Page 56 of The Damaged Billionaire's Obsession
“Thanks, Pops.”
“Grant tell you he’s coming home today?”
Grant is an architect but he does more photography these days. His artwork was celebrated all over New York last year and with Sabrina's help he ventured into Las Vegas a few months ago.
He turned out to be an even bigger deal in Las Vegas, and eventually moved to the city, but he still comes to New York for exhibitions. Until he left for Las Vegas, he lived in my home, so he’s free to come and go as he pleases.
“I’m sure he must have mentioned it.”
“Well, he is, so you’ll be home for dinner then? Ingrid is cooking, so don’t be late.”
Dad, Grant, and I pretty much existed in a world where the only rule that applied between us was love. Otherwise, everyone did what they liked, despite living in the same estate.
Since Ingrid his girlfriend, came into our lives, we’ve been made to conform to norms like family dinners at seven, camping trips, and vacations abroad. Thankfully, those times are few and far between.
Geez, why did I ring?“That's at 7 p.m.!” I protest. On days I don’t stay overnight in my office, I hardly leave before 11 p.m. “I’ll lose four good hours of work!”
“No, not four. You’ll lose at least five because you’ll leave there at six, which is when most normal people leave work, son. People with families. And there’s a family dinner tonight.”
I groan. “Fine, I’ll be there.”
“Good.” The whirring continues, and I also carry on with my work.
I never told him, or anyone else, about my ordeal with the excruciatingly painful surgery when I was sixteen. I’d always been a difficult and irritable teen with my eye condition,but after getting appendicitis, I became extremely volatile and nearly unmanageable.
My father had no idea what was wrong, but he was the most determined to help me. He didn’t have much, but Lucas Hawthorne had love. So much of it. And that in itself was healing.
“Mr. Hawthorne?” Will’s voice comes through the intercom. “Your three o'clock is here.”
Awesome. Erection problem sorted.
“Pops, I’ve gotta go, I’ll see you tonight.”
Chapter 16
Bonnie
I manage to getlunch at a decent time today, at the same time most people on the tech floors are having theirs.
Looking around the room, I realize how much I’ve missed their banter and conversation. A few of the guys are by the gaming section of the staff room, but the screen is large enough for everyone to enjoy the combat game.
After I left Ethan’s office yesterday, I tried to go back to work, but I was too angry, humiliated, and confused by what happened. By the time five o'clock rolled around, I was more than ready to leave, making it the earliest I've left work since starting this job.
Why is it that the one man I suddenly want after all these years is the one I can’t seem to have? Unless, as he says, he sees the “real me?”
What the hell does that even mean?I chew thoughtfully on my mixed-leaf salad, absently watching the game on the screen.
“Bonnie, it’s been ages!”
Owen comes to sit next to me, having just lost his round of combat, and passed over the controls to someone else.
“You’ve gotten better since last time, Owen,” I say, referring to the week of orientation when he and I went everywhere together and took our lunches here.
“That was ages ago, Bonnie. Now, I actually last a good ten minutes in the ring.”
“Is Logan still the champion?” I ask, referring to the fresh-faced intern who started around the same time that we did.
“Undefeated. We might need to organize a tournament with the best in other companies. Anyway, Bonnie, it's nice to have you back!”