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I shook my head. “You’re wrong.”
The vein on his temple throbbed. “You dump her, and I mean now, or I’ll—”
“Or you’ll what, Dad?”
He’d threatened to disown me more than once, but I didn’t care anymore.
“You continue to see her, and I’ll ruin you. I’ll see that the SEC learns you falsified that last affidavit. You’ll be done at the FBI.”
I couldn’t believe I’d heard him right. He was threatening me, his own son.
The waiter arrived, interrupting our exchange.
Dad opened his menu. “Just a second.”
“I can give you more time, if you like,” the waiter offered.
“No need,” Dad told him.
I turned to the entrées. The words on the page swam in circles as I tried to calm myself enough to read.
Dad ordered the salmon.
“I’ll need another minute to decide,” I told the waiter.
He left.
I pulled out the box I had in my pocket.
“What’s that?” Dad asked.
I opened it to show him the ring. “I’m going to marry her.”
“No, you’re not.”
I pocketed the box and excused myself to use the restroom.
Dad ignored me.
Once behind the door, I splashed water on my face, dried off, and did my best to calm down and get my head around what had just happened.
Walking back to the table, I pulled out my phone and waved it when I reached my father. “I have to go. Work.”
He put down the wine glass. “Don’t forget we have dinner with your mother tomorrow.”
“I have to go.” I didn’t plan on making that engagement, but the argument could wait until tomorrow. Standing Mom up wasn’t my first choice, but replaying this argument in front of her would be worse.
While I waited for the valet to bring my car, I dialed Kelly.
It went to voicemail, so I left a message. “Hi, Sugarbear. Dad bailed on dinner, so why don’t we go out tonight? Give me a call.”
The wait for my car was interminable, and all I could do was keep checking my phone for something from Kelly.
Nothing came.
The valet returned and handed me my keys.
Before getting in the car, I took the time to remove the large silver C from the keyring and dropped it in the trash by the door. This evening it disgusted me.
