Page 179 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 5

“I can’t guarantee your safety at school. Just look at what happened today.”

“I belong at Empire High just as much as Isabella does. If she gets to keep going, so do I. Or maybe you should lock her up in an apartment and homeschool her because she’s the one causing problems. Not me.”

He took a deep breath and leaned back in the booth. “As you may have seen…I’ve been having a hard time controlling Isabella’s actions. Finding loopholes to the rules has always been one of her favorite activities. And it’s been worse since she’s found out about you. I can’t control her.”

“But you can control me?”

“I need to keep you safe. I can’t let anything happen to you too.”

I swallowed hard. “Counter proposal. I stay with Matt. And I keep going to Empire High.”

“That’s not a solution. Isabella will…” his voice trailed off. He pressed his fingers to his forehead like he was fighting offa headache. “I don’t know what she’ll do. That’s the whole problem.”

He looked defeated. And I realized that maybe my dad’s promises were futile. Because he’d admitted he couldn’t control Isabella. I wondered if maybe a part of him was as scared of her as I was.

“One thing you should know about me,” I said. “I learned a very important lesson when my mom got sick. Time is limited. And I made a promise to myself to live each and every moment to its fullest. I won’t stay locked up in an apartment. I won’t stay home from school. There’s nothing worse than not living each moment you have.” Isabella wasn’t going to control my life. There wasn’t a chance in hell that I’d let her. That’s why I’d stayed here. To prove that she couldn’t break me. That I belonged here just as much as she did.

“And I’m sorry that Mr. Caldwell doesn’t like you,” I added. “But I think he’s warming up to me. So I’ll ask him and Mrs. Caldwell myself if I can stay for a year. I’ll figure out what they want for room and board and I’ll make sure I work to give it to them. And I’m going to keep going to Empire High because it’s where my uncle wanted me to go. I’m not going to let Isabella steal a year of my life from me. Because that’s exactly what she wants.”

Each word that fell out of my mouth made me feel more determined. I nodded, like I was giving myself a pep talk. I was staying in New York. I was done hiding. Someone needed to knock Isabella off her high horse.

My dad raised his eyebrow. “I guess there’s no changing your mind?”

I tried to sit up a little straighter.Nunca.“No.”

“Don’t worry about the Caldwells then,” my dad said. “I’ll talk to them myself. Besides, Matthew’s made it very clear that we’re all to be family soon enough. Let me see the ring.” He put his hand out.

I placed my hand into his.

“It suits you,” he said. “Are you sure this is what you want?”

I nodded.

“Very well. I’ll have some more paperwork for both of you to fill out.” He dropped my hand and took a sip of his coffee.

“Speaking of paperwork. Can I have copies of all the documents I’ve signed?” It was like a fire had been lit under my butt. Remembering the promises I’d made to myself after my mom’s death reminded me to stop being stagnant.

“Of course.”

Wait, really? That was easy.

“I’ll make sure Miller gives you copies by tonight. I’m glad that you’re being thorough. I was a little worried you signed the relationship agreement a tad too quickly.”

I didn’t want him to know that I hadn’t really read either of them. I cleared my throat. “Speaking of Miller. He mentioned that he was leaving. But he’s still here.” I hoped that was vague enough.

“Much like you, Miller signed documents when he started working for me. All of my employees are family. It’s a mutual understanding. You don’t quit on family.”

The way he said it made a chill run down my spine. But Miller was an employee, not family. Surely he could quit. That didn’t make any sense. But I was worried questioning it any further would just put suspicion on Miller. I’d have to talk to Miller about it later. Besides, I had a few more questions while I was feeling brave enough to ask.

“Isabella mentioned that the Hunters owed you a debt. And that James has to marry her to pay it off. Is that true?”

My dad laughed. “I didn’t realize you’d have so many questions for me this afternoon.” He smiled. “As for Isabella…she has a very active imagination.”

That isn’t exactly a no.

“Oh look,” he said. “Our food is here.”

I looked up as the waitress dropped off a few turkey sandwiches with all the fixings and…chocolate milkshakes. Just like my mom and I used to order.