We stood in his office after I’d finally realized it was time to protect him rather than me. He needed to see the contracts I’d signed so that he would understand and I told him so.
“Why? What’s changed your mind?” He leaned on the doorframe casually, like he hadn’t just punched a man, like his whole reputation wasn’t on the line. Yet, I saw how he stretched his hand and how the blood dripped from his knuckle. I knew the repercussions of that punch.
“Dex, you just assaulted a pap. Aren’t you the least bit concerned?”
“No. He’ll sue me for a million, and I’ll settle for a quarter-mil.”
“So you’re willing to pay $250,000 for that temper of yours?”
He crossed his arms. “I’m willing to pay a lot more than that. I’d have done it even if it cost me a million. People need to watch their mouths when they talk to you. How about that?”
I shook my head, tears in my eyes. “You don’t even know who I really am, Dex,” I whispered. I knew he was about to find out, that this contract would change the way he saw me. I sniffed and wiped at my nose. “You know this contract is going to change everything once you read it, right?”
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
I sighed and sat down at his desk to pull up my email on one of his laptops. “The record label will be calling me soon to sue. You’ll be involved unless we break off the engagement now, which is probably in your best interest.”
I shoved the laptop over to him, and he sat down to read. I got up and paced back and forth. Then I turned to him, but he was still scrolling, still reading silently.
I swore I waited an hour for him to finish. Maybe a whole day. I thought I held my breath the entire time too.
He finally looked up after what felt like forever and asked pointedly, “Was half a million enough to keep quiet about that car accident?”
He’d found my Achilles heel, discovered exactly why I’d stayed quiet, and understood why I had to show him today. “No.” I said it quietly.
He hummed as he sat there, leaned back in that chair, and watched me as I paced up and down his beautiful carpet. “So, are you on drugs?” he asked.
“No.”
“Then do you have a terrible financial advisor? Why are you concerned if they sue you? You’ll be able to pay them back just fine.” I saw his eyes scan the documents again. “You have the money…or don’t you?”
“Does it really matter?” What was the point in telling him I didn’t? I already felt him shutting down, pulling away, coming to the conclusions he had of me prior to us ever being together.
“Fuck.” He pulled at his hair, and I saw how his neck tightened in frustration. “I don’t know what matters. I don’t know which way is up or down with you. I think I’m falling for you, and then I think I hate you and don’t know a damn thing about you, Kee. I’ll punch a guy in the face for you, but I don’t know if you’ll even tell me the damn truth.”
“I am telling you the truth,” I murmured.
“Half of it,” he corrected, and his eyes drilled into my soul, searching for the other half. “If we pull up your bank statements, are we going to find at least five million laying around? Because I can do math, Kee, and you should have it—even if it’s much less than what you should have. They have your royalty rates set excruciatingly low.”
“I… Well…”
He shoved the computer my way. “Go ahead. Show me if you’re telling the whole truth.”
“I can’t,” I whispered out.
His tone hardened. “Show me.”
I knew from just those words he wouldn’t bend here. Why should he? I wasn’t being honest; I hadn’t been for years.
And out on that street, with those paparazzi, I’d finally done the right thing. And the right thing with him now was to be honest. I typed in my bank account and the password and turned the screen toward him.
He frowned at the number. “What other banks do you—”
“That’s it, Dex.”
His jaw worked up and down, up and down for long seconds before he pulled his cell out and dialed a number.
“What are you doing?” I squeaked. “You’re making a call right now?”
“I’m calling your dad,” he said it so matter-of-factly that I almost agreed it was a good idea.
That is, until my mind caught up to what was happening. I screeched out, “What? No.”
I rounded the desk and tried to grab the phone, but he stood a whole foot taller than me. He simply was able to walk away as I literally tried to climb the man like a tree to get that phone before my father answered. When he did, I knew my shit was all going to collide.
“Mr. Hale? It’s Dex Hardy.” There was silence as he stared at me. “Good to talk with you too. I’m calling because your daughter and I are engaged. You know that, right?” Silence. “Yes, but PR stunts turn into reality half the time. And I’ve always enjoyed her company. I’m just wondering, over the years, it seems she’s lost a lot of money, and I’m trying to figure out where it’s going. Is there anything I need to be worried about?”
I stared at his audacity. My father would never tell him. There was no way.
But, of course, Dex controlled the situation.
Dex got what he wanted.
My father told him.
