Page 110 of The Betrayal
“She's twenty-two next week, hardly barely legal... don't be dramatic Titus. It really doesn't look good on you,” my brows furrow as I keep my eyes on my screen.
“And marry her,” he finishes.
I sigh, leaning back in my chair, fingers locked and resting in my lap as I let my eyes lift to meet his.
“And what?” my brows sit high in my head, lips turned down slightly as I wait for his response.
“Well,” he stands, hands tucked into his pockets.
“I'm not happy about it.”
“Right?”
Silence.
“Titus, man, I am fucking busy. Have you got something to say or?”
“I want you to divorce Arizona.”
My eyes widen, my back straightens, sitting a little taller in my chair.
“And why would I do that?”
“Because she's my daughter and I don't like it.”
“I don't like you at the minute but hey,” I shake my head from side to side and I watch as he stands up, not sure if he thinks I am threatened by him; I'm not.
“She isn't some victory, I know you told me you love her, but I have a hard time believing that,” and that really gets under my skin. I scoff, clenching my jaw and the prominent ache is evident.
“Never thought she was a victory... and I do love her. Not sure when I had to start explaining my feelings to you.”
“When you married my daughter while drunk.”
“We planned it before we were drunk.”
“I have a hard time believing that too.”
“Do you? Really? Because you and Ari are really close? Bullshit Titus. Don't believe me, ask Killian, ask Reese, ask them if I dragged her down the aisle of the little white chapel of love in Vegas and forced her to marry me.”
I stand from my own desk, and I am fucking raging.
“Don't.”
“Don't what? I'm just stating facts Titus and you don't fucking like it.” He crosses his arms across his chest tightly. “Maybe you should spend a bit more time wanting to fix your relationship with your daughter instead of wedging yourself up my ass with your bullshit.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” I pace round the side of my desk so we're standing toe to toe. “You know nothing about her, so please don't come in here acting like dad of the fucking year. I get she's stubborn, but fuck, please show me how you've tried to make it right with her and don't even try and redeem yourself with her birthday dinner.” I sigh, “I love you man, I really do. You're my best friend but please, back the fuck down and get out of my face. I love her and she loves me. You want her happy and loved, don't you?” He says nothing. “Fuck this, I don't care if you don't. I am done with this bullshit Titus. Just fuck off and leave me alone,” and that's when he hits me.
Fist to jaw and fuck my life.
It hurt.
I swear my jaw dislocated. My eyes feel like they’re spinning in my head.
“Don't ever fucking talk to me like that again. I have every fucking right to voice my thoughts when it comes to my daughter. Don't think just because you're married that I am going to let you both ride off into the sunset. You don't deserve her. She deserves a lot better than you. I know that and so do you. So, stop with your bullshit Keaton.” His voice is loud and stern, and I know better than to answer him back.
Guy's a cunt.