Books and botanical art prints surround a stone fireplace in the middle back wall, and despite loathing the reason I’m here, I’m in complete awe.
It’s magnificent.
I spot him the moment we round the corner, his full beard coming into view. Dark eyes train in on the man beside him in a sweltering black tux, Nathanial in a charcoal gray one, ironed to excellence.
Overachiever.
The arch in his brow appears permanent, confirmed as his head shifts in our direction, taking in the sight of hislong-lost daughter approaching. This is where I decide how to go about our first encounter.
Although my stomach is sour and my breakfast threatens to upend, I will not cower to him. I will not let him win, despite needing something from him at the end of all this.
The only thing I can hold onto is my dignity, and I intend to grip it like the deadliest of weapons.
He looks uncomfortable, and that makes me dangerously happy.
I know what I need to do.
“Daddy!” I shout from a few feet away, running to his side and suffocating him in a tight embrace. The first thing I notice is that he immediately tenses. The second, he smells like cigarettes.
I bet he’s a stress smoker. Makes sense, seeing as how he lost the two best things in his life by choice.Bastard.
“Cove…” he draws out, wiping the nonexistent lint off his suit jacket as I pull away. “Lovely to see you.”
“It’s only been twenty-one years, but who’s counting? Certainly not you.” I wave him off and hug Bryan goodbye before taking my seat across from him. “And who is this?” I ask the sunburnt man in the black suit. He looks terrified to be alive, but also like he forgot the SPF at home and can hardly sit without squirming in pain.
“Lionel, this is Cove. My daughter.” That took longer than necessary to bite out. “Cove. This is my assistant, Lionel. He handles all my business matters and then some.”
“Lucky you, Lionel. Getting to spend time with Daddy.” I send Nathaniel a fake grin, hoping he sees I came here to fucking win.
“Nice to meet you, Ms. McIntosh,” Lionel adds.
“Oh, it’s Davenport,” I say at the same time Nathaniel says, “She’s not a McIntosh.”
“I’ve always been independent.” I smile.
Bryan dismisses himself, promising to be in the car waiting to deliver me to my hotel nearby for the night. That’s news to me. I assumed I’d be staying with sperm donor, but it seems even that’s too close of contact for him. Fine by me. I could use a night to myself before six long days, along with being in close quarters with each other.
What could possibly go wrong?
“Like father, like daughter, I suppose,” Lionel notes. “Shall we continue with the meeting, sir? I will be taking thorough notes.”
“Meeting?” I choke, uncontrollable laughter surfacing.
“Business meeting,” Nathaniel says before pulling out his phone and texting something quickly. “That’s Misty. She’s expecting me for dinner. Let’s get this moving so we’re prepared for tomorrow. You are still up for this, aren’t you, Cove? Need I remind you, this transaction is riding on your persuasion and performance.”
Nothing about this feels real. Sitting at a restaurant, eating off of plates that cost more than my salary, in Texas, with my estranged father, plotting out a business deal.
I think back to the text Mom sent me earlier, her love for me outshining any pain this man has ever made me feel.
Mom:
Have the best time, sweet girl. Fall into fits of endless laughter, meet a charming man, eat good food, and come back home safe and refreshed. I love you beyond the stars and the moon.
She is myreason.
“I told you I was in, didn’t I? Unlike you, I mean what I say. I’m loyal. Now, give me the lowdown.”
“Excellent,” he sneers, not at all bothered by my comment. Perfect. That will make this easier then. “Let’s run through the fine print before they arrive. Afterwards, we will introduce you to Austin. Don’t disappoint me.”
