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“Good.” I hesitate to reveal too much about what went down at the meeting. Only because I’ve gathered that Brontë is a private person and I’m sure the last thing she’d want is me stirring up drama by getting her father involved, especially after how she reacted to me stepping in. “That daughter of yours has a good head on her shoulders. Even after just a week at Archer, I could see her financial prowess.”
“Told you,” he says before smacking the ball hard, sending it soaring down the fairway. “She’s not only smart, but she’s a critical thinker. I think we both know those bright young minds that come out of some of the best institutions, but the kids can’t tell their head from their ass because they’re only book smart.” He shakes his head in frustration and I know where he’s coming from. I’ve hired a few top-of-their-class graduates, only to realize they need someone to babysit them because they’re too scared to take risks and make judgment calls.
“Well, I can tell you with absolute certainty that isn’t the case with Brontë. Half the stuff I had hoped she would do, I didn’t even have to tell her to do. Once I gave her the first stack of financials from Pierce, she ran with them. She came back with not only an in-depth analysis but projections.”
He chuckles. “Her mother was the same, you know? That’s why I told you last time I don’t like the idea of her wasting her talents by working for some charity. Sure, it’s a good cause but she could make more of an impact if she worked somewhere she could make a lot of money and help people out that way, then donate and volunteer on the weekends like you do.”
I don’t want to stick my nose where it doesn’t belong, but I also don’t love the idea of someone as young as Brontë not doing what they love because of an outside influence from a parent, no matter how well-intentioned it might be.
“As long as she’s happy in her career choice, that’s the most important thing, right?” I look over at Jonas in the golf cart. He nods his head like he’s thinking.
“Maybe you’re right. I guess I’m thinking more as a businessman than a father. Her mother, Nadine, did an amazing job raising her. I don’t regret that even though I regret how things ended between me and her.”
“Do you ever regret that you and Nadine didn’t end up together?”
He shakes his head. “Nah. It was for the best, trust me. Nadine didn’t want a life with me and I don’t blame her. I was a shit husband and father at the time. I do regret cheating on her, hurting her the way I did, and not being involved in Brontë’s life for so long.”
Jonas and I have been good friends for many years now, but we’ve never delved too deep into what happened in his past with Brontë. I find myself wanting to know more now that I know her. Maybe it’s out of pure curiosity or maybe it’s because I want to know what makes her, her.
“So after you and Nadine split, did you just disappear out of her life?”
“Unfortunately, yes.” He looks over at me and I can see the heavy pang of regret in his eyes. “I was so consumed with building Ramsay Consulting that I would forget visits and birthdays. I disappointed her one too many times and Nadine said that was enough. I’m either in or out, and I chose out because I had convinced myself it was for the best, that it would be better for Brontë to not know who her deadbeat father was… but I was wrong. I’d reach out a few times a year, show up to a school function or holiday, but it was never regular and it clearly wasn’t welcome. By the time she was about thirteen, I tried to come back into her life, really make an effort to mend our relationship, but she told me it was too late. Less than a year later, her mother let her file paperwork to legally change her last name to Spencer, Nadine’s last name, and remove me.”
“Shit.” I place my hand on his shoulder and hang my head. “I didn’t realize all that, man. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bring all that up.”
“No, I deserved it. That’s why I’m just beyond grateful that she wants anything to do with me now. I’m grateful that Nadine wanted her to reach out to me in her final months.”
“Is that why she reconnected?”
He nods. “Nadine made her promise she would try to mend her relationship with me. I think it took a while, about two years after her mother passed for Brontë to reach out. I think it also helped that she had two younger brothers she didn’t know. Thank God for Chantelle; she’s been the bridge between us and she’s done so much to help Brontë and be somewhat of a motherly figure to her even though they’re only ten years apart.”
I perk up. I had completely forgotten that Chantelle was twenty years younger than Jonas. In fact, they were about the same age as Brontë and I right now when they started dating.
So technically, if anything did happen, he couldn’t be pissed about that… right?
“Her mother and I actually made up a few years before she passed, became good friends again.”
“Really? Does Brontë know that?”
“Not yet. I plan on telling her at her twenty-fifth birthday party at the house. I have something else I need to discuss with her anyway. You’re coming to that, right?”
“To what?”
“Brontë’s birthday party. Chantelle is throwing it at the house. It’ll be laid back. The kids will be in the pool, I’m sure.”
“You want me to come?” I chuckle. “I’m not sure Brontë will love seeing her boss over a weekend.”
“Nonsense.” He waves away my comment. “It’s just us and her. You’re family, Beckham; you know that. You better be there or Chantelle will be upset.”
I swallow down the anxiety in my throat and tell myself to relax. It won’t be a big deal if she sees me on a weekend and it’s not like anyone will know what transpired between us last night.
“Thanks for letting me blow off some steam about all this. Sometimes I feel like I’m drowning in immense guilt because of my past.” He looks over at me. “But I got a second chance with my girl, and I can tell you without a doubt”—he lifts his golf club and points it toward me—“I’ll do anything in my power to keep her in my life and damn anything or anyone who tries to ruin it because I’ll destroy them.”
Fuck. Yup, definitely need to make sure she and I are on the same page about our relationship because there’s no way in hell I’m ending up on Jonas Ramsey’s shit list.
After our golf outing, I make a mental note to call Brontë into my office tomorrow to make sure she knows how much of a mistake I feel last night was.
* * *
