“Not at first,” Maxwell said, sparing him a glance. My heart leaped in my chest, and my nails dug into my palms at the prospect of getting new information. “It happened after the party. My father was trying to kiss ass, hoping your father would invest. Mercer smelled the bullshit and turned him away. Father was pissed, but it was better off that way. If our company had even a hint of involvement in the⁠—”

Warren cleared his throat. Maxwell’s lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes hardening.

Annoyance tickled my senses when he sent me an apologetic smile. I gritted my teeth.

“Enough reminiscing. We have things to do. Addison, stay.”

And just like that, Warren tore apart every shred of hope that managed to crawl itself out of the dark abyss of my heart.

Just like always.

There were so many things that could have been said. A whole side of my father’s life that I knew nothing about was dangling right in front of me like a carrot.

He’s doing this on purpose.

It pissed me off.

He was the reason Father killed himself, and now what? He can’t even stand the mention of him?

Ares and Maxwell left, both sending me a small smile. Maxwell’s was a bit pitying, while Ares’s was downright amused.

I stilled when the door shut behind them and hesitated to look at Warren.

I had no plan.

First, I didn’t once think Warren would be here.

Second, his reaction to the mention of my father brought up the anger that seemed to be permanently simmering beneath my skin.

It was like a ticking time bomb between us, ticking closer and closer to the explosion the longer we stayed in each other’s presence.

“Come here,” he ordered.

I gritted my teeth.

“I’m not a fucking dog,” I hissed and regretted it immediately.

My gaze met Warren’s. His face was completely devoid of emotion at first, and then, the longer I held his stare, the more prominent the ghost of a smirk became.

He pushed his chair back and stood.

I took a step back but then stopped myself.

I’m not going to shrink in front of him.

He was a bastard. So what if he had money? Connections? He was rotten inside. And I couldn’t wait until everyone else saw it too.

I’d make sure they would.

His movements were languid. He was taking his time. Trying to scare me.

Just because of that, I squared my shoulders and met his gaze dead on.