Emma is a much more formidable opponent than I thought. Now that I’m at home, replaying every second of our encounter in my mind, I know she played me. She played me like a god damned pro.

Still, even now I feel my heart beat a little faster while her face is in my mind. I want her.

I want to destroy her.

I underestimated her. And I won’t make that mistake again. Despite the fury flowing freely through my veins, I swallow back the rage. I turn it inward. When it’s back on myself - the real reason things went belly up - I remind myself that I can’t let a pretty face and soft voice tear down the parts of me on guard against such things.

Sure, she’s a beautiful woman.

But she’s still a woman. She’s human. She has weaknesses. I’ll find them and I’ll exploit them. After all, isn’t that all she did to me today? Wrapped me around her little finger and made sure I was off guard and off my game so she could make sure things went to her advantage?

I’m not giving up.

Fuck no.

Now I’m going to double down.

I’ve got a new plan.

Tomorrow. It’s not even about owning the land now, it’s about winning. She’s not going to get the better of me.

“Hey,” Jessica says, peeking at me from the bathroom. “Are you sure about this?” she asks, seeming unsure of herself. I nod, ready. Ready to take out my displeasure of Emma on someone receptive to pain.

Because I always get what I want.

I’m just settling for a proxy version tonight.

I wake, alone. Jessica left last night, her face alight like she’s in love or some shit. Stupid woman. Even after I took out my rage at another woman on her, she just enjoyed herself and asked if she could come back tonight.

I told her no.

And not to come back.

I get out of bed and head for the shower, solidifying the day’s plans. On the mirror in my bathroom Jessica left me a note written in lipstick.

Call me, lover.

I grab the Windex from under the sink and get scrubbing with no intention of calling her, ever. She’ll get it after a while. Once the mirror is scrubbed clean – Olivia doesn’t need to see shit like that – I get into the shower.

In the back of my mind, I hear dad. Between telling me I’m a failure, he’s congratulating me for putting that bitch in her place.

Shoving him out of my thoughts, I let the warm water course over my face and remember the sensation of having my head shoved under water. Dad’s methods were brutal. In his mind, the only way to respect life was to fight for it. And he made me fight for it by trying to take it away.

But I’m here; he’s not.

So which fucking one of us fought for it?

* * *

“I need you to clear those funds,” I say, arguing with the bank.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Knight. We’re doing our best.” The girl on the other end sounds contrite.

I take a deep breath. “So move them. Into a new account. With the name Emma Astor on it.”

“Sir?” The girl says.

“Put your manager on,” I say, tired of this stupid woman. She puts me on hold and I wait, thinking through my plan. This one will work. I’m not going to underestimate the Astor woman again.

“Mr. Knight?” The manager says, and I breathe a sigh of relief that he doesn’t sound like a total idiot.

“I’m trying to transfer a large sum of funds into another account.” I explain the plan and he agrees they can do it.

“May I ask why?” The manager asks, and I’m quick to respond.

“Business.” It’s a clipped answer, designed to shut him down. And it works.

“Of course, Mr. Knight. I’m sorry for the delay.” He sounds sorry and I nod, though he can’t see me. Once everything is in place and I’ve set up fail safes, I begin to breathe easy. She won’t be able to deny this. Now that it will look and feel real, she might realize we’re talking actual money here, money she could spend. Money in her name.

“Dad?”

I turn, catching sight of Olivia. “Hey baby,” I say, opening my arms to her. She walks over like a little lady and hugs me. “What’s wrong?” I ask, missing her usual exuberance.

Her pretty blue eyes meet mine and I see the sheen of tears there. “Can we move to a farm and have horses?” she asks, and I feel my heart seize.

“Our home is here,” I tell her, and she pulls out of my hug.

“Okay,” she says, staring at the door. “I’m ready to go when you are,” she says before leaving.

“Olivia,” I say as she stands in the doorway. She turns to look at me, seemingly older than her nine years. “I love you,” I say, hoping to set her little mind at ease. “If you need to talk, I’m here, love.”

“I know. I love you too,” she says before leaving.

Staring after her, I try to decode what’s going on with her. I can’t force her to talk to me, but this feels like something real is happening and I’m not privy to it. Did Emma say something to her? Did I miss something important?

Feeling like she’s slipping away, I wonder if I should go after her, or if I should let her have her space. I’ve never been good at reading women like this, but I’ve never cared like I do for Olivia. As she gets older, it’s harder to figure out what to do. I don’t want to push her and push her away because I’m pushing, but I need to know what’s going on in her mind. I can’t help her if I don’t know what to help with.

Today, though, I decide to let things slide and see if she comes out of her funk. There are a lot of other things going on, and I want to talk to her when my whole heart can be in it.

I step out of my room and make my way to the living room. “Olivia!” I say loudly, “Let’s go!”

She comes out of her room and rushes down the stairs, her face alight with excitement. I’m struck by how happy she looks. It’s like looking at a different little girl. The change from how she looked before and how she is now is incredible.

And I realize that maybe all this horse stuff is doing good things for her.

She walks right past me and snatches the keys from me. “I’m driving,” she says, a huge grin on her face.

“I don’t think so,” I say chasing her down.

She giggles as I capture her and pull her into a hug. Resting my chin on her head, I enjoy how her arms come around me and she clings to me like I’m the only important thing in her world. Lord knows she’s the only important thing in mine.

“I love you,” she whispers. In response, I ball my fist up and double tap my chest.

“Still beating,” I whisper.

She smiles and follows suit.

When we load up in the truck, she turns on the radio and sings, staring out her window. She’s back to a more pensive version of herself.

When I turn the radio down and ask her what’s up, she shrugs and turns the radio back up.

Taking the hint, I let it go. She’ll come to me when she’s ready. I can’t force her to talk to me, and I wouldn’t try. I let her know I care and want to talk. That’s what matters.

The dirt road to Emma’s is a great distraction, and I plan ahead.

“Dad, I have to pee,” Olivia says, looking at me like she’s shocked. We’d stopped for Icees, and I smile at her.

“I’m pretty sure Emma will have a bathroom you can use,” I say, noticing how the cherry treat stained her lips red. It makes her look way older and sends my heart right to my toes. I don’t want her to grow up. I want her to stay young and innocent forever. I don’t want some asshole to break her heart.

That’s all she knows, dad whispers in my mind. All you’ve shown her is men who hurt women. That’s what she thinks the world is like, you fuck face.

“Okay,” she says softly as we park before Emma’s place.

We get out and head toward the house. Emma meets us on the porch and Olivia asks her in a whisper if she’s got a bathroom she can use. Emma smiles and guides Olivia the right direction. Left alone with her as Olivia leaves, I notice Emma tuck her hands in her back pocket and shift her weight to her toes like she’s uncomfortable alone with me.

I wonder why?

I lift my phone and show her the account and the amount in it. “It’s in your name,” I tell her. Her eyes widen and she gasps softly as she looks past it at me.

She seems to take a moment to compose herself. Her eyes travel toward the barn then sweep back toward me.

“No,” she says, her tone oddly calm.

“How much?” I ask, tired of dancing round like this.

Her voice is thoughtful and her eyes are soft as she responds. “Not for sale. Not now, not ever.”