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“Respect?” He laughs, bitter and sharp. “You think I don't know how men like you operate? You see something you want, and you take it. Companies, technologies, people's daughters?—”
“Stop.” My voice drops to dangerous territory. “You want to hate me? Fine. You want to blame me for your failures? Go ahead. But don't you dare diminish what Layla means to me by reducing it to some kind of... conquest.”
“What she means to you?” Robert's voice breaks. “She's a transaction to you. Another asset to acquire.”
“She's everything,” I say before I can stop myself. The admission hangs, raw.
Robert stares at me, mouth open. “You... you actually care about her.”
“Did you think this was a game? That I'd risk everything—my reputation, this acquisition, her career—for something casual?”
“I don't know what to think.” He slumps in his chair, suddenly looking every one of his fifty-six years. “Six weeks ago, she was my little girl trying to save my company. Now she's... I don't even recognize who she's become.”
“She's become the woman you forced her to be.” I straighten. “You hid the finances. You refused help. You put her in an impossible position, and she's handled it with more grace than you deserve.”
“I was trying to fix it?—”
“No. You were trying to maintain your ego. And when that failed, you turned on the one person stillfighting for you.” I move toward the door, then pause. “She idolizes you, you know. Even now. Even after what you just did. She'll probably forgive you because that's who she is.”
“I don't deserve her forgiveness.”
“No,” I agree. “You don't. But she'll give it anyway because she loves you more than you love yourself. The question is whether you'll be man enough to earn it.”
“How?” His voice is small, broken. “How do I fix this?”
“Start by remembering that she's not your little girl anymore. She's a grown woman making hard choices in impossible situations. Respect that. Respect her.” I grip the door handle. “And if you ever speak to her like that again—in public or private—acquisition or no acquisition, I will end you. Are we clear?”
He nods, not meeting my eyes.
“One more thing,” I add. “What Layla and I have... it's real. It's complicated and probably ill-advised, but it's real. I'm not using her. I'm not playing games. I'm falling for your daughter, and there's nothing either of us can do about it. So you can either accept that or lose her completely. Your choice.”
I leave him there with that truth, hoping it's enough to salvage something from this disaster.
In the hallway, I stop and press my palms against the wall, forcing myself to breathe. My fists are very eager for me to go back and make him pay for those words. Instead, I count to ten, straighten my tie, and head to Layla's office.
Through the glass walls, I can see Audrey sitting on the edge of the desk, rubbing Layla's back while she sits hunched in her chair, shoulders shaking.
Audrey looks up as I approach, our eyes meetingthrough the glass. She murmurs something to Layla, who straightens and quickly wipes at her face.
I knock softly before entering.
“I'll leave you two alone,” Audrey says immediately, squeezing Layla's shoulder. She pauses beside me at the door, her voice dropping low. “She's trying to be strong, but what he said... just be careful with her, OK?”
“Always,” I promise.
Audrey searches my face for a moment, then nods and slips out, closing the door behind her.
“Hey,” I say softly.
Layla attempts a smile that breaks my heart. “I'm fine. Just... processing the fact that my father thinks I'm prostituting myself for job security.”
“He's scared and lashing out.”
“That doesn't make it hurt less.” She takes a shaky breath. “I should be used to disappointing him by now.”
All I want is to pull her into my arms, but the glass walls of her office make that impossible. “You haven't disappointed anyone.”
“Haven't I?” She laughs, bitter. “I mean, technically he's not wrong. I am sleeping with you.”