse and leave work early. Shoot tell him you need to come over to my house and plan the gala. We’ll drink wine.
Sadie:He’s not even here. We had an afternoon hookup, then he just dropped me off in front of the office, said he had somewhere to be.
