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Quentin
"Care to explain the rationale behind your decision?" My father glares at me from across the expanse of the teakwood table in his corner office.
Arthur might come into work a few days in a month, but he insists on maintaining his office space in the iconic Davenport-owned building. Situated on the banks of the Thames River, the offices boast views of the London Eye, St. Paul’s, and the Tower Bridge, with the skyline of the Central Business District, also called the City, in the distance.
I’ve been putting off telling him about my decision, but I know there's no getting around it. Knowing he’d be in today, I stalked into his office. When I told him I'd postponed the wedding, he was pissed.
He’s keen to get me and his grandsons settled and help him in growing the Davenport group.
I refuse to become another successful statistic of his schemes—but for the fact that meeting Vivian awakened the possessive instincts in me. I admit, Arthur’s condition that I need to marry to lock down my position as CEO also influenced me. But if I hadn’t met Vivian, I doubt I’d have acted so quickly to comply with his stipulation.
"You’re making a mistake," Arthur declares.
"It’s my life." I shrug.
He leans back in his seat. "That’s where you are wrong. I gave you life."
"And it’s mine to live."
"Not if you want to continue as the CEO of the info-communications division."
I curl my fingers into fists. Had I thought my father would try to understand my point of view? Why would I think he’d have an iota of empathy in him?
“You must realize that my bride-to-be is the woman Felix almost married.”
“But he didn’t,” Arthur points out.
“I’m aware. Doesn’t change the fact that my son harbors feelings for her.”
Arthur arches an eyebrow at me. “Your point being?”
Of course, he’s going to make me spell it out. “I want to try and mend fences with my son before it’s too late. I want him on board before I marry Vivian.”
Arthur shakes his head. “You’re getting distracted. The point is, you need to marry—and quickly—in order to confirm your role as CEO.”
“It can wait a little longer,” I argue.
“No, it can’t.”
“What the devil are you talking about? Nothing’s going to happen if I wait another month to marry Vivian, and it gives me time to build a rapport with Felix. In fact”—I stab a finger at him— “I recommend that you aim to forge a connection with your son, the way I am with Felix. Try it Arthur; you’d be surprised at how good it feels.”
Ignoring my last statement, he places the tips of his fingers together in front of him. "I thought you had the balls to go through with this."
Of course, he has to call my masculinity into question because I happen to talk about feelings. Is it any wonder I’m emotionally stunted with this man for a father? All the more reason not to let this cycle repeat with my son.
"And I will.” I set my jaw. “Just not now."
"It has to be now. Firstly, because I’ve already arranged for an announcement in the newspaper publicizing your engagement, and secondly?—"
“What the fuck? Why would you do that?” The last thing I need is for Felix’s mother to see the news and pop back into my life to make more trouble for me. She managed to make an appearance whenever I got promoted in the navy and was on shore leave. It took me a while to connect the dots, but I realized her appearances coincided with something of importance that was about to take place in my life. I’ll bet it’s a matter of time before she does so again, once news of my impending marriage reaches her.
“Language,” Arthur warns.
“You and I both know you’re used to hearing worse.”
He sets his lips in a straight line. "As I was saying before I was interrupted... Secondly, I don’t have much time left, I want to see my son and grandsons married before?—”
"Bull-fucking-shit. You’re not going anywhere soon; we both know that."
