her father’s bidding. This time, it was a fundraiser, not for her father’s company, but for a community women’s shelter. The one adjacent to the Y where she taught the children. That reason alone was why Zeta knew she’d give in. Owen wanted her to go to present a strong front for his company. He hadn’t said anything about her ending the arrangement between her and Max weeks ago, but Zeta figured Owen was hoping to present the fiction his company was doing fine. He was likely too preoccupied with this event to question her about it. Zeta honestly had no clue how the company was doing because she hadn’t resumed her duties at her father’s business since she’d left Max. She just didn’t have the heart to see just how badly her decision had hurt her father.
“Of course you’re going,” Owen said without hesitation. “This is right up your alley. Besides, if I hadn’t suggested you go, you’d already be planning ways to bring in more money to the event.” It didn’t help Zeta’s humor that her father was right.
“Fine. But I’m not there to represent Lawless Real Estate.”
Owen scowled, but turned his back to hide it. Zeta would mention her father’s business if she had to, but she would go to actually raise money for the shelter, not her father. “That’s fine, dear,” he finally said, though he didn’t turn around. “Just have a good time. You’ve seemed a bit…strained the past few days.”
“How perceptive of you to notice,” she snapped. “Being sold to the highest bidder tends to do that to me every time.”
Owen actually grinned, if a bit sheepishly. Rubbing the back of his neck, he extended a hand to her as if he expected her to just take it, to accept him back into her life as their relationship had been before. “Now, Zeta. You know I had to do everything I could to protect your future. This company is your future.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Dad.” Zeta waited until he dropped his hand before continuing. “My future is supposed to be with a husband who loves me and children we create together with love. A company can’t give me the kind of fulfillment.”
“No one said you couldn’t have all that with Maximilian.”
“No one had to. It’s a given.”
“You don’t know that until you try.” How could he stand there and sound so reasonable when what he was suggesting was anything but reasonable?
Instead of arguing with him, Zeta simply turned her back on her father. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.” She took a breath and squared her shoulders but didn’t turn around to face him. “I’m going to the event. But I’m not representing Lawless Real Estate. If you don’t like it, you can damned well go yourself.”
Zeta was amazed at how little it bothered her to go against her father. It wasn’t that she wanted to; it was just that she knew that giving in to him would start the chain of events all over again. Going back to Max simply wasn’t an option for her. Not now. Not ever.
It was a black tie event. Normally, she had a little black dress she wore to these things. However, given the traitorous mood she was in, Zeta was definitely not wearing black. Tonight, she needed to feel like a desirable woman. Tired of moping around after such an emotional rollercoaster, Zeta looked through her closet until she found the perfect dress to make a woman feel beautiful.
* * *
The last few weeks without Zeta had been a special kind of hell for Max. At first he’d tried to ignore the nagging loneliness by throwing himself into his work, but he’d been too distracted to accomplish much. He’d never felt lonely in his life! Now, he was swamped with missing Zeta like he’d miss his right arm. He sometimes found himself just standing in the middle of her room trying to inhale the remaining scent of wildflowers and jasmine she’d left behind just so he could feel close to her.
Fuck that shit!
But getting her back was going to be hell.
“Of course you’re going,” Owen said without hesitation. “This is right up your alley. Besides, if I hadn’t suggested you go, you’d already be planning ways to bring in more money to the event.” It didn’t help Zeta’s humor that her father was right.
“Fine. But I’m not there to represent Lawless Real Estate.”
Owen scowled, but turned his back to hide it. Zeta would mention her father’s business if she had to, but she would go to actually raise money for the shelter, not her father. “That’s fine, dear,” he finally said, though he didn’t turn around. “Just have a good time. You’ve seemed a bit…strained the past few days.”
“How perceptive of you to notice,” she snapped. “Being sold to the highest bidder tends to do that to me every time.”
Owen actually grinned, if a bit sheepishly. Rubbing the back of his neck, he extended a hand to her as if he expected her to just take it, to accept him back into her life as their relationship had been before. “Now, Zeta. You know I had to do everything I could to protect your future. This company is your future.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Dad.” Zeta waited until he dropped his hand before continuing. “My future is supposed to be with a husband who loves me and children we create together with love. A company can’t give me the kind of fulfillment.”
“No one said you couldn’t have all that with Maximilian.”
“No one had to. It’s a given.”
“You don’t know that until you try.” How could he stand there and sound so reasonable when what he was suggesting was anything but reasonable?
Instead of arguing with him, Zeta simply turned her back on her father. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.” She took a breath and squared her shoulders but didn’t turn around to face him. “I’m going to the event. But I’m not representing Lawless Real Estate. If you don’t like it, you can damned well go yourself.”
Zeta was amazed at how little it bothered her to go against her father. It wasn’t that she wanted to; it was just that she knew that giving in to him would start the chain of events all over again. Going back to Max simply wasn’t an option for her. Not now. Not ever.
It was a black tie event. Normally, she had a little black dress she wore to these things. However, given the traitorous mood she was in, Zeta was definitely not wearing black. Tonight, she needed to feel like a desirable woman. Tired of moping around after such an emotional rollercoaster, Zeta looked through her closet until she found the perfect dress to make a woman feel beautiful.
* * *
The last few weeks without Zeta had been a special kind of hell for Max. At first he’d tried to ignore the nagging loneliness by throwing himself into his work, but he’d been too distracted to accomplish much. He’d never felt lonely in his life! Now, he was swamped with missing Zeta like he’d miss his right arm. He sometimes found himself just standing in the middle of her room trying to inhale the remaining scent of wildflowers and jasmine she’d left behind just so he could feel close to her.
Fuck that shit!
But getting her back was going to be hell.
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