8. FATHER
FATHER
KARSON
I clenched my fists as Gus pulled to a stop in front of the imposing skyscraper in Barangaroo.
Stepping out of the car, I paused and tipped my head back, taking in the shining tower where it sat like a majestic crown—my father’s office penthouse, the diamond centerpiece—overlooking the harbor.
The car door slammed, and a few seconds later, Gus joined me on the sidewalk.
“He’s waiting for you.” Gus’s gaze scaled upward, to the building’s peak. “Good luck, son,” he said with a half-smile.
“Thanks, Gus.” I’m going to need it.
I breathed deep and walked through the gleaming lobby, glancing out to the street. I suppressed my instinct to run and entered my father’s private elevator.
As I rode up the levels to the top floor where he’d summoned me, the calming music washed over me.
The elevator slowed.
I shut my eyes in readiness for the onslaught. The doors slid open silently. I was met with the large black letters on the wall.
–KARLOS WELLS,
CEO, SOLSTAR INC–
A new personal assistant sat at the reception desk. Every couple of years, at my father’s command, the receptionist was updated. The nameplate on the counter read Lexi.
She wore the SolStar custom uniform: a micro-mini skirt, a skin-tight designer top, and five-inch stilettos—a carbon copy of those before her—except, in line with Karlos’s standards, she was younger.
“Good morning, Mr. Wells,” she said politely, already heading toward my father’s office. “Your father is waiting.”
I stopped behind Lexi in front of the imposing double doors. She gripped the handles, pushing them open before standing to one side, waiting for me to pass.
Nodding my thanks, I passed through the doorway and she retreated, closing the vault-like doors behind her.
My attention drifted to the wrap-around glass windows, every angle capturing the sparkling blue harbor below. The office design was intentionally minimalist… to maximize the effect of Karlos himself.
There was one exception…
A huge Andy Warhol original, hanging flamboyantly on the wall. It screamed wealth and power, serving as the ultimate testament to his success.
Karlos sat statuesque behind his marble desk, his gaze fastened on me like a hook.
I hadn’t seen him for almost a year. There were a few more silver strands streaking his dark hair. He had a glowing tan and was the picture of health and fitness. He’d accept nothing less.
“You’re late,” he said quietly as I met his stare. “You missed your mother’s birthday celebration.”
“I—”
“You brought shame on the family name.” The animosity radiating from him almost punched a hole right through me. “Your role is to be an ambassador for this company and our name. Explain yourself,” he commanded.
“It was an accident. It took longer than I expected to get back down the coastline,” I offered thinly.
“You should have left earlier. I assume your late departure was because of a certain guest you had on board?” His tone was menacing.
How did he even know about Ivy? I never told him. Fury boiled in my veins before cooling into alarm.What else does he know about?
“I’m not a prisoner,” I said, though it felt like I’d walked into the lion’s den.
He rose from his chair and stalked toward me, fixing me with a laser stare sharp enough to slice through steel.
He stopped in front of me. “I have plans for you, and they don’t include dating a nobody. Your destiny is to marry into wealth and power. It’s over with your little plaything. I won’t permit you to degrade yourself further,” he said, as if reality would bend to his will.
I drew my shoulders back and matched his stare. “No. It’s not over. And DO NOT talk about Ivy like that, you bastard. She’s not like anyone else I’ve ever met. She’s better for me than anyone on your fucked-up list. And I’m going to be with her, whether you like it or not.”
A glimmer of hope sparked inside me as he listened calmly.
“It’s going to work out perfectly. It’s all sorted,” I started confidently. “I’ll accept my offer from the University of Queensland so I can be closer to the Gold Coast, where Ivy lives. I don’t need to live in Sydney to work for SolStar, and I can still work here on semester breaks.”
He straightened his posture, glided smoothly to his chair, sat, then stretched back leisurely, studying me.
I swayed slightly, my heart pumping wildly, blood rushing in my ears.
“No.” He leaned back further, placing his hands behind his head. “You’ll accept your offer here in Sydney and live at the house in Bronte. Gus will live in the guest quarters and become your full-time driver. During the semester breaks, you will work here.”
My muscles tensed as I advanced on him.
“That will be all,” he said with a cold stare.
“What?” I leaned over him. “Did you even hear me? I’m going to Brisbane, and you won’t stop me!”
Beads of sweat formed on my forehead, despite the glacial temperature in his office. I swiped them away.
With an almost imperceptible flick of his finger, he pressed the intercom.
“How may I assist you, sir?” Lexi’s voice flooded the room.
“Get the Minister for Education on the phone. Tell him I want all of Karson’s college offers rescinded. Except for the University of Sydney. Now!” he barked. “That’s my first move. It’s your move, Karson. But I promise you, I will checkmate you. You need to understand your place.”
Panic threatened to take hold as years of pent-up fury unleashed inside me.
“Then I won’t even go to college,” I spat. “This is MY life. NOT YOURS.” I pointed in his face. “I’m not one of your fucking employees. Threaten me all you want, but you can’t stop me.”
Silent, he steepled his fingers, smiling pleasantly.
I couldn’t let him control me like a puppet… I’d always known I’d have to step up and be my own man one day.
Today is that day.
“Do you want me to hate you more than I do already? Why the fuck do you suddenly care where I go? Or what I do?” The tendons in my neck flickered. “You shipped me off to boarding school as soon as possible, like I was nothing to you. You’ve never wanted me around, so don’t try to pull rank now.”
“Have you finished your tantrum? It’s simple. I built this empire, and you will continue it. Of that you can be certain,” he said, sweetening his blow with a saccharine tone.
“You’re delusional.” My voice rose an octave. “I want nothing to do with you, or your company. It’s all yours.” I backed away. “I’m done.”
My heart pumped erratically. I moved toward the heavy doors, determined to be as far away from his demands and poison as quickly as possible.
“VLADIMIR!” He snapped his fingers, his lips curling into a snarl.
The doors opened and Vladimir’s hulking frame appeared, blocking the doorway. Meat-like arms folded over his mountainous chest. Beneath his buzz cut, a pin-like stare bored into me.
All hope of leaving vanished.
“So, you’re going to keep me here against my will?” I shuddered.
“Take a seat and listen. Carefully.”
Oh, this’ll be good. I laughed bitterly. What crazy-ass plan has he thought up now?
“You’ll stay here. Your bank accounts and credit cards will be frozen.” His face reddened. “Along with access to your trust fund and other privileges.”
“Hmm. Let. Me. Think…” I paused. “That’s a NO. You can’t manipulate me because I don’t care about your money.”
He flattened his palms onto the desk and smiled. “Starting now, Gus is your minder. And if you don’t follow my instructions, he’s out of a job. As I said, you’ll go to college here in Sydney, and as planned you will live in Bronte.”
I cringed. It was like fighting a gunman with a stick. I’d never known him not to get exactly what he wanted.
“If you fail to comply, there will be consequences,” he continued.
“Gus can get another job,” I replied, with false bravado. “And I told you, you can keep your money, it’s not an issue for me.”
“But you wouldn’t want anything to happen to the nobody or her father. Now would you?” He shrugged casually. “It’d be a tragedy, really. I’m sure she’d do anything to keep him safe. But, if you insist on following this destructive path, then I suppose we’ll find out for certain.”
A tremor rocked my body. Surely, he wouldn’t hurt Ivy or her dad. My skin was clammy, my head heavy. Is he totally fucking crazy?
I backed away. Speechless.
This was way beyond what I expected, even from him. How could I have known, though? I’d spent most of my life at boarding school on the other side of the planet. Suddenly, I was very grateful I’d grown up far away from him.
I spun toward the door, pulse racing, I had to escape.
Vladimir pulled his shoulders back and stiffened as he stood like a fortress in front of me.
“You’ll contact her once more to end things,” my father instructed. “Tell her you’re not leaving Sydney, that you already have a woman. Tell her she wouldn’t fit in here.”
I winced as he delivered his poisonous strike.
“Comply. Then your little nobody can continue her meaningless existence uninterrupted. Or, you can be the reason she attends her father’s funeral. Your choice,” he said benignly.
He shifted his gaze to Vladimir, still holding vigil at the door. “Vladimir, assist my son in retrieving his phone. If he refuses to deliver the message I instructed, move forward with the plan for the girl’s father.”
I clasped my hands together, digging my nails into the skin.
Think! Think! How do I get out of this?
Vladimir stalked over, frisked me roughly, retrieving my phone before holding it in front of my face. It unlocked. He scrolled down, pressed call, then put it on speaker.
It went straight to voicemail. She’ll still be on her flight. I opened my mouth to speak. Nothing came out.
Vladimir prodded me, pulling me back into focus.
I had to keep her safe. Even if it ripped out her heart. And mine.
The lump in my throat hardened like I’d swallowed gravel.
I closed my eyes. “Ivy, I know you’re not home yet. But I need to tell you something.”
“I’m not coming to Brisbane. I’m staying in Sydney to work at the company.”
The words scraped on the way out. Every instinct screamed at me to take them back.