Chapter 24
TWENTY-FOUR
EVERYONE WINS
Taylor
Mad, bitter, and utterly confused, I had calls to make.
First, I telephoned Charity’s home, confirming what I’d told William.
If I was going to make this right, I needed all the facts, and I’d hardly been listening before.
Then I dialled up the source of several of my missed calls: Pippa, Dad’s loyal assistant.
“Irene! I’ve been trying to get hold of you for—”
“Why did Dad stop paying Charity’s bills?” I interrupted, not needing her questions.
“He, er… Well… I’m not sure I can answer that. Your father has been trying to speak to you for two days—”
“Tell him to pay up or the deal is off.”
The line went silent for a moment, then a new voice came on. “Irene.”
My blood boiled. “Dad.”
“Where are you?”
“What does that matter? I’ve been to see Charity and—”
“I know. And you took a friend. A Scottish man.”
I snapped my mouth close. “How do you know that?”
“My Manhattan office. Thirty minutes.” He ignored my question.
“No. Pay the care bill.” I had a whole speech prepared. A damning argument that called his bluff and showed him how awful he’d been. I had to be able to convince him. If I couldn’t, Charity would be out of her lovely home and into a place that couldn’t afford to keep her alive.
She’d die in a place where no one cared about her.
“William ‘Wasp’ McRae,” Dad said blithely, cutting my thoughts in half.
I dropped onto the bed, clutching the phone.
“Son of Laird Hamish McRae, deceased, brother to Callum McRae, the current laird. Twin brother Alasdair. Recent graduate with a degree in arts specialising in photography. Working for an international agency under the recommendation of Josie Addlestein.”
He paused for effect, and I pictured the smile on the motherfucker’s face.
Oh God.
He’d not only given up on Charity, but he was going after William.
“My office, Irene. You have twenty-eight minutes, now,” he added. Then my father hung up the call.
Ihave to see my father today. Sorry. I love you - T
I fired the text to William as my cab weaved its way through the slow, late afternoon traffic. Sweat pricked my brow, and nausea cramped my stomach. I hadn’t predicted this. Not for a second.
No response had come back by the time we pulled up outside Park Lane Heights, Dad’s private office in the city, but that was to be expected if he was working. That thought brought me back to Dad’s words. His threat. As it had been a threat.
Did he mean to take William’s career from him? Could he do that? I knew how important it was for William to succeed. I swallowed and crossed the busy pavement, entering the dark interior.
Pippa stepped forwards from the shadows. With a grim expression, she took my elbow and led me to the elevator. I didn’t shake her off. On Dad’s floor, still gloomy despite the tall windows, she directed me into the office. Inside the door, she plucked my phone from my hands.
“Hey!” I squeaked.
“I’ll return that later.” She had closed the door before I’d even moved.
Dad turned from his position at the window. On the right-hand side of his office, another man stood. Theo Miller. My would-be fiancé.
“Hello, Irene,” Theo said politely.
“Thanks for stopping by,” Dad said with a sarcastic smile, like he hadn’t just threatened me. “Theo’s father and I had a little chat this morning, and we thought it might be better to move things on faster than originally planned.”
“What things?” I gazed at him, at the man who I shared DNA with but didn’t know. He might as well have been a stranger.
“Your engagement party. It’s happening tonight.
We are attending a fundraiser at the Yankee Stadium in”—he checked his watch—“two hours and announcing our joint campaign after. Pippa has organised your outfit and everything else you need. You’ll change in the room next door, then you and Theo can travel together. ”
I squeezed my eyes closed for a moment, trying to centre myself.
I couldn’t do this.
But he’d threatened William.
Hadn’t he? My eyes flew open. “You broke our deal. I’m not going through with this.”
My father smiled with reptilian coldness. “Yes, you will.”
“You can’t make me.” I glanced at Theo, embarrassed for him to hear this conversation. He had his phone in his hand and was scrolling, apparently uninterested in my declaration.
Dad put his hands behind his back and strolled to his desk.
Then he peered at the screen before smiling at me.
“If you don’t do what I’ve asked, I will not only pull the plug permanently on that sick bitch, but I will also ruin Mr McRae’s career.
I have Ms Addlestein’s business information here.
As State Governor, I can cause her all kinds of problems until she withdraws her support for your Scot. ”
Theo sucked in a breath, not looking up from his device. “I love her work. That would be a real pity.”
Dad continued. “Since your name was connected to his after the Met, I’ve followed his career with interest. Here, I have his contract for his first assignment.
It seems he has a temper. I’m sure a report or two would kill off his probation.
If not, I will make it happen in another way. Am I making myself clear?”
“You are awful,” I choked, horrified by the lengths Dad had gone to. I vaguely recalled William sending a message to report us both as safe. That my father had tracked him since then alarmed me beyond reason. “Why would you go after William? You don’t even know him.”
Dad pinched the bridge of his nose. “I didn’t invite questions. I just need my goddamned daughter to do as she’s told.”
“Fuck you,” I bit out, my blood rising. “What the hell is wrong with you? Is your brain so twisted that you think this is okay? It isn’t. It’s one thing treating your own sister like—”
“That person is no relative of mine,” Dad hissed. He glanced at Theo who’d ambled his unbothered way to the window.
I could beg, but it was pointless. The man was a monster. “So you’re going to let her die and you’re going to ruin a good man’s career because you want to play politics?”
Dad stared me down, his gaze switching to calculating. “Go to the engagement party. Smile and fucking wave. Get rid of your boyfriend and do what we agreed, then I’ll pay that bill.”
“I don’t trust a word you say.” My words held venom, and I dug my fingernails into my palms.
He shrugged. “I don’t give a flying fuck what you think. So long as you do as you’re told.”
Now, Theo interrupted. He raised both hands. “Sir, if I may? Irene, come next door and have a chat with me. I have a suggestion you might like.”
He winked at my dad and, though I didn’t trust him for a second, I followed him from the room. The distinct feeling that Dad had trapped me rose, and I couldn’t see a scenario where I got away from here without hurting someone I loved.
If I stuck two fingers up to Dad, Charity wouldn’t be able to stay in her home, and William’s career could be harmed.
If I did what Dad demanded, I’d have to give up the new dream I’d had. The one where I married the man I loved.
In the next office, bare except for a wheeled clothes rail with expensive dresses, presumably for me, Theo gestured to the couch.
“I’ll stand.” I folded my arms, pushing down my distress, because fuck letting him see.
He sighed and brushed over his neat hair. “I know this is rough, and your dad doesn’t have the gentlest way about him, but I want you to know I understand.”
I just stared at him.
“I have one, too. A girlfriend, I mean. Her name is Karen. She was there when we met last. We already had the talk, and she’s fine with this.”
“The talk?” Ah God, why did I even ask?
“About our ongoing roles. She’s happy to stay out of the limelight and wait for me at home.”
“While you marry another woman?”
He shrugged easily. “She loves me. If your boyfriend loves you, then he’ll agree, no problem. One word of advice: Get an NDA signed first.” He followed his sage guidance with a wink then collected a suit bag from the end of the clothes rail.
“Think about it.” He unzipped the bag and peered at the suit. “You get your boyfriend and your relative all taken care of. You’re happy, your dad’s happy. Everyone wins.”
This was the most ridiculous conversation. Maybe a couple of weeks ago, it wouldn’t have seemed so odd, but now I felt like a whole different person. One who couldn’t stomach living a lie.
The door opened, and my father stepped in.
Dad raised an eyebrow at Theo.
Theo grinned. “No big deal. We just need her boyfriend to sign an NDA, and it’s all taken care of.”
Dad grunted. “Whatever you think best, son. I have another meeting first so I’ll see you there.”
He glanced at me, but I’d had an idea, and I wasn’t giving anything away. I stared him down this time until Dad sneered, turned on his heel, and left.
Then a woman arrived to do my hair and makeup, and I gave her the nod to begin.
Oh yes, this was the only way forward for me.