Page 96 of Baby Daddy

“I have a no tolerance policy for liars. Transparency is everything to me.”

“Dee didn’t lie,” I interjected. “It’s not her fault.”

“Be quiet, son,” chided my father. “Let Gunther talk.”

Clearing his throat, Gunther looked at me pointedly. “Moreover, there’s no way I could have a CEO married to a woman of that sort. We are a family-oriented business, and if her background got out, as I’m sure it would, it would tarnish our image and credibility. Image is everything.”

I swallowed back the painful lump in my throat. His words were like arrows to my chest, not because he was criticizing me, but because he was attacking Dee. My love. A good human being and mom. The woman who had stolen my heart, together with her beautiful little girl.

Gunther cleared his throat again, and then his steely eyes locked with my father’s. “Orson, the deal is off.”

I glanced at my father’s fallen face. I’d blown it for him. And I’d blown whatever chance I’d had with Dee. I loathed Krizia, but I loathed myself more. As unbearable failure and sorrow devoured me, Gunther stalked off with his wife.