Page 65 of Pandora's Pleasure

“Thank you, Captain Obvious.”

“You don’t want to set off the fire alarms.”

“Fuck it.”

I stormed off to find someone who was more agreeable, stopping in my tracks when I saw people walking out of my father’s office. Amongst them, strolling confidently in four inch high heels and a pencil skirt was Helen King. I didn’t need to see her face to recognize the fifty-something brunette who’d made my life hell.

Three weeks ago, her lawyers had called mine and made me an offer for the land where my affordable housing was going to be built.

Interesting timing.

Peeringthrough the open doorway into my father’s office, I saw him sitting behind his desk surrounded by staff, no doubt discussing the meeting he had just had with her.

“Godman, no!” Theo warned.

Heading on in, I said, “Dad, got a minute?”

He looked hassled. “Not a good time.”

I forced a polite smile. “Everyone out, please.” All it took was a wave of my hand and the men left the room.

The last man closed the door on his way out.

“Why do I feel like you’re avoiding me?” I didn’t care to sit.

“You know what it’s like being out on the trail. I’m here for a few days to regroup before heading out again.”

“Did you hear what happened?”

“Fairfield?” He leaned back in his chair and clasped his hands behind his head. “I know it meant a lot to you.”

Shouldn’t he be more pissed off? More reactive instead of sitting back and looking like I was wasting his time?

“Did you shut it down?” I stepped forward and leaned on his desk, knuckles white as my fingers curled.

“After this election we’ll explore the possibility of proceeding with your efforts again.”

“I’m not stepping away. Not after all this work.”

He pushed to his feet and rounded the desk. “We’ve worked too hard for too long to let a small detail like this trip us up.”

“People are depending on that housing.”

“You can’t fight every battle. We have to choose carefully—”

“What is more important than this? We’re talking about kids, here.”

“You need to take a couple of days off.”

I threw my hands up in frustration. “The work on the foundations has begun.”

“This is hard on you. I get that.”

I fought the old urge to let Dad convince me defeat was the only way.

“Sorry, son. Look, I have another meeting. You know how grueling my schedule is.”

I headed to the door, turning back to look at him before opening it. “Was it Helen King who shut me down? I just saw her leaving your office.”