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“You should have listened to me and packed your bags then,” he replied dryly, walking to the bed where he sat.
“I fucked up dad. I messed up and deserved every bit of your anger. I’m sorry…. I’m sorry.”
“When I first got here, Sophie was just how you described her. Quiet, emotionless. Everyone around her was sad, I was too,” I started.
“The first time she spoke, she told me she liked my dress. It was more than words, Dad. It was happiness, for me and everyone around. For once in my life, I actually felt fulfilled in my dreams… I felt relevant.”
He held my gaze. I continued. “Packing my bags and leaving would mean walking out on her. It would mean letting the uncontrollable affect her. The little girl is innocent.”
He dropped his gaze to fix them on a small wooden chair by his side.
“I'm sorry about… everything. But I can't leave… just like that.”
I held my breath when he raised hardened eyes at me.
“Is this about Sophie or him?”
I swallowed. I wished I could say I was taken aback.
“It's…it’s about my passion.”
Was it really?
“Don't lie to me.” He shook his head, rising to his feet.
My heart picked up its harsh rhythm. “I fucking traveled twenty-five hours to come to wish you a happy birthday. I couldn't afford a plane ticket and went through the hassle of traveling by car. Do you know how hurtful it is to see what I saw? My best friend with my daughter on the kitchen counter?”
“… You betrayed my trust yet have the guts to tell me about passion?”
The anger in his tone started to climb higher. “I single-handedly raised you since you were fourteen. I know you, Evie… and I know when you're lying. This has everything to do with Ethan and little to do with Sophie.”
“I don't know why you're here when you’ve clearly made your choice.” He turned his back on me. “I will return to Minnesota tomorrow.”
twenty-nine
Ethan
"Any progress?”
"Yes, sir. I watched the footage from the night, and it appears to be one of your employees.”
I’d thought about it. But it yielded nothing.
My thoughts were all over the place. For the first time I couldn't think straight... because of James. It's why I left watching the footage solely to Philip. He was my private investigator.
“Who?” I balled my hands into a fist.
It could be an employee or an outsider. But an outsider would have difficulty infiltrating this building.
“I'll need you to see for yourself.”
He barely completed his words before my computer dinged.
“I just sent you the footage.”
Swiftly I moved to open the message and played the video.
There was no camera in the conference room but there was one that swept the hallway.
