No Kissing Allowed (No Kissing Allowed #1)(46)
“What, she can’t even speak in your presence? She’s your PA, for Christ’s sake.”
Stuart cut his eyes over to Aidan. “If you came here to argue, you can leave.”
Aidan released a slow, patient breath. “I came here to check on you. To make sure you’re okay.”
“I don’t need you checking up on me. I’m fine.”
Aidan huffed loudly, and I placed a hand on his leg, hoping to settle him. We’d just arrived, and already they were arguing. “I’m the only family you’ve got, and you suffered a nearly fatal heart attack. Your doctor said it could happen again.”
“I see. So you came to talk about your inheritance.”
“What? You think I came here for your money? You think I need your money?”
“You sound like your mother. Stubborn to the bone. Everyone needs money.”
Aidan’s jaw locked. “You don’t get to talk about her. Do you understand? You are never to talk about her. She loved you, did everything for you, and you left without a backward glance.”
Stuart’s gaze held on Aidan. “She could never do anything for herself. Like most women. Needy. Insecure. It was exhausting.” His eyes drifted to me before returning to Aidan. “I would have expected you to learn this by now. After all, we’re exactly the same. Isn’t that what the article in Businessweek said? ‘Like father, like son.’”
Aidan swallowed hard, his hands clenched tightly around his knees, like he needed something to grasp to keep from losing it. “Look, it’s been a long time since we talked. I came here because I didn’t want the last time I saw you to be us pretending we were strangers at an expo.”
“Aren’t we strangers? I can’t remember the last time you were here, the last time we spoke without yelling.”
“And whose fault is that?” Aidan spit out. “But I’m trying here.”
Stuart turned to his son for the first time. “No, what you’re trying to do is protect your conscience. Well, consider it cleared. And if you came here for some last-ditch moment with me, some hint at fatherly advice, then here it is: I’ve got more money than I can spend, and yet I sit here dying with a weak heart. How is that for irony? You go ahead. Conquer the advertising world, and at the end of the day, at the end of your life, you’ll be just like me. Married to some spineless woman, with a half version of yourself for a son, and a successful empire that at the end of the day all amounted to nothing.”
Aidan stood slowly, like he was seeing his father clearly for the first time. “You know, I always had hope that you would change. That you’d see the error of your ways and become the kind of man I could respect. But no, you are and will always be a self-centered bastard. I came here to try to do the right thing, but I can see that’s not possible with you.”
Whitney had just come out with our lunch, but Aidan was done. He took my hand, beckoning me to follow him, then stopped beside her. “I’m sorry. I can’t stay. Let me know if you need anything. But don’t ask me to come here again.” Then he closed the door behind us, me fighting to keep pace as we left the house and slipped back into the car.
“Aidan,” I said. “We came all this way. Shouldn’t you—”
“Did you hear what he just said?”
“Yes, but he’s your father.”
“So what?” He tossed his hands in the air. “So f*cking what? He has never once acted like a f*cking father.” He focused out the car window, his chest heaving as he tried to rein in his anger. “I can’t believe I let Whitney talk me into coming here. This was a mistake. And he’s right. We’re the exact same, him and me. Which is why I never should have—” He stopped suddenly and swallowed hard before putting the car in drive.
My insides buzzed with dread. “Never should have what?”
His broken gaze turned on me. “I’m not capable of being anything more than that man you saw in there. I’ve wanted success more than anything, just like him. I crave it. And I refuse to drag you down that path.”
“You didn’t drag me anywhere. I want to be here.”
“I know. But maybe this isn’t healthy anymore. Maybe we should…”
“What?”
Aidan stared back out the windshield. “I’m leaving for London tomorrow for three days.”
“You’re leaving? Why didn’t you tell me?”
He shook his head. “I wasn’t sure I could leave. But now I think maybe it’s good timing.”
“Good timing? Are you saying you want to take a break?” My heart hurt with each word, but as I watched Aidan struggle through this tiny visit with his father, I wondered if this was too much for him. For me. I wanted to focus on my career, just like him, and suddenly, all my thoughts were revolving around this man, hoping beyond hope that he would see us clearly. That he’d want to fight for us.
“No. But I want you to think about this and if it’s really what you want.”
Crossing my arms, I settled back into my seat without responding, afraid to look at him for fear I would show just how much this hurt me.
How could two days have changed so much?
Chapter Twenty-Three
“You are not going to believe what I just heard,” Alexa said as she slipped into my cubicle. Monday came too quickly, and even though I knew I needed to put on a happy “my life rocks” face, I couldn’t ignore how sad I felt. Aidan left for London with a quick text that he would miss me, but I refused to allow the words to settle in my heart like they should. I didn’t want to focus on what he felt for me, and I for him, when it could all be over the moment he returned.