The morning drags on, and by the time it’s 10:55, I’m bored out of my skull, and happy that I’ll at least have a meeting to distract me.
Gathering my notes, I make my way to the executive conference room, and I can feel everyone’s eyes tracking my movement.
There she goes.
The owner’s daughter.
The nepo baby.
She doesn’t deserve to be here.
She didn’t earn it.
One day, I just want to walk into a room where no one has any preconceptions of me. Is that so much to ask?
Their taunts don’t matter, though. What matters is I’m getting Tiff and Ella out of their shitty situation with my ex-fiancé’s family. It’s not my fault, but somehow I feel responsible. More responsible than Jamie, I might add.
The college credit helps too. It’s a job outside of Zach and his world, and could be something for me, if I learn to enjoy it.
My father, who’s already seated at the head of the table when I arrive, grins. “Gentlemen, I’m sure you all remember my daughter, Hunniford. She’s shadowing this meeting as part of her internship program.
I offer a small wave and a polite smile as I sit on the chair furthest away from my father. I get a few polite nods, but that’s it. Then I take out my notebook and write the date, desperately trying to look less awkward than I feel. I’ve known most of these men since I was in diapers. They’ve been at charity galas, country club dinners, and family events. I’ve always felt comfortable because how to act was bred into me. Here, I feel foreign and as though I don’t belong.
Probably because we all know I don’t.
“Nice to see you again, Hunniford. It’s been a long time.”
His voice makes me whip my head up.
Mr. Nicks—Jamie’s father, sitting next to mine. Both of these men treated me like a commodity, and snarled when they saw me posing for pictures with Zach and his family at graduation. I think it was then they realized their grand inheritance plan was out the window.
Our eyes meet across the table, and his mouth curves into a cold smile.
“Nice to see you too, Mr. Nicks,” I say, shifting in my seat, hoping I’m not showing how uncomfortable I am with this whole thing. Everyone in the room knows why there would be animosity between us, and that just makes it even worse.
My father’s jaw ticks. “Jonathan,” he says coolly with warning clear in his voice. “Let’s focus on why we’re here instead of my daughter’s presence.”
Jonathan shakes his head. “Oh, but this is so much more interesting.” He leans back in his chair, taking in everyone’s expressions around us. “Can you believe she actually had the gallto show up after dumping my son for some mediocre football player?” he asks to no one in particular.
My mouth parts as I try to think of something appropriate to say in this setting, but with everyone staring at me, I lose my confidence.
How is it that everywhere I go, I end up being the main attraction?
Jonathan’s expression shifts when I don’t answer, and something darker flickers behind his eyes.
“Did the quarterback finally realize he didn’t need a girlfriend to tie him down? Is that why you’re here, picking up the scraps that my son turned down when he left the company?”
“Left the company?” I whisper in confusion. My father didn’t mention anything about him leaving.
“You didn’t tell her?” Jonathan looks at my father with surprise, then barks out a laugh. “Of course you didn’t. That’s why she’s here, isn’t it? You made her believe that youchoseher, not that you were forced to get her on board to try to save our crumbling dynasty.”
I knew it. My father told me he wanted me to help him get Jamie and his father out, but I didn’t realize Jamie wasn’t even here to compete for his spot.
“Jonathan—” my father warns. “—Not the time or place.”
Jonathan ignores him and keeps staring at me. “You know what? Now that she’s here, maybe we need to look into the legalities of your daughter fucking up my son’s priorities. Not marrying him is the sole reason we’re in this mess in the first place. I do wonder how long it will be until she disappoints you again. She’s not made for this.”
Something inside me cracks, but I don’t let them see.