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CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

brOOKS

W illiam Bennet lived in a penthouse on the Upper East Side.

It was only a few short blocks from Harlow’s apartment.

It seemed the closer I got, the quieter the streets became.

I hadn’t been in this building in years, but it was the kind of place you never forgot.

The outside of the building was nothing special, but the green canvas canopy, brass-plated doors, and the doorman standing outside in his navy-blue uniform screamed money.

I spotted a guy in his mid-forties walking toward the main entrance. He had his earbuds in, so I slipped in behind him. I was close, but not close enough to draw attention. The doorman was talking to a delivery guy, but spotted me when I tried to breeze past him.

I pulled the keycard that Harlow had given me out of my wallet and flashed it to him. “I’m here to see my father-in-law, William Bennett.”

He held his hand up. “Wait a minute. You need to be approved.”

“I’m good.” I picked up my stride as he sprinted toward me, telling me to hold on, but I was already at the elevator.

I swiped the key, thankful that the door opened, but I could still hear him yelling as the doors closed.

I leaned against the wall as it took me to the top floor. I clenched and unclenched my fists, waiting for the doors to open. I was worked up and antsy, not out of fear, but from the fire that had been burning in my chest for the past five years.

I stepped into the long hallway and took a left, walking to the familiar door. I rang the bell, and when he swung the door open, he was already on the phone with the guy at the front desk.

His eyes met mine. “He’s already here. Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle this.”

I walked past him, not waiting for an invitation inside.

He hung up and slammed the door. “Who the hell do you think you are barging in here without an appointment?”

I forced myself to stay calm and hoped this would be the last time I’d ever have to see the man again. “I didn’t think I needed an appointment to come talk to my future father-in-law.”

His jaw clenched just enough for me to notice. “What do you want?” He walked over to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a scotch.

My hands curled into fists. “I want you to stay the hell out of our lives.”

His eyes narrowed. “She is my daughter.”

“And I’m the man who will make sure you will never hurt her again.”

He sat down on an oversized leather chair and leaned back. “All this over a damn house.”

“It’s not just a house to her,” I snapped.

He still didn’t get it. I wasn’t sure he ever would.

He turned and waved his hand to the glass window, where the skyline spread out before him. It was late, so the entire city was lit up. It was too bad I couldn’t enjoy the view.

Do you think I got to where I am today by being soft? Every decision I have ever made came with a sacrifice.”

I stared at the man, questioning how someone as cold-hearted and ruthless as he could father a person as amazing as Harlow.

I know she wanted to believe that he loved her, but I doubted he was capable of it.

He only loved the version of her that was compliant, attended the best schools, wore the right dresses, and married the man who would benefit him and his business. Her life was never about her.

“Oh, trust me, I am very well aware. Harlow told me everything.”

He crossed his arms. “You’ll have to be more specific.”

“You forced her to leave me five years ago. You threatened her by promising to destroy me and my family if she didn’tcome back to New York City.”

He crossed his legs and swirled his liquor around in the glass. “How noble of her to tell you.”

“You made me think that I wasn’t good enough for her. I believed that she didn’t love me.”

He took a sip of his drink. “Then I guess my plan worked.”

I shook my head and stepped forward. “I spent years hating her because of you.”

The muscle in his jaw ticked. “All I have ever done is what’s best for her.”

I shook my head. “You do what’s best for you, William.

No one else. You’ve allowed her to think that love came with conditions and strings.

You made her believe that being with me would come with a cost that she wasn’t willing to pay.

And once she grew a backbone and walked away, you couldn’t handle that. ”

He rolled his eyes. “That’s an interesting interpretation.”

“I think it’s spot-on.”

He straightened his shoulders and adjusted his tie. “I think it would be best if you turn yourself around and walk back out that door before I’m forced to do something you won’t like.”

I crossed my arms. “Do your worst. I’m not afraid of you.”

“You should be, because you are just like my daughter. You have no idea how the real world works.”

I laughed because this was so messed up, it wasn’t even funny.

There was no remorse or regret. He would never admit that he was wrong because he didn’t believe he was.

He wasn’t fit to be a parent. He only cared about trying to shape her into who he wanted her to be.

Maybe he was right. I didn’t understand how his world worked.

I’ve never been a pawn in a merger. I’ve never been pushed into a corner like her.

He’s never tried to understand her. Hell, he barely acknowledged her until she decided to stand on her own two feet and walk away.

I used to think he was just overbearing and controlling, but this went much deeper. And I was so glad she finally woke up and removed herself from this life.

“You tried to force her back into a life that she didn’t want. When she didn’t bend, you made the decision to break her. That’s not doing what’s best for her. That’s you trying to stay in control. I’m done letting you interfere in our lives.”

He glared at me. “Are you done playing hero now? I’ve got work to do.”

I stepped closer but still kept a little distance between us.

I didn’t trust myself. “I love her,” I said, my voice low and fierce.

“Always have. I’m going to marry her. I’m going to protect her, and I’m going to make damn sure that you never get inside her head again.

I might have been young and naive before, but I’m not stepping aside this time.

So, I’m telling you one last time, if you come near her, I won’t just show up here with a warning.

I’ll burn your whole fucked-up world to the ground. ”

He didn’t move a muscle. He simply sat there with his smug expression, believing he still had a chance to win this round. He would never admit defeat, even though he had already lost.

“Good luck to you both.” He turned in his chair and picked up his iPad like he was trying to dismiss me. “If she ends up miserable and broke, tell her not to come crawling back to me for help.”

I stalked forward, leaned my head over his shoulder, and spoke into his ear. “She may not be rich, but she will never have to beg you for a fucking dime. I will make sure of it.”

For the first time, there was no snappy comeback. No smirk or arrogant dress down. Only silence.

“This is your final warning. Your reign over her ends today. Whatever power you think you hold over us is over. You can keep coming at me all you want, but if you so much as breathe in her direction, I won’t be so polite next time.”

I walked to the door, and with every step I took down the hallway, I felt the weight I’d been carrying for the past five years fall from my shoulders.

When I stepped outside and took my first breath of fresh air, I made a promise to myself that I would spend the rest of my life trying to undo the damage he did to her heart and state of mind.

It was time to put all this bullshit behind us and start moving forward.