Chapter 20
Ihurried to Byron’s office, fixing my clothes and hair to cover the fact his son had just gone down on me in the theatre of his luxury house.
When I got there, Byron was seated behind his enormous mahogany desk, my mother seated on the other side shooting lovesick puppy eyes at him. I swear, Byron could tell her he’d just murdered a family of seven because he wanted to see how their blood would splatter and my mother would look at him like he was a gift to this world.
Part of me was jealous. Not because I wanted my mother’s attention; I’d long given up on her the same way she’d given up on me. But I wanted to feel that all-consuming way about someone.
“Ah, Dempsey,” Byron said with a smile as I stepped into the room. “Thank you for coming to see me. Please, take a seat.” He motioned to the empty chair next to my mother, who gave me a forced smile.
I sat as directed, feeling like I was in a meeting with HR and was about to be managed out of the company.
“Your mother and I have called you in here today to share some news with you.” Byron gave me an encouraging nod.
I glanced between them. “If you’re about to tell me you’re pregnant, I’ll run out of here screaming.”
“Dempsey,” my mother chastised. It appeared playful but underneath I could see the agitation pinching at the corners of her eyes. “Stop being so silly.”
Was it really that silly? My mom wasn’t that old. It was likely still physically possible. And men like Byron loved producing heirs; it fuelled their egos.
Byron cleared his throat. “Thankfully, we’ve both had our children for this lifetime.”
I nodded, waiting for the big reveal, my curiosity growing by the minute.
“Byron is considering a career change. Quite a significant one.”
He grinned broadly. “I plan to run for Governor of the fine state of California.”
I blinked back at him. “You’re… going into politics?”
Looking to my mother, I found her beaming. Did she know these were his aspirations when they started dating? Had he chosen her for her potential as a political trophy wife? She had no aspirations of her own. Hell, I’d never heard my mother discuss politics even once, so she was no threat to him or his popularity.
Byron nodded once. “Yes, which is why we need to have a serious discussion.”
Their smiles dropped along with the upbeat vibe in the room.
“A political tilt means scrutiny. More than we’re currently used to,” my mother said, as though she’d spent all her life in the wealthy society pages of the media just as the Astons had. “There will be many eyes on all of us.”
“Which means,” Byron added. “That everyone must be on their best behavior.”
I take it back. This wasn’t an HR meeting. Now it had taken a turn into stern school principal territory.
“Best behavior?” I asked, confused. When was I ever not on my best behavior? The only events I attended were the ones my mother forced me to. I didn’t go anywhere other than Triple C and swim meets. I had exactly one friend—Arena.
“Yes,” Byron said, staring back at me. It was easy to see where Sinclair got his intimidating gaze from. “I’ve always had high expectations from my family members, but now those standards will increase ten-fold.”
My mother sat up straighter, her face more serious than I’d ever seen. “What Byron is too polite to say to you outright, Dempsey, is that you will not partake in any activities or behave in any kind of way that will bring shame or embarrassment to this family. Do you understand me?”
I nodded again, because what else was I going to do? Tell them to shove their demands and storm out? I had nowhere to go.
“Sure thing, Mom. I’ll do my best to act like a lady.” I tilted my head. “Was that all?”
My mother frowned at me. “Don’t you have anything to say to Byron?”
I stilled. “Oh… congratulations?”
Congratulations on being such an ego-maniac that you want to run for public office.
Byron beamed back at me. “Thank you.”
I pushed from my seat. They were worried about embarrassment for the family, yet had no idea that I’d let Dacre go down on me in the theater room only ten minutes ago or let Presley fuck me in the shower weeks ago. It had been bad enough when we only had the shame of this community finding out to worry about. Now that Byron was running for office, if our scandalous acts were ever discovered we’d be front page news.
I’d nearly made it to the door when Byron called my name. “Congratulations on making the Triple C swim team.”
I paused, questioning his motive. “Thank you…”
“Astons excel at everything they involve themselves in, and I expect the same from you now that you’re part of this family. I look forward to seeing more of those first place wins long into the future.”
“Yes, Byron.”
I left the room, an anxious undercurrent rippling through me.
Not only did I need to excel at every swim meet from now until eternity, but I had to stay the hell away from my stepbrothers too before we created a scandal that would be splashed on front pages across the country.