“Dad?”
What the hell is he doing here?
I huff out a breath and close my eyes, composing myself.
“Um, sorry, Chris. I need to go to him, and don’t worry, it’s not your death he’s planning. It’s mine.”
Chris waves me off, unbothered, as I gather the remnants of my lunch and toss them in the trash. My father watches my every slow and deliberate step as I approach, his jaw ticking ever so slightly.
He must’ve flown on the private jet, which makes this even worse.
Shit, maybe I should’ve answered the phone.
“Dad?” I say when I reach him, keeping my voice neutral.
He doesn’t smile or move. He just takes me in. The daughter he hasn’t seen in two months. “Hunniford, good to see you again.” He adjusts his cufflinks. “Is that your new boyfriend? I knew you’d get bored with the football one eventually. This one looks less of a liability. Still not a Nicks, though.”
I swallow down my anger. I’ve never really yelled at my father, but at times like this, I really wish I had the guts to.
“No. He’s in my class, and unlike Jamie, I can actually speak to someone of the opposite sex without dating them.”
I keep it polite. Barely. If I let myself speak freely, I’d remind him that Jamie, his golden boy, had slept with half ofNew England by the time we were seniors. He couldn’t even remember the girl he got pregnant, but that shouldn’t be a problem for me. My happiness has never been his concern. Only the family optics.
“Mm-hmm. Good to see you’re still harboring some resentment,” he replies just as dryly.
“Yes,” I say, calm and clipped. “Obviously.”
“Good. Then it might mean you’ll be interested in my offer?”
My brows lift. “What offer?”
He doesn’t waste time. He never does.
“In short? Since you refuse to marry Jamie, I want him out and I wantyouto replace him.”
A dry laugh slips out. This man hasn’t wanted me anywhere near the firm unless there was a Nicks-sized ring on my finger.
He says nothing else. Just stands there, taking me in.
“Are you serious?”
His expression doesn’t flinch. “Completely.”
“Why on earth would I evenconsiderthat?”
He’s out of his mind if he thinks I’d be interested in becoming a pawn in his game.
“Because it will set you up. The paycheck alone means you wouldn’t have to rely on me, or your soon-to-be concussed boyfriend, but I’ll sweeten the deal. The firm will also cover your housing, tuition, and living expenses.”
I cross my arms, narrowing my eyes at him. “You are the firm, which still makes me dependent on you.”
He tilts his head. “I’d make you a partner then. That way, your payment has nothing to do with me.”
“A partner? I’m eighteen.”
“I was your age when I joined the firm. You’ll start as a junior partner, but we’ll fast-track you.”
I shake my head and look at him incredulously.