Page 61 of Ruin Me
Hal wasn’t ignorant to what Madison and I did, had even had the audacity to use her as a bargaining chip to save me from the board. He could never convince me he didn’t suspect what Madison and I would do in the privacy of our home.
“Look, Kent, I swear, the penthouse slipped out. I wasn’t thinking when I told her about it, and I didn’t even give her the code at first.”
I squeezed my fists, reliving the horror on Ife’s face and our subsequent fight.
“Kent, she tried your private elevator on her own. When it didn’t work, she sought me out and badgered me until I gave her the two codes. And before you ask me why I didn’t give her only one, she specifically asked for both. She wouldn’t leave me alone until I gave her what she wanted. What was I supposed to do? Have security escort the owner’s daughter off the property?”
“Man, leave.” Mal shook his head in disgust. “If I were in Kent’s shoes, I can’t say I’d forgive you for any of the shit you pulled. Especially because if she came to you, I know she went to Omar first and he didn’t fold.”
“I will, but before I do…” Hal turned beseeching eyes on me. “You’ve got to fix your relationship with Ife. If the board and the public see you as a united front, her presence would combat the negative press you’ve received. She’ll rebrand you as a family man and not a lady’s man, and the board?—”
“Hal, take a few days off. Work from home if you must, but if I see your face or hear your voice again in the next two minutes, I can damn well guarantee the police will arrest me for your murder, and I’ll say to hell with my public image.”
Hal shakily rose from his seat and backed out of the private room as if he were facing off a king cobra poised to spit venom in his eyes and bite him with an extra dose of the lethal serum.
If I had the ability, I would. Because of his handling of my daughter, Madison was in pain, and I was the cause. My daughter was in pain, and I was the cause. I was in pain, and no matter how I looked at my situation, there was too much hurt and not enough healing to go around while Ife refused to give me the time of day.
“Kent, man, I’m really sorry your situation is so fucked up.” Mal poured me another drink before serving himself. “If there’s anything I can do, just let me know.”
I swallowed everything in my glass. I wished I could feel the burn as the alcohol went down, but Mal had poured the smoothest cognac we carried at the lounge. I stared at my empty glass. “Because Ife walked in on me and Madison, my daughter’s cut herself off from her support network.” I shook my head, hating that I’d turned into a villain in my baby girl’s eyes.
“Maybe she just needs time.”
“That’s what I told Madison. The problem is Madison has me and her mom and dad. Ife’s alone.”
“That’s a real shitty hand you’ve been dealt. If I had a sister, I would send her to be Ife’s sounding board. Unfortunately, I only have an older brother, and he’s busy working for on the Second Family’s detail. Not that I’d expect you to want my brother anywhere near your daughter.”
“You’re right. I don’t know him, and I’d need more than you vouching for him before I’d ever ask him to look after my daughter when she’s vulnerable.”
“Do you want me to give you the name of a good therapist? I slept with… I briefly saw a therapist a few months ago. She might be able to help Ife put your and Madison’s relationship into perspective.”
I stared at Mal as an idea popped into my head. “You stayed away from Madison after I warned you.”
“I took her to lunch.”
“Because I was being a dick to her. Plus, the minute I mentioned work you forgot she existed. I knew then you were fucking with me and had no intentions toward her.”
“True, getting one over on you does entertain me. So, what does that have to do with Ife?”
“I can trust you to be the shoulder she needs until she gets her equilibrium back. You’ll listen to her problems and be the ear she needs without crossing the line.”
“What? No. What you’re proposing sounds a lot like babysitting. I’ve got my own life and playing support animal and pseudo therapist to a heartsick woman is not my idea of a good time.”
“Mal, I’ll owe you big if you do me this favor. If Ife spirals because she’s never dealt with a loss like this, I don’t know what I’ll do.”
Mal’s horror at my suggestion turned to pity. “You could mitigate her loss. Put her above Madison. You said yourself, Madison has her mom and dad. You and Ife would have each other in the fallout.”
“If only.” I shook my head. “If I choose my daughter over Madison, Madison will also lose everything for the second time, but worse. She’ll move away like she did after high school and she’ll never return. This time, she won’t have Ife to serve as a buffer for her loss. For years, Madison endured pain because of me. I can’t be the reason she goes back to that nonexistence. Please, Mal, do me a solid,” I begged, trying to protect my daughter and the woman I loved at the same time.
“Fuck me.” Mal poured himself another drink.
“Does that mean yes?”
He raised his glass. “Farewell bachelorhood. Hello CFO nanny.” He downed his cognac with a grimace that wasn’t due to the drink but the coming days as he gave my daughter what I couldn’t.
CHAPTER 26
Madison