“This,” I began, “is my fucking engagement party, in case you failed to understand.”

“I recognize that, and I am asking you if you believe this is the right time to be getting married? Townsend Industries is still mired in all of these leaks, the board keeps on my ass about our stock prices, and this damn energy crisis won’t let up.” His voice was tense and full of the stress of everything he’d just mentioned. I watched as he ran his forefinger along the collar of his tuxedo shirt, to provide space between the collar and his thick neck, obviously overheating.

I stepped closer. “You don’t think I’ve been working on everything you’ve just mentioned? How many times have I told you that Townsend needs to expand our product and services line? The energy markets are too tumultuous with everything going on internationally, for us to be so reliant on oil. Technology is the wave of the future, and you keep getting in the fucking way of—”

“Now you listen, son. You might have done a good job helping to run Townsend while I was ill—”

“Helping? Is that what you fucking call it?” I questioned, moving even closer. “I did more than help. I’ve been running this goddamn company for the better part of five years. You know it and I know it. The only people who don’t know it is the board, and I know how much you don’t want them to find out.”

He grunted, rolling his eyes. “Yeah, once they do find out, we’ll see how much they think of you running the company with falling stock prices and a decreasing market reach.”

“Because you won’t take your foot all of the way off the gas. You won’t fully implement any of my suggestions nor will you allow our R&D division to fully pursue alternative energies. You’re the one getting in the way of progress, and once you’re removed from position as CEO, I will be able to take Townsend into the next decade and century to reach its full potential.”

I started to walk away, done with my father and the conversation for the time being, but his words pulled me back.

“She’s not right for you, son!” he hissed.

I spun around, glaring at my father. “You don’t get to decide who is and who isn’t right for me.”

“She’s not one of us.”

My entire body stiffened and I advanced on my father. “The last man who said those words to me, ended up on his ass.”

My father’s eyes widened, mouth going ajar. “You would turn on me for her? On your family?”

“In a fucking heartbeat.” Tightening my fists at my side, I stepped back, fearing that I really would hit my father in that instant. How dare he try to hold the title of family over my head? The only time he’d treated his own sons like family was when he needed one of us to do something for him, or to look good in front of others. We were related by blood and linked forever by the legacy of Townsend Industries but we weren’t a family. At least, not in the truest sense of the word.