Nothing matters except career. Success as he defines it.
I take the elevator to the top floor and knock on his suite door.
A woman answers the door. I think she’s his assistant, but she could be his girlfriend for all I know. "Mr. Hayes is in a meeting."
"I need to speak with my father. Now."
"Sir, he's with clients."
"I don't care." I push past her into the suite.
My father is at the dining table with three men in suits. Breakfast is spread out in front of them. Papers everywhere.
He looks up, his expression going from surprise to anger in seconds.
"Declan. What are you doing here?"
"We need to talk. Now."
"I'm in the middle of a meeting."
"I don't care." I look at the three men. "Excuse us, gentlemen. This won't take long."
One of them starts to stand.
"Stay," my father says. His glare turns to me. "Whatever you need to say can wait."
"It can't." I'm aware we have an audience, but I don't care. "You went to see Sutton yesterday."
His jaw tightens. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yes, you do. You showed up at my house and offered her money to leave me.”
"Declan, this is not the time."
"Don't deny it. She told me everything." I step closer to the table.
The three men exchange glances. This is clearly not what they expected from a business breakfast.
"Perhaps we should reschedule," one of them says.
"Stay," my father says a second time. "We'll discuss this later. In private."
"We'll discuss it now, in front of your clients. Let them see what kind of man you really are."
"Declan, don't do this."
"Do what? Tell the truth? That you tried to bribe my girlfriend into leaving me because she doesn't fit your image of what my life should look like?"
"She's not right for you!" He stands up, his voice rising. "She's a distraction! She's holding you back from your potential!"
"She's the woman I love!"
"Love?" He laughs bitterly. "Love doesn't build a career, Declan. You’re twenty-two; trust me, you’re going to fall inloveat least ten times. You don’t stop at the first one.”
“Newsflash, most people do. Love makes you a better man. It makes you better in general. You’ve never understood that.”
"You have a gift, a talent that most people would kill for. And you're throwing it away for what? A girl who works at a restaurant?"
