Page 68 of Ruin Me
She folded her arms and looked away, making it clear my begging and pleading offended her. Ife maintained her position for a full minute before sighing. “Mads, you sit there pretending like you aren’t the one with all the power here.”
“Me? How? I don’t own any shares, nor do I have influence over the other shareholders.”
“But you have sway over two important ones, don’t you? And for you to get those votes aligned, you only have to do one thing.”
Her implication horrified and broke my heart in the same blow. “You’re willing to leverage your shares if I leave your father?” I forced the words past my dry lips.
“Now you get it. If you want to know if there’s someone pulling Hal’s strings, you have to promise to walk away from us. Forever.”
CHAPTER 29
Kent
I checked my reflection for the tenth time in twenty seconds, despite the curious hostess waiting to seat me. I’d refused her offer, preferring to wait for Ife’s arrival before going to our table. As I waited at my daughter’s favorite restaurant, I hoped this meeting would give me the opening I needed to begin reconciling with her.
Not a day went by that I hadn’t lamented the closeness we had. She still hadn’t shared what had brought her back to Douglas. In other visits, I would have spoiled her with shopping trips, dinners, and other bribes to tempt her to move home and seriously consider her future at my company. Although I never pressured her to take over, I would be overjoyed for her to continue a tradition I started.
“You came.” Ife’s voice held a note of surprise that hurt.
“Of course. I told you, I’ll always show up for you.” I reached out to her but she stepped away, and I allowed my hand to fall.
Ife caught the hostess’ eye. Without a word, the woman led us to a private dining room. Ife arched her brow at me but said nothing.
I explained the choice anyway. “For privacy.”
She hummed her understanding. If things became contentious, we wouldn’t become fodder for Douglas’ society gossip magazines.
After the hostess sat us, we stared at each other in silence. Ife wore an invisible armor I hoped to breach while I hid nothing from her penetrating gaze.
“Have you changed your mind about Mads?”
I snapped my napkin open and laid it on my lap. “Starting off strong, I see.” I reached for the menu. “I wonder what tonight’s specials are.”
“Why don’t you stop deflecting and answ?—”
She stopped mid sentence as our server arrived. We quickly gave him our order while Ife watched him leave until the door closed behind him.
“Dad, I deserve an answer.”
I slammed the menu closed, irked by her demand. “And what do I deserve, Ife?”
She paused while reaching for her water goblet. “What do you mean?”
“Exactly what I asked.”
She changed her selection, and instead of sipping from her water, she drained her wine. “I still don’t understand your purpose.”
“Your mother died eight years ag?—”
“Don’t you bring her into this.” Ife slammed her hand against the table. “I know more than anyone else how long she’s been gone, all the things she missed out on.” She inhaled a shaky breath. “I still talk to her, you know.”
“As you should. It took me years to get to where I could say her name without breaking apart. Now, I have conversations with her. Mostly about you. How proud I am of everything you’ve accomplished, as well as my concerns as your father.”
“But you moved on. You found companionship with other women.”
“No, Ife. Those women allowed me to hide from myself. They never touched me in any meaningful way. And companionship? They were never close to offering me that.”
“But Mads does? She’s young enough to be your daughter.”