“Then it’s on you, isn’t it? You chose unwisely,” he said coolly, undeterred I was almost in his face.
The frayed thread of my control was dangerously close to snapping. I couldn’t let him see he affected me, yet I was doing it anyway. It was bad enough he knew he did.
“You don’t really want to work with me.” My knuckles turned white. What was his end game?
He leveled me with a solid stare. “I very much desire that.”
The words were like a shove, knocking the wind out of me. I fell back into the chair I’d refused to take only moments ago.
He was telling the truth.
“Why?” The question was barely audible, even in the quiet room.
“My reasons are my own.”
The tension amped up again. Why couldn’t he give me a straight answer? Was it so hard to be honest? Whatever the truth was, I wanted to hear it.
But it was useless to press him. He was a stone wall.
“I want you to leave Pepper, Grey Paws, and anything to do with it alone. If you so much as think about them, this arrangement ends. And if you can’t agree to that, this is done.” I was exhausted. I didn’t want to screw around anymore. Being in this house was taking its toll. My father had anticipated that. He was winning.
“I won’t think of them if you won’t.”
“No.” The response was out of my mouth like a reflex.
“Very well.”
One of my brows shot up. Had he conceded that easily?
“You’ll start immediately. I expect you to dress and conduct yourself like a Hollingsworth.”
It occurred to me the man had on a suit late in the evening as he worked from home. Never take off the armor.
“In other words, don’t embarrass you,” I said snidely.
He remained unmoved by my attitude. As if he expected it. “The standard is much higher for my son.”
“Lincoln more than measures up.”
“I was referring to you.”
Internally, I jolted. He didn’t treat me like a father should a son. There was no respect between us. Nothing but hatred and bitterness.
“I’m not your son anymore.”
His gaze was intense as he looked at me.
“You’ll always be my boy.”
Chapter Fifteen
Pepper
“This isn’t like him to disappear.”
Beau fisted the side of her flowy skirt.
“He’s not required to report his every move to us.” Lincoln paced in front of the reception desk.
“You’re the one who started this panic,” she pointed out.
“I don’t think your father would harm him.” Miss Adeline had been unusually quiet all day. With all the frenzy, I hadn’t had time to consider it. But she wasn’t herself.
“We don’t know what he’s capable of,” Lincoln argued.
I had an idea. But while I was in Mr. Hollingsworth’s presence, I never had the impression he wanted to hurt me. Intimidate? Frighten? Absolutely.
If physical harm was his aim, he’d had the chance. Although, if he’d felt roughing me up would’ve made me do as he wished, he might have taken that step. Thank goodness it hadn’t come to that.
Everyone jumped at the sound of Lincoln’s phone. He answered in point two seconds.
He turned his back as he listened to whoever was on the other end.
“Thank you,” he said before he shoved the phone back into his pocket and sagged against the desk. “He was at Dad’s house.”
Beau’s eyes rounded. “Teague hasn’t been there since he graduated from college.”
The concern in her voice heightened mine.
Lincoln fished out his phone again. “I’m calling him.”
“Dad?”
He rolled his eyes. “Teague.”
Lincoln had been here a couple hours. Not long after he’d arrived, Beau showed up. It seemed instead of a dog rescue, we were running a search party headquarters.
I just wanted everything to go back to normal.
“Where are you?” Lincoln snapped, though he briefly closed his eyes in relief.
“Put it on speaker,” Beau hissed, diving for the phone.
“On my way to the mailroom. Apparently I have to wear a suit.”
I hadn’t realized how worried I’d been until I heard his voice. His words gave me no comfort. He’d given up his freedom, the life he loved . . . for me.
“Don’t do this,” I pleaded. I couldn’t let him do the thing he’d avoided all of his adult life. Miss Adeline and I would figure something out.
“It’s already done.” He sounded resolute with a note of acceptance.
“You’re going to regret this,” Beau said as she dropped her chin to her chest.
“Not if he holds up his end of the deal.” There was steel in his tone.
Beau snapped her head up.
“What did you do?” Lincoln asked carefully.
“It doesn't matter." There was defeat in Teague's voice.
"You can't trust him.” Desperation wove through every syllable.
“I don't have a choice. At least I'll be in the mailroom.”
I hated how detached he was. That he was forced into this because of me.
“It’s after eleven. Mail won’t be delivered for hours.”
It surprised me that Lincoln would know the inner workings of their whole company. He didn’t strike me as one who’d bother with anything beyond his role. That wasn’t fair. It was more like I didn’t think he’d have the time. Guess I was wrong.
“And you think that matters to him?” Teague asked bitterly.
“We’ll meet you there.” Beau grabbed her coat and slid her slender arms into the sleeves.
“What? No. I’m fine.”
Lincoln pushed off the desk. “See you in twenty.”
He hung up before Teague could argue.
I marveled at the support of this family. It seemed no matter if one of them struggled, the others rallied around them. Even if that meant staying up all night working in a mailroom. And risking their father’s wrath.
“I’ll come with you.” Teague had done so much for me. I couldn’t begin to repay him, but I could try.
“No.” Beau shook her head vehemently. “That’s not a good idea.”
“She’s right,” Lincoln chimed in. “We don’t know why our father is so determined to close this place, but my guess is Teague’s deal has squashed that for the moment. Let’s not unnecessarily provoke Father.”
I wanted to argue. I didn’t like sitting on the sidelines when there was something I could do. But I refused to make Teague’s life any more difficult than it had just become.
“Okay,” I conceded quietly.
I let them out the front door and locked it behind them.
Miss Adeline stared at a spot on the desk as if in a daze.
“You’ve been quiet.” I tilted my head. “Come to think of it, you’ve been absent too.”
“This isn’t the end, Pepper.” She lifted her tired gaze to mine. “It’s a temporary truce.”
I plopped into the other chair. “I know.”