Dare Me Not | 18+ ✔

40. Cut It Loose (Parker)

Two things are swirling in my head right now: Xander is leaving, and he refuses to see me.

"For the time being, Antonio will assist you during the internship, until your dad decides on your permanent placement," Margie says as I stand at my office door, staring blankly at the empty space. When did they move all my stuff? In the middle of the night? As long as my dad is involved, everything is possible.

"So, Xander is inside his office, but he doesn't want to see me?" I ask, ignoring Margie's previous information.

"He can't see you. He has all the department chiefs inside his office now to discuss the major changes regarding his resignation." Margie adjusts his glasses and sighs. "Parker, sweetie, you need to understand his situation. It was very ugly last night, and he took the decision that he believed was best for everyone. Let's not make it harder on him."

I scoff inwardly. Xander decided everything, but he didn't let me say my peace despite the fact we started this mess together. Best decision, my ass. "Fine. Just tell him I need to talk. He knows where to find me."

"I will." I can tell from how she smiles that she's lying. She knows Xander's avoiding me, but she just doesn't want to say it straight in my face. Of course, she's taking Xander's side, given how things have developed.

Instead of going downstairs to check my supposedly new office, I take the stairs to my father's floor. He's not expecting me, not this early, but I don't care. I will wait for him until he can give me at least five minutes of his life, and then I'm done with all this shit.

His secretary smiles at me, rather nervously, when I stomp toward her desk. "Your father doesn't wish any visitor at the moment," she says, jumping up from her seat and standing in front of me. Is she thinking of dragging me out of this floor if I don't listen to her?

"I only need five minutes," I say.

"Ms. Hayes, I don't think it's a good idea." She bites her lower lip, glancing at my dad's office door. "He hasn't been in a good mood this morning."

"He hasn't been in a good mood all his life," I say. "Don't worry, just tell him I shoved you aside when you tried to stop me. I don't need to demonstrate it right now, do I?"

She steps backward in an instant and shakes her head. It's almost funny how she takes my bluff right out of my mouth. "Of course not."

"Good choice." I nod and stride toward my father's door. I knock twice before pushing the door open, welcomed by the brightness of his office. It feels like I have entered another life dimension. My old man sits on his gigantic office chair, his eyes on his screen. "We need to talk, Dad," I say as I close the door behind me.

"I don't appreciate you barging in without an invitation."

"You're not having company or a meeting at the moment. I don't see why that's the problem."

"As I said, no one enters this office without me summoning them, Parker."

I cross my arms over my chest. "I'm not no one."

"It doesn't make any difference. My rule stands."

I sigh, glancing down at my black stilettos. "Maybe this is where our issue lies."

He tilts his head. "What issue?"

"You only let me, your only daughter, in when you feel like inviting me in."

He chuckles as he turns off his screen. "What kind of bullshit is that? What does it have anything to do with me being your father?"

"It has everything to do with it. You were around, but you were never there. You only want to have something to do with me as long as it's in your favor."