Page 57 of Vexatious Queen

I walked back to my desk and closed the open file before sitting down and glaring at the bane of my existence.

“There, see, I knew he’d see me,” Patricia said, her nose in the air as she marched over.

Like a peacock on display, Patricia fluffed her hair before perching herself in one of the chairs across from me. Victoria looked sheepish as she stood behind the second chair, eyes downcast.

“I’m glad you still know where the house is, Victoria. I was beginning to wonder since I haven’t seen you since Christmas,” I said, and her cheeks turned red.

“Sorry, Papa, I’ve been…busy.”

She glanced sideways at her mother, and my suspicions were confirmed. Part of the distance between was not her doing.

“Too busy to join me for dinner the other night. I see…maybe you should move back here full-time.”

Patricia made a disgruntled noise in her throat but kept her words in check.

“You might as well sit,” I said, gesturing to the vacant seat. “Rather than stand there resembling your mother’s servant.”

Victoria bristled at the comment and sat down quickly. I knew the description would bite her ego. My daughter was not short on her mother’s arrogance.

“So, to what do I owe this late and impromptu visit, Patricia?”

“We are here to talk about Victoria’s future,” she said, and I glanced at the clock.

“At eleven-thirty at night? This is when you choose to speak to me about our daughter’s future?”

Victoria shrank away from the look I shot her.

“Did you put your mother up to this?”

“No, Papa. I swear,” Victoria said.

“Do not cower from him,” Patricia ordered.

“It’s not cowering, it’s respect, Patricia. Something you’ve lacked your whole life, so I wouldn’t expect you to understand why my daughter would want to show me some.”

“I think we’ve already established that she is not your child,” Patricia said.

Anger burned in my gut, and I could feel my already very short fuse disappearing.

“Is that so? And yet, that is what you claim you are here to discuss. That was a quick conversation. If we are done, please see your way out,” I growled.

Patricia sneered at me, but it was the tear running down Victoria’s face that held my tongue from spewing the next angry retort.

This fight was not about Victoria and her future. It was about power and control. Patricia felt hers vanishing and was scrambling to maintain the little she had left. Her lack of restraint when it came to her spite and her need for authority were a toxic combination.

Victoria raised her head, and the sadness in her eyes hurt my heart. I hated that Patricia had dragged her in here and put her smack in the middle of our argument. It was childish and selfish.

Looking at Victoria, I slowly leaned forward and placed my arms on the desk.

“We have established that Victoria is not mine by blood. But make no mistake…you are my daughter. I will always love you, defend you, and look after you as I would any of my children.”

Turning to glare at Patricia, I spoke directly to her.

“Do not ever march into my office and throw Victoria’s paternity in my face again, or you will wear through the last of my patience where you’re concerned,” I said, slamming my fist on the desk.

Patricia jumped like I’d shot her out of a cannon.

“You are skating on very thin ice, Patricia. Choose your next words carefully.”