Clarke did, a little unnerved and surprised he hadn’t been summoned to receive marching orders or to answer a barrage of questions about his quarterly report or to get lectured about how if he really wanted the company, he had to stay hungry.

“You were out to lunch?” Alton asked awkwardly.

“Sure.” Cake counted as lunch, right? Clarke refused to explain how he chose to spend his time. He wasn’t some fresh-out-of-college analyst. He didn’t need his schedule managed by his boss or his dad.

Again, his father surprised him, nodding agreeably instead of pointing out that Maria always ate at her desk, or not at all, and if Clarke wanted the company as much as she did, he’d survive on PowerBars and Tums, too.

“How was Audrey?”

Clarke sat back in his chair, tapping his fingers together as he studied his dad. “How do you know I was with Audrey?”

“Seemed logical. What with her being your future wife and all.”

His father’s gaze locked on Clarke’s as he said it, a slight mocking emphasis on future wife. Well, that answered his question. His dad may be aloof, but he wasn’t entirely oblivious. He knew all about the battle of wills happening between his son and his wife.

“You wanted something?” Clarke asked, not feeling up to playing whatever game Alton was trying to play. He already had his hands full managing his mother.

Alton leaned forward. “I’ve always liked Audrey.”

Clarke blinked. “Really?”

Alton smiled. “You sound surprised.”

“Well. Can’t say I’ve ever felt the waves of approving warmth rolling off you when she’s around.”

“Have I ever given off approving warmth?”

Clarke bit out a sharp laugh. “True.”

“Just because I’m not some teddy bear father figure doesn’t mean I don’t see that she’s good for you. That she’s always been good for you.”

“Dad,” Clarke said, shifting uncomfortably. “You know that this thing with me and Audrey, it’s all—”

“A sham?” Alton said, his smile widening slightly.

“Well… yeah,” Clarke said. He and his father might not have a warm relationship, but he drew the line at outright lying to the man. “It started as a joke mostly, because Internet trolls were giving Audrey a hard time, and then we kept going because—”

“Because your mother tried to coerce you into a relationship with her vision of the perfect partner for you.”

“Pretty much,” Clarke admitted.

Alton nodded slowly, turning his head and gazing out the window for a while. “She’s wrong, you know.”

“About trying to control her grown son’s love life? Yes, I’m aware.”

“That, but also about Elizabeth being the better partner for you.”