“My gilded cage. Lucky me.” I pushed to my feet. “I want to go to Vanguard.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
He looked thoughtful. “If you perform to a satisfactory level this evening, I will consider taking you with me to Vanguard. Now sit and finish your breakfast.”
I sat back down immediately, tingling with expectancy as his dominance vibrated through me, my nipples beading at the way he’d barked that order. Why did his voice have such a primal effect on me?
Damien watched my reaction. “When you get home, pack a suitcase full of clothes. Something for every occasion.”
“Am I staying here again?”
“We need you ready for anything.” He pivoted and headed out.
A riot of morning sunlight surrounded me where there would one day be walls. Right now the structure was merely a husk and I felt a gut-wrenching panic that work had stopped abruptly on the Fairfield project.
How quickly life goes tits-up.
I’d been on a high since I’d awoken this morning, knowing Pandora was in my bed. Watching her sleep had been sublime.
We’d taken an important step forward with an authentic evening getting to know each other on an entirely new level—an evening spent in a dungeon that clung to my psyche as only a taste of perfection can. Truly, those were the best hours we’d spent together.
Here, now, was as low as it could get—some fucker had shut down construction.
A voice boomed from across the vastness. “Thank you for coming.”
Blinking through the dust, I turned to see the construction supervisor Al Shaffer, who approached me wearing a hard hat.
He gave a friendly wave. “Mr. Godman, a minute.”
Walking carefully along what would one day be a foyer, I joined him out on the street.
“Guess you heard we received a notice to close down all construction this morning,” he said.
I nodded. “Just glad no one’s been injured.”
“Nothing like that.”
“Who told you to shut down?”
“It came from your father’s office.”
Had I misheard him?
Hiding my reaction, I gave his hand a shake with the reassurance we’d be back on track by this afternoon. Getting this affordable housing off the ground—along with the adjacent after-school program—would be one of my proudest accomplishments. This place would inspire the youth who lived here. My ego told me we’d be making the sports champions of the future, giving kids the chance for a better life. Or at least produce a lifetime of friendships out of this forward-thinking setting.
Back in the car, I shot off an urgent text to Theo to schedule time with my dad. It was imperative I delivered the news before the press got word.
I drove to my father’s place in a blur.
Making it into the offices in record time, I braced for his reaction when he heard someone was interfering with my project. No doubt I’d have to face a barrage of questions that I wouldn’t have the answer to. Who the hell had shut it down?
Theo cut me off in the hallway. “Damien, he has a meeting. Can’t be interrupted. Walk with me.”
I followed him away from my father’s office, more out of politeness than anything. Theo worked around the clock to ensure Dad’s schedule went smoothly. Making his job easier was a courtesy.
I respected Tamer. Usually his judgment was as solid as it got.
He was also a member of Vanguard and we’d experienced some stellar times together at the society. Late nights spent at that place had seen us bonded like brothers. The secrets we kept were enough to destroy empires.
But apparently even Theo couldn’t rush me in to see Senator Godman on a day like this—even though he was my fucking dad, for God’s sake.
When we made it to a private office space, he asked, “Any updates?”
“That’s what I’m here for.”
He cringed. “Consider how you’re going to broach the subject.”
“Why?”
“The Senator is conflicted with the situation.”
“What does that mean?” With rising annoyance, I took in the round table and chairs in the room, remembering all the crisis meetings that had taken place here. I’d attended many of them as our team had strategized, putting out fires and lighting some, too.
It was me being handled in here now.
“We need to control the optics,” he said.
I stared at him, finally realizing the truth. “Did my dad shut us down?”
“Damien, let’s talk this through.”
“Years.” I clenched my fists. “I’ve been working on this for years.”
“I get it,” he said, lowering his voice. “Providing houses for lower income families was important to you.”
“You do realize you’re using the past tense, right, Theo?”
“There are many charitable projects that are important to your dad. You can get on board with those.”
“This was mine! The project had the public’s approval. This is what I brought to the table.” I rubbed my hand over my face, barely suppressing my fury. “Why shut it down?”
“Maybe this is a wise choice? We throw money at it…make it go away.”
“Why? What happened?”
“There was some other interest in the land.”
I took a deep breath. “I’m still in this fight.”
“I’ll do everything I can to turn his decision around.”
“He listens to you. Get me in that room.”
Theo shook his head. “Your father has meetings all morning.”
“Why do I feel like he’s avoiding me?” I headed for the door. “I’m going to see him.”
“Not yet.”
I was suddenly curious as to why Theo didn’t want me to see my dad. It was more than annoying—it was suspicious.
“Who’s in there with him?” I studied his reaction.
“Twelve years we’ve been friends. I’ve dedicated myself to your family,” he said softly.
“What are you insinuating? Your hands are tied? That whoever intercepted my project is unscrupulous.”
“You’re the only man I trust in this town, Damien.”
What the hell was his point here?
“We’re as close as two men can get,” he added.
“Why, because you’ve seen my dick?”
“And a very nice dick it is.”
I ignored his retort. “You know how important this is to me.”
“I will always be in your corner. You know that.” Theo always had a way of calming me. “I’ll put this on your dad’s desk as a top priority. See what I can do to get this decision reversed.”
“How could someone persuade him to do this to me?”
“No comment.”
“I get it,” I said, raking my fingers through my hair. “You can’t serve two masters.”
“Right.”
“Do you have a cigarette?”
“You gave up smoking, didn’t you?”
“No comment.”
“I gave it up because you gave it up.” He slapped his arm, where I assumed a nicotine patch was stuck to his bicep. “That’s why I’m wearing this shit. This was your fucking idea.”