“If Ms. Priest wants you to go, gentlemen, then go.Now.”
Both my father and Chadwick turn around to face him.
“I don’t know who you are, but if you’re another one of my daughter’smen, then I suggest you leave immediately. This is a family matter, and you are not involved,” my father says to Hal, who stands in the middle of the sidewalk with his arms crossed over his barrel-shaped chest.
“If by men, you mean one of Ms. Priest’s security guards, then that’s correct. I’m one of her men. And unfortunately for you, you’re on private property, sir. If she wants you gone, you’re gone.” From the tone of Hal’s voice, it’s clear that he means business if they resist. “I’m more than happy to remove you myself, or we can call the police. I’m sure they’ll be interested to hear of your visit.”
Shit.A scuffle right in front of Curated is the last thing I want to happen. Plenty of paps cruise by the building on the regular, hoping to get a shot of me or my celebrity clients coming or going. If they catch a fight going down, that publicity isnotgoing to be ideal.
“I’m coming down,” I say into my phone before rising from the kitchen table.
A few minutes later, I unlock the dead bolts on the front door and stand face-to-face with my father and Chadwick.
Chadwick lunges toward me. “What the hell did you tell them? That I was harassing you? Because that’s bullshit, and you know it.”
“Calm yourself, Chadwick,” my father says, in a tone I’ve always considered patronizing as hell, before meeting my gaze. “Scarlett, if you’re upset about how your relationship ended, then you should’ve stayed in counseling. Telling the police you think Chadwick is bothering you is not how we handle things in this family.”
I blink at both of them for at least thirty seconds because I’m utterly stunned. “Excuse me? You think I’m upset about how our relationship ended, and that’s why I went to the police? Did you just come from a five-martini lunch?”
“I’m not drunk,” Chadwick snaps with his lip curled. “And I do not appreciate being treated like a criminal. The police can save that for your trashy new fuck boy. I’m sure he’s used to it.”
It never hit me until this very moment that Chadwick looks a bit like an irritated opossum when he’s angry.
From behind them both, Hal speaks up again. “Mr. Legend is on his way. You should clear out, gentlemen.”
Based on his emphasis ongentlemen, it’s clear Hal thinks they’re nothing of the sort. I feel the same way about them confronting me like this without any concern for the threat I reported to the police.
Chadwick whips around to glare daggers at Hal. “Fuck him, and fuck you.”
My father comes closer to me, and I step back out of instinct.
His eyes narrow. “What in the world is going on with you? Is this his influence? You’re looking at me like I’m a stranger and not your father.”
I choke on the audacity of his words and let out a cough-laugh. “Are you serious right now? You ...youmay be my sperm donor, but you’ve never been a real father. God, why didn’t I see it before? You don’t give a damn about me if it doesn’t directly impact your life or your bank account. If you were really a father, you would’ve been at the hospital when I was having surgery—”
“I was busy,” he says with a sharp tilt of his head. “And it was just your appendix. Stop trying to make a big deal out of something so inconsequential.”
I blink at him again. “Do you even hear yourself right now? What is wrong with you? You haven’t even asked me what I reported to the police, or why I feel like I’m unsafe enough that I had to reportanythingto the police. Have you ever cared about me, Dad? Or does that only happen when it’s convenient for you or to your benefit?”
“Are we going to play twenty questions then, Scarlett?” Chadwick says, interrupting. “Or maybe you should just tell us and stop acting like a spoiled brat with a secret. Did someone hurt your poor feelings?”
His mocking tone makes me want to slam the door in their faces and never open it again.Acting like a child? Oh, I could show them immature.
“Go fuck yourself, Chadwick. If you’re the troll who has been harassing me and stalking me, then I hope they catch you red-handed so it’s easier for me to press charges. Because I won’t let you try to crush me with your threats.”
From Chadwick’s wide-eyed expression, it’s clear I’ve shocked him. “That’s why the police questioned me? Because someone’s threatening you, and you think it’s me?”
I lift my chin another inch. “I dumped you, and you didn’t take it well. That’s what the police call motive.”
“This is ridiculous,” my father says. “Chadwick doesn’t have time to threaten you. He’s busy working, Scarlett. I can’t believe you’d waste our time with some petty little matter.”
My lower lip trembles.Petty little matter. My father thinks my safety is a petty little matter.
I look over his shoulder to Hal, who has one hand tucked underneath his suit jacket. I’d be willing to bet that his fingers are resting on the grip of a gun.
But I don’t have time to say anything because the roar of an engine fills the air, just before Gabriel’s Bronco charges down the street and screeches to a halt in front of my building.
When he jumps out, he’s shirtless, shiny with sweat, andrunningtoward us.