Dammit. I thought he’d been behind me, that I’d knocked his socks off. But it was all a charade to him. He was smiling because the rest of the board was smiling, and he didn’t want to make a scene.

I’d busted my ass to give him what he says he wants, and still, he isn’t happy.

“What?” I say sternly, readying myself for verbal warfare with him.

“I don’t get you, Ross. You are so brilliant, could do so much, but you persist in wasting your time, your life, with pie-in-the-sky dreams and transient pleasures. This venture won’t happen. It’s not sustainable, nor is this relationship with Violet.” He slams his hands on the table, fierce eyes boring into me for a moment before he puts his head in his hands.

He’s shaking his head, mumbling toward the table, but I can hear him perfectly well. “We gave you everything. Education, support, opportunity. Maybe that’s where we went wrong. You never had to work for anything, and now you’re distracted by every shiny new thing that flits in front of you.”

“Ouch,” I deadpan. “And fuck off, Dad.”

I don’t talk to him like that, crass and combative. It’s not our way, and his jerk of reaction shows that he didn’t expect it.

“Don’t you dare speak to me like that, Son.”

Not this time. “I have worked my ass off. I earned every grade I ever got, earned my spot on every football team, and earned my degree. Yes, obviously, I got my position here because of my last name, but that’s more of a hardship than a boon because every day, I have to prove that I deserve it. And I do. You know that. You watch my numbers. I know you do. Maybe my personal life hasn’t been the picture-perfect fantasy you envisioned, but I’m working on it. I love Violet, and she loves me, and we’re getting married.”

So much of what I just said is the truth. A tiny voice in the back of my head whispers . . . maybe all of it? But that’s not true. Violet and I are making progress, big strides toward a healthier relationship, but it’s not love. There’s no way after just a few days.

Dad takes a big breath in and then slowly lets it out. His eyes look out the window and then back to me. “She’ll sign a prenup.”

I huff. “She’s not a gold-digger. She could care less about my last name, but yes, she’ll sign a pre-nup. She knew you would require one, and she’s fine with that because she’s not marrying me for my money.”

He hums, like he’s tasting that statement for truth but still profoundly doubts it.

I’m done with this.

Let Dad suspect. Let Dad feel a bit emasculated as I lay the foundations for the future. This isn’t exactly corporate warfare. We’re on the same team. It’s more like a pro football team. He’s the old star quarterback, and I’m the young lion coming up.

Dad wants to hang onto the starting job. He wants the accolades.

But this isn’t college any longer. I’m not going on a four-year time limit like I was back then. And this isn’t football, where I was good, but not top-flight.

No. No, this time, I’ve got the skills, the insight, and the ability to be not just the starter, but an All-Star. Before my career’s over, I’m going to be hoisting a few championships and MVP awards of my own.

And he won’t stop me.

I don’t think there’s any way to make him happy, to make him see that I’m doing everything I can for this company, for him, for mom, for our family.

For Violet. For yourself.

I get up and walk down the hall, leaving him at the head of his empty table.

In my office, Courtney is perched on my desk like she owns the place, her phone in hand.

“I don’t have the time or the patience for this right now, Court. Get out,” I snap.

Courtney lifts one brow, talking into the phone. “Yeah, Mom. He’s right here. Let me put you on speaker.”

Fuck, just what I don’t need. More family pressure and drama.

“Ross, dear!” Mom’s chirpy voice comes through the speaker. “So glad to catch you!” I eyeball Courtney, promising revenge for whatever she’s pulling right now.

“Sure, Mom. What’s up?”

“Well, the Community Freedom Gala is this weekend, and I know you don’t usually like to attend, but I’ve been talking to everyone about my lovely daughter-in-law to be, and everyone can’t wait to meet her. You two simply have to come,” she says like that wouldn’t be the equivalent of lining us up in front of a firing squad.

“Mom, we’re pretty busy with wedding prep stuff, you know. I’m not sure we can fit that into the schedule,” I say, injecting regret into my voice even though there’s no way in hell I want to go to this shindig.

It’s one of the almost quarterly events where all the state’s rich and charitable get together to celebrate life, liberty, and patting yourself on the back for donating while drinking Moet. No, thank you.

“Nonsense. You’ll come and play nice.” There’s no room for argument in her tone this time. The gloves are off. “Also, we’d like to make Violet’s family our special guests. It’s been so many years since I saw Maria. I think it’s time we reunite if you kids are getting married.”

My mouth drops open and Courtney reaches forward to push it closed with one manicured finger. The smile on her face says she’s enjoying every bit of this.