I didn't even bother knocking on my father's office door, and instead I let myself right in. He looked up from his computer as if he'd been expecting me. "What took you so long?"

I closed the door and slipped my hands into my pockets as I made my way to the massive window overlooking the South Bank. "Let me guess, you've been watching me since I parked the car?"

"Of course. I expected you earlier."

"Did you?"

"I trust you didn't overindulge at your celebration last night?"

"Do you even know what it means to overindulge, Dad? It's ten in the morning. If I’d overindulged, you wouldn't see me until tomorrow."

He lifted a brow. "Do you have the same afflictions your brother does?"

I scowled at him. "Xander's fine now."

He rolled his eyes. "Yes, but he has a penchant for trouble."

"If you say so." He pushed to his feet. "Well since you're here, let's get you started. I already have the paperwork on its way down here from the lawyers. And your office is all set up. The contracts I want you to work on—"

I turned from the window to face him. "I think you misunderstood. I'm not here to accept. I'm here to tell you to your face that I decline."

He glowered at me. "I beg your pardon?"

I ground my teeth. "Sorry, Dad. I know you're disappointed."

I let the sarcasm and derision drip off of that last word. "Disappointed? You're bloody insane that's what you are. After everything I’ve offered you, you’re turning your nose up at me? I see you had no problem accepting my birthday gift though. Well, I demand it back.”

“Can’t have it back. I gave it away to charity, in your name, of course.”

His face had gone an alarming shade of raspberry now. “You drove in with the birthday gift I gave you."

I shook my head. "No, that's a gift I got myself. Yours was donated to a charity last night. You didn't notice I already had the car myself."

His face went beet red as he blustered. "What? Do you have any idea how expensive that car was?"

I laughed. "Do you?"

Cue the sputtering. "I don't know what has gotten into you, but if you do this, if you cut ties with me and the company, you're disinherited."

I nodded slowly. "Yeah, I figured that was coming. But the best part is that I don’t need your money."

"You think I'm joking? No cars, no nothing."

"Dad, I don't want anything from you. There was one time in my life, one time that I wanted you. I wanted you to save us from that tosser Mum was going to marry. I remember begging you to come and pick us up. I begged you on the phone, I cried."

"What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you bringing up this nonsense?"