Chapter 28
R ival
I pulled up to the Addison Estate not having a damn clue what I would say to Sailor’s father other than “stay the fuck out of our marriage and support your daughter” but I probably didn’t need it say it just like that.
Even though I felt like I would…
"Mr. Hassan. What can I do for you?” He narrowed his eyes, standing in the doorway like he was guarding it.
"We need to talk.”
He studied me for a minute then stepped back, motioning for me to enter. "My wife is out for the afternoon. We'll have privacy."
I almost fucking laughed because I didn’t need the privacy but apparently he did. According to TJ, their mother didn’t like the way we ended up here but she was being supportive, which meant a house divided. She was also giving him shit about the way he pulled up on Sail with the information about my ex and so were TJ and Sky. They were on my side.
I followed him through the foyer into his study.
"Drink?" he offered, moving to a crystal decanter.
"No, thank you. This won't take long."
He poured himself one and settled into a leather chair, motioning for me to take the one opposite. I remained standing.
"I need to clear up a few things with you because I think you have shit fucked up where I’m concerned.“
He lifted his drink and watched me over the rim of his glass. "I assume this is about the information I shared with my daughter."
"Information you deliberately dug up and handed out without out having context or understanding of what the hell it was," I corrected and kept my voice even when I was fucking pissed. "You could have asked me about Armesa if you really thought it was an issue."
He set his glass down. "I presented facts. How my daughter interpreted them was her choice."
"Are you fucking kidding me? You knew what that would do and I’m still confused on how you even got that shit. It wasn’t filed…”
“Ms. Taylor’s father wasn’t a fan of yours either.
I chuckled dryly and shook my head. Her father hated that she even considered someone like me. My commitment to care about his daughter didn’t matter because my pockets didn’t meet his approval. A man who worked hard to provide didn’t check the box for him. “Nah he didn’t and I’m guessing you don’t either based on this shit.”
Armesa had the licenses. Her father was a judge and she could have easily given it to him, which would have made it easy for Addison to get his hands on. This man wasn’t above calling in favors and Armesa wasn’t above complicating my life. She wasn’t exactly happy about me ending things. It’d fucked with her ego.
“I care about my daughter and that means protecting her when she’s too na?ve to do so.”
“You don’t care about Sail.”
“Excuse me.”
“I said you don’t fucking care, because if you did, you would look at her and see she’s happy. I’m good for her, she’s good for me, and that’s all that matters. You wanted her to believe I had ulterior motives for being in her life..."
"And did you? The similarities are very convenient."
"I love Sailor and not because I think she’s a knock off of someone I wanted in the past.”
"So you say."
"So I know. I understand you're protective of her. I respect that but what you did wasn't protection, it was interference. You saw that she was happy and opening herself up to something that you couldn’t and that fucked with you."
His expression tightened. “You’re assuming a lot about my motivations, Mr. Hassan."
“Nah, but I recognize patterns too? TJ is doing his thing and so is Sky. Sail was the last one, and I get it, you want more for them than you feel they want for themselves, but if they’re happy, what does it fucking matter?"
He stood and his height matched mine. I didn’t want to put hands on Sail’s father but if he took it there, oh-fucking-well. "You don't know anything about my family."
"I know I love your daughter and she loves me. That’s the only thing that matters."
"And you’re here to what, check me?"
"I'm here to make something crystal fucking clear," I said, taking a step closer. "Sailor is my wife. I respect that you're her father, and I want us to be cool, but if you ever try to come between us like that again, or hurt her, you'll deal with me."
I half-expected him to throw me out but instead he smiled. It was tight as fuck but still held a sense of approval.
"You're not what I expected.”
"In what way?"
"When Sailor first told us about this impulsive marriage I assumed you were after her money, connections, or both. When that appeared not to be the case, I thought perhaps you were simply infatuated with the idea of her. Infatuation wouldn’t have you challenging me directly. That takes conviction."
"I have plenty of that where your daughter is concerned.”
"I see." He studied me thoughtfully. "Let’s start over."
The abrupt change caught me off guard. “Start over?”
“Yes, please have a seat. I owe you an apology. I should not have gotten in the middle of you and my daughter’s relationship. I was wrong and would like to start over and do this the right way.”
I stared at him for a minute then nodded, taking the seat next to him.
"Your intentions toward my daughter are long-term?"
"My intention is to build a life with her, for as long as she'll have me. To support her career, her ambitions, her independence, while creating something together that's greater than either of us separately."
"And children?"
I raised an eyebrow at the personal question but answered anyway. "That's between Sailor and me, but yes, I'd like a family eventually, if she does. I believe she would be an incredible mother if and when she decides that's what she wants."
"My daughter has always been headstrong. Determined to chart her own course, even when it wasn't in her best interest with everything except her career. She followed my lead with that and I fear it might have disrupted her ability to find her place. I assumed this marriage was one of many erratic decisions I would have to help clean up when it ended disastrously."
"It’s not and she doesn’t need you to do anything with our marriage."
"There's a steadiness to her that wasn't there before. A contentment."
"It’s not just Sail. She makes me better too.”
Torrance nodded, as if coming to a decision. "Very well, Mr. Hassan. You have my blessing for whatever that's worth to you." He smiled smugly, knowing I didn’t give a shit.
"It holds weight because I know it matters to Sailor, whether she admits it or not."
"Just understand this. If you hurt my daughter there is no place you could hide from me."
"I understand completely but just know we feel exactly the same. Your daughter but my wife."
"Good." He stood and extended his hand. "Then perhaps we can move forward more productively."
I stood and accepted his hand.
“I can rock with that, for Sailor's sake."
He walked me to the door and paused.
“Sailor deserves to be happy. Regardless of my actions and what you might think, I want that for all my children."
“I don’t doubt that but I do believe you have a hard time trusting they can decide what they need to be happy.”
He nodded and grinned. "I can’t argue with that. Take care of my girl, Rival."
"I got her. Believe that."