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I stand behind the chair meant for guests, not wanting to sit just yet. “That’s what I told Connor.” Hopefully he bought that I left him out of the loop.
“What are you doing in New York?”
I let out a sigh, already done with his mind games. “You know exactly why I’m here.”
He scoffs. “Are you still hung up on that girl?”
I clench my teeth. How can he not realize he’s in the wrong here? “You stranded her. Left her homeless with no means of communication.”
He shrugs, the action making me see red until I remember myself. My hands grip the back of the chair in an attempt to divert my anger elsewhere. “She’s not our responsibility anymore,” he says evenly. “You were right about Greg. The P.I. hit pay dirt on him.”
My curiosity gets the better of me. “What is it?”
“That whole department doesn’t exist. He created it and drew those salaries because the board wouldn’t approve a salary increase for him until the end of the year.”
“Why’d he need the money that bad?”
“Gambling debts. Owes a pretty penny to some Chinese mafia and he’s in over his head. That’s why he was so keen to sell the company. Why he wanted his daughter connected to our name. Thought it would protect him somehow. Well, I’m not getting caught in all that.”
“Serena’s not part of-”
“She’s complicit,” he interrupts. “We’re not associating with any Montagues. That’s done.”
“She’s my wife. It’s too late to pretend a connection doesn’t exist.”
He smiles smugly. “I’m sure she’s already told you there’s nothing legal about your marriage.”
“I made a commitment to her. I’m not leaving her.”
His gaze narrows. “You can stop with the bullshit sense of honor. You’re set to take over this company one day. There’s no room for saints in the boardroom.”
I shake my head. No, I don’t believe by any means I’m a saint. If anything, I’ve discovered I’m more selfish than I ever thought I was. Because now that I have Serena, I’m not giving her up. “You don’t trust me to take over this company. You wouldn’t have pulled this stunt if you did.”
His lips pinch together tightly. “This was a lesson. To show you how ridiculous you’re being.” He spreads his hands out in front of him, face relaxing. “Now, if you just apologize, I’ll let bygones be bygones.”
Apologize? Is he serious? “Dad, I’m waiting for an apology from you.”
The faux friendliness drops from his features. “Archer, if you don’t pull your head out of your ass, you’ll find yourself in the same position as Gabriel.”
Ah, there it is. It was only a matter of time before that threat popped up. “I’m not ending my relationship with Serena. And at this point, I’m not sure if I can continue working for you. You’ve proven I can’t trust you.”
He blinks, mouth gaping at me. He’s had a hold on me and my brothers for so long, it must be quite a revelation for him to discover we don’t need him as much as he believes. Gabriel had more to lose, but I’m prepared. I negotiate an above market rate salary every year that’s immediately deposited into a private account Dad can’t touch. I invest half of it annually, and it’s only grown from there. Serena and I are set for life if we live within our means. It’s just never been in my nature not to work.
When his silence continues, I tell him, “You don’t have the same leverage over me you did with Gabriel. I can support myself. In fact, I could go out right now and start a rival company if I wanted.”
He sputters for a moment. “You try that and I’ll be on the phone with my lawyers before you leave the building. You signed a non-compete agreement.”
I shake a finger at him mockingly. “No, the other chiefs did. You said what was the point when it would be mine one day.”
His hands clench the edge of his desk. “You can forget about inheriting anything if this is the way you treat family.”
“You brought this on yourself, Dad. The moment you turned off my phone. You knew how I felt about her and you did it anyway. There’s no reason you had to treat her like that. Or treat Gabriel that way either. I should have said something weeks ago.”
His nostrils flare, that vein in his forehead popping.
“You rule with an iron fist,” I continue, “and expect everyone to fall in line with your whims. I’m done with it.”
Eyes as cold as ice meet mine, disappointment and rage swirling in their depths. “Consider yourself disinherited then. That’s not an idle threat.”