“I should be in at around eight.” I let her avoid the question. “I have to attend an event tonight. Do you want to come with me? It’ll be at the mayor’s house with some of my donors.”

“Yeah,” she says and gets up. “I’m going to head into the shower.” She looks over at me and walks away, and I just watch her. “Are you not coming with me?” she asks over her shoulder, and she doesn’t have to ask me twice. I walk out of the house after eight thirty, leaving her with a kiss and splayed out like a starfish in the bed.

I jog up the front steps of the mayor’s house and look at the empty desk in the reception area. “Fuck, I forgot I fired Bonnie.” I shake my head and walk into my office, stopping when I see my father sitting behind the desk. “What the hell are you doing?” I ask, slamming the door, kicking myself for not having the locks changed yet.

“I’m just making sure that you have everything under control.” He leans back in the chair. “I heard some interesting news.”

I shake my head. “I don’t have time for this. I have a meeting with the accountant in a couple of minutes.”

“I heard that also.” He just eyes me.

“Is there anything that you haven’t heard?” I put my hands on my hips. “Since you seem to know everything.”

“Is she pregnant with your child?” he asks, and I glare at him.

“Watch it, old man,” I hiss. “I’m not Liam. I’m not going to let you talk about my wife with anything but respect.”

“Respect?” he shouts. “That whore has blackmailed me for eight years. Blackmailed us.”

“She wouldn’t have to blackmail anyone if your son would have taken responsibility as a man!” I shout back at him. “But being the spineless prick that he is, he made Daddy fight his battles.”

“You will not choose her over this family.” He slams his hand on the desk.

“She is my family.” I shake my head. A knock on the door sounds, and I walk over and open the door, seeing the accountant Thomas.

“Good morning.” I motion for him to come in. “Thank you for coming on such short notice.”

He nods at me and then spots my father. Something comes over him, and I can’t quite put my finger on it. “I didn’t know you would be attending.”