Page 73 of Volatile King (The Kings of Wayward Academy #6)

T heo

The internship at my father’s office wasn’t usually stressful, but I’d been struggling at work today.

With everything going on between my mom and dad, Lip being my brother, Ren and Nash, Nash and Mya, Mya escaping, and Nash’s son somewhere out in the world in parts unknown… my brain didn’t want to shut off.

There was a knock at my door, and then Brent entered without waiting for me to reply.

Typical. I didn’t lift my head from the merger agreement spread across my desk.

Fifty pages of meticulous revision work, the partners would believe Brent did, once he handed it in.

Not that he’d recognize a claw-back clause from a clapback if it crawled up his ass and introduced itself.

“Busy,” he asked. I could feel his jealously despite his attempt at casualness.

I kept reading. “Always. But that’s generally the nature of competence.”

He didn’t laugh. His loafers scuffed on the polished floor as he stepped closer. I winced with annoyance as the scent of his overpriced cologne swirled around, trying to choke me out.

“You know that I consider us friends,” he said, but that was a bold-faced lie. I didn’t call him out, though, wanting to see where this was going.

“Of course,” I said.

“I just wanted to bring it to your attention that there’s been some quiet concern regarding…

liability issues. Having you handle sensitive client contracts without a license or the clients knowing.

” He paused for what I assumed was supposed to be a dramatic effect.

“Unofficially working on contracts, of course. Right?”

Brent laughed at his own attempt at a joke. I did not.

I closed the folder, slowly. “Brent, what is this really?”

His jaw ticked. “Just thinking of the firm, that’s all.”

“Of course,” I said again in the same flat tone.

Folding my hands and resting them lightly on the thick paperwork that I’d just finished going over, I smirked.

“You must be exhausted, Brent. Managing both your insecurities and your delusions of grandeur simultaneously. Impressive, really.”

His face flushed. “Look here?—”

“No,” I cut in smoothly, holding up my finger.

“You look. You want credit for the Rexton deal? Take it. Wear the praise like a crown you didn’t earn.

But don’t come into my office, wielding vague threats, and pretending to be concerned when you couldn’t negotiate your way out of a prepaid parking ticket. ”

Brent blinked, clearly not used to needing a dictionary during verbal combat.

I wanted to know who he paid to get himself through law school.

He was a terrible associate and would never make it to junior partner, let alone senior partner.

Not unless he bought that, too, and if that was the case, it wouldn’t be at this firm.

I leaned back, fingers steepled. “Let me make this painfully simple because I’m well aware that you struggle with complex thought.

If there’s a failure in this contract…” I tapped the top of the folder.

“If a comma is misplaced, if a condition precedent is misaligned, then…you were the one who reviewed it. Signed it. Filed it. And your name…is the only one attached. So instead of threatening me when I’m already doing your work for you, how about you bring me a coffee and a thank you the next time you come into my office.

Or else I will purposely start making mistakes that you will never find, but…

you can bet your expensive suit and your daddy’s Porsche that the client will. ”

I smiled warmly like we were friends, but I was the one holding the gun to his head now.

The silence that followed was beautiful and filled with tension as the storm brewed inside Brent. He wanted to tell me off, but the self-preservation portion of his brain was screaming at him to shut up.

His lips parted, but I cut him off again, just to make a point of who was in control.

“You see, Brent…I may be unofficial, but I’m indispensable.

The partners know it. My father knows it.

And deep down, you know it. That’s why you’re here, impotently posturing like a man with something to lose, because you’re terrified that I’ll tell someone the truth.

” I smirked as he blinked at me. “Do you know what that truth is, Brent?”

He shook his head.

“You’re not stupid, Brent…you just have a deeply committed relationship with mediocrity and Daddy’s money.”

He opened his mouth, and I tilted my head.

“Don’t interrupt. You’ll just embarrass yourself.”

It snapped shut.

I stood and walked around my desk. Unhurried to make a point. When I stopped in front of Brent, we were close enough for me to smell the anxiety wafting off his skin beneath his disgusting cologne.

“Speaking of liabilities,” I said, voice soft, as I glanced at my open door.

“You may want to be more discreet with Amanda on the third floor. You know, the married paralegal you’ve been fucking in the file room every Thursday at 4:15.

Oh, and Cathy, the married secretary from the sixth floor, every Monday in the parking garage at 7:00 a.m. sharp. ”

His spine straightened, but his eyes widened, and I could see the metaphorical piss running down his leg.

“Yes, I know.” I smiled. “You really should check for security cameras before unzipping your pants on company property, particularly when you’re clocked in for overtime.

Falsified hours are a fireable offense. Sexual misconduct, Brent?

Really? That’s termination with cause. I would hate for HR to get confused about which positions and holes you’re actually filling here.

I’m not sure what firm would hire you after the court case was settled.

” Picking up the crystal paperweight from my desk I held it up to the light.

It was a gift from Liam when I got accepted into Harvard, and it had a chess board etched into the middle of it.

“And I can guarantee that you will be stripped of everything, including your lovely fiancé, her wealthy family and your dignity.”

His cheeks lost all color, and I let the silence wrap around him. He swallowed hard and looked at the door, probably contemplating his life choices and the one to come in here. It was a bad one.

“I’m not your enemy, Brent,” I murmured, and then smiled.

“Unless you insist on making me one. In which case, I’m remarkably proficient at chess.

You walked in here full of confidence and sure that you were going to twist a knife for more leverage.

” I pushed away from the desk and circled Brent, making sure he felt the subtle threat.

“The problem is that you started this match with a pawn’s perspective, and I just put your king in check with one elegant sweep.

” I returned to my chair and sat down, but held up the weight between two fingers so Brent could clearly see it.

“And in case you’re wondering, that is bishop to E5.

” I straightened my cuffs, relaxing back.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have real work to do. ”

A second knock sounded before Brent could scurry away. My father stood in the doorway, looking between us.

“Is there something I should know,” Father asked.

“No, not at all. I was just leaving.” Brent lurched toward the door, so I waited until he reached it to call his name.

“Brent.” He stopped and looked back. “Aren’t you forgetting your folder? You’ll be looking for that later,” I said, and gave him an innocent smile.

He turned and marched back. I handed him the file, and he practically ran out of my office.

Was that petty? Maybe. But it was effective—and necessary.

My father closed the door and sat down across from me. He’d given me an office the first day I started working here, but I was aiming for a corner on the top floor. It would come. When I got back from Harvard…it would be mine.

“Are you going to tell me what’s really going on with that associate?”

I shook my head. “Just a chat, nothing I can’t handle. Did you want something?”

“Yes. You can’t avoid me forever, Theo.”

I stood up and walked over to my small espresso machine in the corner.

“I’m not,” I said, and he chuckled.

“You’re a great liar, but that one fell flat,” he said as I loaded the machine to make two cups.

Once it was brewing, I faced my dad and crossed my arms.

“What do you want me to say?”

“That you forgive me for a start,” he said and stood. “Theo…no one is free from making mistakes. We are all flawed. But I try my hardest to be a good person, a good father, and a good husband despite everything. Yes, I made a horrible mistake, one that I own and live with every day.”

“When did you tell Mom?”

“The moment I got home, I told your mother. I was sick to my stomach and hated myself. I knew how much I hurt her, and I almost lost the best thing in my life. I love my family. You boys and Ella…you mean everything to me. The fear I felt when I didn’t know if your mom could forgive me and give me another chance…

it was the worst thing I’ve ever been through.

I have worked every single day since to make up for breaking her trust.”

The machine beeped, and I turned to grab the espressos. I held one out for him, and he gave me a small smile.

“I’m sorry,” Dad said as he took the olive branch. “I’m sorry that I’m not the man you thought I was, and I’m sorry that you had to find out this way so many years later. I’m sorry for what I did, but I can’t be sorry about Filip. He’s innocent in all of this.”

“I know,” I said, nodding. “I have no issue with Lip. This was all just a huge shock.”

“I know. I love you, Theo, and I’m incredibly proud of you.

I hope you can find it in you to give me another chance to prove that I am the man you think I am.

That I’m the father you want in your life.

” Dad drank the espresso and then set the cup on the counter before turning to leave, but stopped and looked back.

“Your mother wants to have dinner with the whole family on Saturday. I hope you and Liam will come.”

“Dad.”

“Yeah, son.”

“I always want you in my life, and I’ve always been proud to call you my father, despite the very poor lapse in judgment. That will never change.”

He smiled, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

“Thanks, son.”

He walked out, and I took a deep breath as emotion I couldn’t name swirled inside of me. In the grand scheme of things, my father, even with the blemish, was still an incredible father and person. I just had to wrap my head around the fact that Mom’s relationship with Dad was not mine.

My phone vibrated and I wandered over to pick it up. Speaking of relationships, I opened the text.

L: What are you doing?

T: Just finishing some work.

L: What are you wearing?

I looked down.

T: Is this a trick question? I’m not at the office naked if that’s what you hoped.

L: I was more wondering if you were wearing a tie.

T: Yesss…why?

L: Good. I’ll be there in five minutes. Be ready to be destroyed in your office. I expect your tie off, wrists out, and you on your knees when I arrive.

Holy fuck, was it suddenly hot in here or what?

T: Is that so?

L: It is.

Fuck I loved him.

T: Do I at least get dinner out of this impromptu drop-in?

L: We’ll see how well you satisfy me first. But…if you’re a good boy, I’ll get you whatever you want.

T: Already on my knees.