Page 10 of Bad for Business (Pembroke Hills #2)

TEN

CAMILLE

I let out a long sigh as I stare down at my vibrating phone. It’s my dad. After traveling this morning and dealing with Ryker for the rest of the day, he’s the last person I want to talk to, but I swipe to answer anyway.

“Hello,” I say, sitting back in bed. It’s ten in the evening, but work never stops for Dad, so I’m not shocked by the late-night call.

“Camille,” he begins, no hint of warmth in his voice. He addresses me the same way he addresses his clients or employees. I guess, technically, I am one of his employees. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t sting a little. “How did the first day go?” he asks.

I press my lips into a line as I think about his question.

He doesn’t need to know that the first day here didn’t go as planned.

I should’ve known Ryker wouldn’t be as thrilled to plan with me, but it all worked out in the end.

Even though I had to track him down at the club, I’m feeling good about our next steps.

“The first day went well,” I answer. It’s not really a lie. It definitely could’ve gone worse. Ryker didn’t completely embarrass himself or spill any secrets again, so a win is a win.

“I think this entire thing will be a lost cause,” he mutters. He throws it out so casually it takes me by surprise.

“What?” I ask, sitting up straighter.

“This boy is immature. No one will ever take him seriously. Just do your best this summer at keeping him from being a total shitshow, and we’ll cash in on what they’re paying us.”

My jaw hangs open as I try to process his words. I’ve suspected that he might not have a ton of faith in Ryker, but this is more than that. He thinks Ryker is a lost cause but still wants the payout.

“I think he’s fully capable of impressing his board. It’ll take time, but I know we can do?—”

“It’s me you’re talking to, Camille. You don’t have to bullshit. Not even his own father believes in his capability to take over the company. You’re setting yourself up for failure if you believe anything different.”

My mouth snaps shut at his words. I’ve never heard my dad talk like this.

We’ve taken on clients with far bigger scandals than Ryker.

We’ve found a way to get them out of trouble, to turn their career around.

We’ve made people with reputations that were splattered with mud squeaky-clean.

I don’t understand why he doesn’t have any faith in Ryker.

I’m quiet as I try to think of what to even say to my dad. From the meeting with Ryker and his father, his dad seemed like he did believe in his son. Yes, you could tell he was frustrated and at his wit’s end with Ryker, but it hadn’t seemed like he’d given up on him.

“Camille,” he barks when I don’t answer him.

Never did I think I’d want to defend Ryker Davenport to my own father, but right now, I feel the urge to. I saw the defeated look in Ryker’s eyes when he explained why things had gotten worse recently. He lost his mom, and I can’t help but feel bad for him because of that.

“I’ll do my best,” I tell him, not knowing what else to say.

Ryker is annoying as hell, and he doesn’t exactly have the best personal track record with me either, but I think he’s a good guy.

He’s been through a lot and has made some bad decisions.

That doesn’t mean he should be counted out on inheriting his family’s company and running it.

“We’ll talk again soon.” Dad hangs up the phone without saying anything else.

I don’t know how long I stare at the black screen of my phone.

It could be one minute, it could be ten.

The longer I let my mind analyze the phone call I just had with him, the more I realize he might not intend to make me partner at the firm. At least not yet.

He gave me what he thinks is an impossible task. Pride had bloomed in my chest when he told me he’d make me a partner at the firm if I could turn the Davenport Media board in Ryker’s favor. For the first time, I felt like my dad believed in me…that I was worth something.

It turns out he only said yes because he wanted the easy payout. We get paid whether or not Ryker gets accepted at the end of the summer.

I close my eyes and let my entire body become eerily still. I remember all the techniques I’ve learned to calm my body. I focus on using my diaphragm, pulling air in through my nose. I hold it in for a moment, letting the air expand my lungs before letting the breath out slowly through my mouth.

I repeat the steps a few times, trying my best to stay calm as it feels like the walls begin to close around me.

I had hope.

Hope that my father believed in me.

That for the first time in my life, I might actually impress him.

I was so close to proving myself to him. At least, I thought I was.

I allow myself a moment to let the realization set in.

I continue to take deep breaths in and out as I come to terms with the fact that my dad doesn’t think I can do this.

He doesn’t want me to be a partner. If I became one, he’d have to treat me as an equal, and I’m realizing that isn’t something he ever intends to do.

If he doesn’t believe Ryker can get the board’s approval, he’s about to find out how wrong he is.

Ryker will get the approval of the Davenport Media board if it’s the last thing I do. I’m going to become a partner at the firm, and there’s nothing my dad will be able to do to stop it.

I’m going to prove myself to him.

I slide off my bed and grab my laptop and binder of plans from the top of the dresser. I felt fairly confident after the dinner meeting with Ryker, but there’s still more work that can be done.

The moon is high in the sky by the time I finally call it a night and let myself crawl into bed to try and get some sleep.

Tomorrow, the real work begins on getting Ryker that board approval that we both desperately need him to get. I’ve got a plan, and I feel good about what we can accomplish this summer.

My only issue is that so much of this depends on Ryker Davenport. He’s the one man I can’t stand, but he’s also the only person standing in the way of proving to my dad once and for all that I’m worthy of being his equal.