Page 12

Chapter Five
Emma
Islide my purse down my arm, dropping it at the front entryway, and immediately go in my bedroom so I can take off this ridiculously huge shirt. Why in the world did I think that’d be a good idea? The whole plan is shot.
I have to admit, though, it was admirable how skillfully he handled the situation. There’s no easy way to tell an employee to stop throwing herself at you.
I did my part suggesting he buy Montague Media, and that’s all I can really do. Even after what he told me about what Dad did. Stealing from his company? In debt to the mafia? It sounds crazy.
And yet, it makes sense when I think about it. Dad mentioned having to sell his old condo months ago. To pay off debts? And he’s been ridiculously pushy about getting me to convince Connor to renew the buyout. He even texted me twice today for updates. Henevertexts. This is probably the most contact I’ve had with him… ever.
How could he put me in this position? He set me up to fail. Of course Connor wouldn’t want to do business with someone like him.
“Emma,” a voice yells from the living room. “Are you home yet?”
Oh, God. It’s Dad. He needs to stop letting himself in like this, even if it technically is his house.
I throw on a fresh shirt and head out to meet him, making sure Mom’s bedroom door is closed first. She doesn’t need to witness this.
“Did he agree to buy it?” he asks as soon as he sees me, not bothering to say hello.
I take a seat on the couch, getting as comfortable as I can on the lumpy cushions before crossing my arms over my chest. “No.”
He sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose dramatically. “You had one job. I’m on a time crunch here.”
“Because of the mafia?”
He whips toward me, panic flaring in his eyes briefly. “Where did you hear that?”
“Connor.”
He snaps his fingers at me. “Explain.”
I keep my scoff to myself, hating when he treats me like I’m a dog to do his tricks on his command. “Harold Bishop put a P.I. on you and found out you were stealing from Montague Media and owed money to some mafia. That you tried to use his name to protect yourself and that’s why you wanted Serena to marry his son.” How could he do that to his own daughter?
His teeth grind, but he stays quiet, digesting my words.
“Dad, this is serious. You need help.”
He holds a hand up to stop me, his arm shaking. “I’ve got it under control. I just need you to get Connor to buy the company. Once the sale goes through, I can pay off my debts and everything goes back to normal.”
“Normal? There’s nothing normal about any of this. How did you get involved in this? Why are you in debt?” And how much is it that he needs to sell his company? It’s worth millions.
His face reddens as he sputters out, “I won’t stand here and be judged by you of all people.”
I shrink into the cushions. What’s that supposed to mean?
“You owe me your life. Without me, you wouldn’t be here.” His voice raises in volume, to the point where I’m sure Mom can hear him in the back room, but I know she won’t be coming out to defend me. “So don’t start some holier than thou speech with me. Everything you have in this house is because of me.”
He picks up a ceramic owl we’ve had on the side table for years. “Paid for withmymoney. And if you don’t want to help me, I’ll just take it back.” He drops it, the knick-knack shattering as it hits the floor, and I flinch, tucking my legs underneath me on the couch. What the hell is he doing?
“These books?” He grabs a paperback from the bookshelf, some Nora Roberts that’s probably a decade old. “I paid for them.” He rips the cover off, flinging it across the room.
“Dad, what are you doing?” I yell. “Stop being crazy.”
“You don’t want to see how crazy I can get.” He turns around, seeming to search for something, and suddenly strides toward the kitchen.
My gaze shoots to where he’s headed, and I scramble off the couch, realizing he has his sights set on my laptop. “No, I need that.” The thing is six years old and on its last legs, given as a high school graduation present after I’d begged him, but it still works. It’s our only computer and there’s no money to buy another.