CHAPTER 2

“Hayley put some clothes on,” my dad’s voice cut through the room and I saw him to my left with a glass in his hands.

My dad is rather young, he is just forty four. He had me when he was nineteen years old and a trust fund baby like me. He has told me the story more times than I can count.

He was frivolous with his money and enjoyed spending it on women. He met my mother in a night club and they had a one night stand. She realized she was pregnant and thought it would be a good idea to try to blackmail my father. She waited until she had given birth and appeared on his front porch with a baby in her hands.

My grandparents were upset but they heard her out. Unknowing to her, they recorded the entire conversation where she said that she didn’t want me and threatened to take it to court unless she waived her parental rights. She did it in a heartbeat and they paid her off.

They gave my father an ultimatum at that point. Present a business proposal to us within a month or we cut you off and take responsibility of your daughter.

My father had said that the moment he saw me, he wanted me. So he worked night and day until he created the best proposal that his parents had ever seen. The rest, they say, is history. That is probably why he was so adamant that I also do something with my life. So no matter what happens to him, I have something to fall back on.

His hair hasn’t started graying yet weirdly enough, but he always keeps it closely cropped. Today he is wearing sweatpants and a polo shirt. He was staring at me with a frown and I made my way over to him.

“I am wearing clothes dad.”

He frowned, “You are going to give me a heart attack before I hit 50.”

“That,” I began taking the glass out of his hands and downing it. “Would be because of all the whiskey you consume, not me,”

He laughed and opened his arms immediately and I let his presence overwhelm me. There is nowhere I feel safer than in my father’s arms.

“Lord knows why I don’t have more children,” he mused as his chest rumbled with laughter, “I would never be able to handle more of you.”

I reluctantly pulled away from him and turned to Jake, “Hi Jake.”

“Hayley,” he kept his eyes on my face but not entirely on my eyes. If I were to guess I would say he was staring at my nose or my cheek.

Jake Ryker might be adamant on not looking at me, but I am looking right at him and he looks yummy in his suit and tie. I have no idea why he is always formally dressed but there is never a moment since I turned sixteen that I have seen him without a suit and tie.

The thought I have had because of that suit and tie. If he knew, he would burn every suit within a ten mile radius.

He is my father’s age with ink black hair and icy blue eyes that stare into the very depths of your soul and threaten to discover your deepest darkest secrets. Time has been kind to him because he has a body fit for sinful things with defined muscles and a fitted frame.

“I got a call from Winston today,” my dad’s voice echoed through the room. I turned to him in confusion and he chuckled, “The poor lad who you insulted today.”

“Oh,” so that’s his name, “Before you say anything; it is not my fault.”

“He said you called him a misogynistic piece of shit.”

I flushed pink, “I did,” dad laughed but I was quick to continue, “But in my defense; he did something absolutely stupid and when I told him that there was no way I could fix it, he proceeded to say that women shouldn’t be lawyers.”

“Hayley sweetheart,” he ran his palm down my cheek softly, “You can’t go around insulting your clients even if they do or say stupid things.”

I pouted, “But he deserved it.”

“I know he did sweetheart, but it’s called good work ethic. You can’t be mean to your clients.”

“Fine,” I huffed and crossed my hands over my chest. I turned to Jake, “You think he deserved it, don’t you?”

“I think your father is right.”

“You always take my dad’s side,” I rolled my eyes at him and walked over until I was on my knees in between his legs. I placed both palms on his knees and looked up at him. “Can’t you take mine this once?”

I dropped my voice to an innocent whisper and I saw the way his eyes flickered from me to my father. My dad wouldn’t think anything of this innocent position but Jake and I know that there is nothing innocent about what I did.

He has a free view of my boobs straining against my bralette and anyone coming in would probably have to look twice to realize that we aren’t doing anything.

“Get up, Hayley,” was what he ended up saying and I frowned.

“Not until you tell me that I’m right.”

He appeared unmoved by what was happening but I knew better. His hands were fisted by his sides and I could see the way his nostrils flared. He was just as affected as I was, but he is better at hiding it, I’ll give him that.

“You’re a little brat do you know that?” he asked and I shrugged innocently, “You were right, he deserved it, now get the fuck up.”

“Language,” I teased as I rose to my feet.

Dad shook his head at both of us and I saw Jake adjust his jacket slightly. I smirked to myself knowing I had gotten the reaction I wanted and added an extra sway to my hips as I sashayed out of the living room.

I’ll give him a while to recover before I strike again.