Beautiful Entourage (31 page)

He didn’t already know that?

“The truth of who I was as a person and parent hit me hard. I realized every horrible thing I said to you. All the jabs I made, all the hurtful things I said, and every time I ignored you when you clearly needed me…echoed in my mind. Instead of taking your side when I should have, I put myself first. I only cared about myself, not my daughter, who’s beautiful, smart, and wonderful. How you put up with me for so long is beyond my understanding.”

That was the last thing I expected him to say. Not only did he admit his faults but he seemed contrite. He actually admitted his behavior was wrong. That was the first time such a thing has ever happened.

“When you said you wished I were dead—” He paused for a long time. “I realized just how much I messed up. And when I realized I didn’t blame you for feeling that way…I knew I was not only a terrible father but a terrible person.”

I didn’t agree with or deny his statement.

“I realize it’s probably too late to salvage anything between us, and you have every right not to want to speak to me again, but…I’d really like another chance to be a real father to you. It’s unfortunate that I only understood your worth once you were gone, but I do understand it, and I appreciate it. If there’s any way you can give me another chance, I would like to prove I can make this right.”

His words echoed in my mind long after he said them. “You’re asking for a lot. This abuse hasn’t just occurred when I worked with you. It’s been going on my whole life. You can’t just erase that.”

“I’m not trying to erase it,” he said quickly. “I want to start over and build a new relationship. I don’t expect you to trust me or even like me. But maybe you will—someday.”

I didn’t realize how hard it would be to give someone another chance. I was tired of being hurt and stabbed in the back. It was time for a change. I would only accept people who genuinely cared about me.

“I can tell that’s not an easy request,” he said quietly.

I met his look and didn’t speak.

“I also came here to give you something. I hope you’ll take it.”

Flowers and candy won’t fix this.

“I’ve been at the company for far too long, and I do a piss poor job running it. Everything you said about me was true. I’m a selfish man who cares more about his personal interests than other people. You, on the other hand, are nothing like that. So, I’m offering you the CEO position—if you still want it.”

I froze at his words, unable to believe he just said them. I’d been working for this for years, and now he just offered it to me. I hadn’t married a respectable man and I hadn’t accomplished anything noteworthy.

“I’ll retire and play golf—pretty much what I was doing anyway. It’s time for me to step down. Honestly, I don’t really care about that company anymore, as you’ve probably figured out.”

I gave him a suspicious look, wondering if there was a catch to his offer. “I’m not married and I don’t plan to be anytime soon.”

“Your personal life is irrelevant to your job. Do what you want, Aspen.”

“You don’t care about your image anymore?” I questioned, not believing it.

“No. I just want you to be happy.”

I wondered how sincere he was being. People often said one thing then took it back when the circumstances changed. “Rhett and I are madly in love but that’s not how we started. He’s an escort that I hired to pose as my boyfriend so you would give me the company. Somewhere down the road, people are going to figure it out, and that will ruin your image.”

Dad looked at the floor, clearly caught off guard by what I said. “You hired someone to pretend to be your boyfriend?”

“I was desperate,” I admitted. “I was sick of you making me feel terrible about John.”

He nodded. “My afflictions run far below the surface, don’t they?”

The question sounded rhetorical so I didn’t speak.

“Aspen, that doesn’t matter. If the truth gets out, it gets out. Do what you want and be happy. The opinions of people you don’t even know are irrelevant.”

I couldn’t hide my surprise. Once I admitted the truth about Rhett, I assumed it would change everything. “Really?”

“Really,” he said. “You need to be in that office, Aspen. Not me. I hope you’ll accept my offer.”

“Is it conditional?”

“No. I’m not asking for anything in return—except a chance.”

I considered his offer for a long time in silence.

“Please take it, Aspen. You deserve it.”

“If I take it, it doesn’t mean that I’ll ever forgive you.”

“I understand that. These things take time.”

Taking over the company was exactly what I wanted. I was passionate about it and I cared about it. It mattered to me. It wasn’t just a job. It was more than that. “Then I accept.”

A hint of a smile crept into his lips. “That’s wonderful. I’m glad.”

I looked at the ground, unsure what to do.

“So…if you aren’t busy, do you want to get some ice cream?” His voice sounded hesitant.

My eyes found his and I stared at him in shock. I told him I was hurt he never spent any time with me, never took me out for ice cream. And he remembered. Just that alone was a good start. “Sure.”

“And invite Rhett,” he said. “I’d like to get to know him better.”

I smiled at him for the first time in my life. “Okay.”

***

Dad stared at my monster sundae with a hint of amusement. “You’re going to eat that all by yourself?”

“And she’ll eat hers faster than I’ll eat mine.” Rhett nudged me in the side playfully.

I speared my spoon into his bowl then shoved the ice cream into my mouth.

Rhett turned to Dad and shook his head. “She’s a bit of a thief and a cheater.”

“A cheater?” Dad asked.

“Every time we play Battlefield, she creams me,” Rhett said. “I think she has something up her sleeve.”

“Did you ever consider the possibility that you might just suck?” I asked.

He nudged me in the side again. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

“You’re lucky I love you.”

I stole another bite of ice cream.

He growled at me.

Dad watched our interaction. “This is serious, isn’t it?” There wasn’t disappointment in his voice.

“Very,” Rhett said as he looked at me. “I asked her to move in with me, actually.”

“I agreed but now I’m not so sure.” I gave him a teasing look.

“The only reason why I offered is so I’ll learn your secrets,” Rhett said. “I’ll get to the bottom of your unusual game-playing talents.”

“Good luck with that,” I said sarcastically.

“So Rhett,” Dad said. “You’re an escort?”

I suspected this would come up eventually.

“Yes,” Rhett said with confidence. “I founded the company years ago. I escort men and women—”

“Men?” I asked.

“Yeah,” he said simply. “So?”

“I just didn’t know that,” I said with a shrug.

Rhett turned back to my father. “I pose as a boyfriend and only allow handholding and waist touching. There’s no kissing or anything more intimate involved. I like my job and Aspen doesn’t mind it.”

“I don’t,” I said. “But if any girls get the wrong idea, I’ll take them out.”

“I’d like to see that,” Rhett said with a smile.

I acted like I was clawing someone.

Dad stared at us blankly. “As long as you’re happy, then I’m happy.”

He was really trying.

“The fact you started your own company is impressive,” he said.

“Thanks,” Rhett said. “I like being my own boss.”

“Is this lucrative?” Dad asked.

“Dad.” I gave him a pissed look.

“Sorry.” Dad held up his hands in surrender. “My apologies. I didn’t mean to be rude.”

“It’s okay,” Rhett said. “Every father wants to know his daughter is well taken care of. To answer your question, I do very well and made smart investments so Aspen will want for nothing. I’m not loaded by any means, but I’m more than happy with that salary.”

Dad nodded. “That’s very impressive. Congratulations.”

“Thank you,” Rhett said.

“You make way more than I do,” I said with a laugh.

“Not anymore,” Dad said. “Now you’re a very wealthy woman.”

“Ooh…” Rhett leaned toward me. “You’re my sugar mama now.”

“I am, aren’t I?” I snatched his cherry then ate it.

“But you can always have my cherries,” he said.

Dad continued to watch us. “You two remind me of me and my late wife. We were very playful together. The moment we met, we just knew it would last forever.”

Dad never talked about Mom, even when she was alive.

Rhett nodded. “I think I can speak for Aspen when I say we feel the same way.”

“We do?” I asked with a smile.

“Would I have asked you to move in if I thought otherwise?”

“No, probably not.”

“You’re my future wife,” he said. “I just know it.”

My heart melted when I looked at him. When I first saw him in that coffee shop, I never expected an intense love affair to happen. I assumed a gorgeous man like him could never want an average woman like me. And I never expected our souls to connect in such a profound way. It seemed like I’d known Rhett my whole life, that the past had always included him even if I couldn’t recall it.

Dad looked down. “Aspen, I’m sorry I forced John on you. Now I feel even worse.”

I turned to him and saw the remorse in his eyes. “It’s okay, Dad. I forgive you.”

His lips upturned in a smile. “You do?”

“Yeah.”

Rhett put his arms around my shoulders and held me close. “To new beginnings.” He held up his cup of ice cream then clanked it against mine. Then he tapped his against my dad’s.

I held mine and pressed it against my father’s. “To new beginnings.”