Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 81977 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81977 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
He led us to his living room and took a seat on the couch while pointing me to one of the two armchairs across from him. I ignored him and remained standing, first tenet of the top dog. Always hold the position of power. There was a huge portrait of who I assumed was Ashley's deceased mother over the fireplace mantle.
That more than anything in my reports told me about the man. It also helped me to understand a little better why he was raising his daughter the way he was. I felt the first niggling of anger hit my gut but held it at bay.
It was never a good thing to jump the gun. Things could appear one way on paper and be entirely different in reality. This was a delicate situation so I thought it best to proceed with caution, feel him out so to speak.
One wrong move on his part though and I'll show him just who the fuck he was dealing with. I came here with the words of the report fresh in my mind, but yet willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. So far I wasn’t too impressed with what I’d seen.
"Before we begin let me just say that I have with me any documents you might need to verify anything I might say to you." I saw the confusion cross his face.
"You said this was personal?"
"Yes, I'll get to that. I think you should know I've had you investigated before coming here today. Both your personal and professional life, and though you may not know me, I am an honest, upstanding man of my word."
"I've heard of you, who in these parts haven't?" He leaned forward with a look of what the hell is this about on his face but I wasn’t ready to give him anything quite yet.
"Good, I have a reputation in the business world that's quite separate from who I am as a man. I like to keep my personal life just that, personal."
"Well what is it that you think I can do for you Mr. Thorpe?"
"Gideon please, and it's quite simple. I want your daughter. No let me reiterate, I mean to have your daughter." Never beat around the bush, it's just a waste of fucking time. His anger was instantaneous, and expected.
"Get the hell out of my house." He got to his feet in anger but that little show of aggression didn't phase me, I stood my ground and stared him down. "No."
"What?" He stumbled back as if I’d hit him. I could imagine a man in his position accustomed to giving orders and having them followed without question would have a hard time with the word. I wonder how often he’d let her say the word? The fuck.
"I came here in good faith when I really didn't need to, as a courtesy, out of...respect I guess you can say. But we both know that there was no need. Ashley is of age after all..."
"But she's still under my care."
"For now, yes, and if you handle this the right way, she just might remain there for a little while longer. But if you force my hand I'm afraid I will take her away from you completely."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"It's quite simple, I want your daughter, I want to take care of her, and who knows, maybe this thing could last forever, as it stands I don't see my future without her in it. I can make her very happy in life. Or you can leave her to the wiles of some young buck who might use and discard her..."
"My daughter does not date." He was turning red with anger and it gave me pause. There was something more going on here than just a man concerned with the welfare of his young daughter and more than the initial report had intimated though what we’d found was fucked up enough.
What that something was I'll have to wait until the more in depth report I'd ordered was in front of me. All I cared about right now was paving the way to her and my relationship.
"How long do you think that will last, hmm? Do you think to keep her under lock and key for the rest of her life? Is that what your dear wife would've wanted for her only daughter?"
"You know nothing of my wife."
"Bit of a free spirit our Dana wasn't she? Tell me, does your daughter know that you blame her for her mother's death?"
He turned white as a sheet and looked around the room as if seeking an escape.
"You can't, you don't..."
"What, I can't know that? But I do, like I said, I had you investigated, not just what you show the world, but what you do in secret. And yes I know about your secret rendezvous and what's said and done there." I smirked at him.