“What he do now?”
“Forbade Zara from talking to Ares. He should be glad she’s got fucking good taste in men,” Dad says.
“You and Zara?” Uncle Marcel steps down to the second step and turns to glare at me.
“Me and Zara.” I nod.
“You can’t fuck with her, Ares. You’re either all in, or you’re not in at all. She’s family.”
“I’m not sure how many times I need to remind you thatI’myour family. Flesh and blood and everything.” I smirk. “Isn’t it me you should be sticking up for here?”
I’m joking. I don’t hate that Zara has people in her corner. I wish they all weren’t so fucking blind to her problems, though. Maybe if they weren’t, she would have got help a long time ago.
“I’m always on your team, Ares. I’ll have a word with Dom and see if I can get him to calm down a bit. It’s not easy for him to let go of his girls.”
“I get that. But friend or not, no one is going to look down on my son,” Dad says.
“It’s okay. Zara isn’t exactly following orders.” I chuckle. She isn’t a fan of following orders from anyone.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Sitting down at a formal dinner with my parents and their pretentious friends is the last thing I want to be doing. I’m here, though. The man my father is currently talking toacross the table is a business associate, and I know my role. Be nice, polite, and smile. It’s not hard, but it is boring. And tiring.
Mr and Mrs Atwood and their son Ewen have been to our house for dinner before. Although tonight is the first time I’m sitting right next to Ewen while my father is constantly trying to point out similarities between the two of us. It’s odd. I’ve even caught my mother giving my dad thewhat the fuck are you doinglook.
“You know, Ewen is starting at Melbourne University next year too. He’s also enrolling in business studies,” my dad says.
“Really? You must be so excited,” I say, doing my best to keep the sarcasm out of my voice. I don’t think it works too well, especially when Ewen’s lips tip up slightly.
“Thrilled,” he says.
“Before we know it, it will be you two holding business meetings, keeping our partnerships alive,” Mr Atwood says.
“Well, I won’t be as easy a negotiator as my father is, so you best study up and learn some skills, Ewen.” I grin, and everyone at the table laughs.
“Right, I’ll keep that in mind,” Ewen tells me.
I manage to fake politeness through the rest of the dinner. It’s right at the end, just before the Atwoods leave, that my dad looks at Ewen. “You should take Zara out. You two have a lot in common and come from the same world. It would be an ideal match.”
My jaw drops. He did not just try to set me up with this boy. If ever there was a time I wanted to disappear, it would be now. No, I don’t want to disappear. I want to run to Ares.
I glance over at my mum. Her lips are thinned out but still in a polite smile. I’m speechless. I don’t even know what to say. I’ve never been more humiliated, more disappointed in my dad. I get he doesn’t like Ares, but to go as far as to try to palm me off to someone he sees as suitable? That’s not okay.
“Ah, yeah, sure. I’ll call you.” Ewen gives me a look that says he will do anything but call me. And then he shocks me when he leans in to kiss my cheek. “It’s not you. It’s me. I’m just not into chicks,” he whispers, and I let out the breath I didn’t know I was holding.
My mum waves the Atwoods off and quickly shuts the door. She turns around and her entire demeanour shifts. Gone is the polite smile and in its place is a firm, very pissed-off glare.
“What the fuck is wrong with you, Dominic?” she hisses out.
“Little Bee, calm down.”
“Don’t youLittle Beeme right now. It’s not going to work. Our daughter isn’t a goddamn tool in your business dealings, and she certainly isn’t a piece of property for you to pimp out.” Mum’s voice rises, and as a maid walks around the corner, she turns right back around and disappears again.
“It’s okay,” I say. It’s not. I just don’t want my parents arguing over me.
“Don’t be dramatic. I didn’t pimp her out. I merely made a suggestion that she try dating a nice boy from a nice family.”
“I can’t believe you would do this to me,” I say, keeping my tone neutral. I will not cry right now. I’m not going to break down. I’ll hold that in for later.
