I shouldn’t have been surprised. In fact, I should have seen this coming a mile away. But still, my father always managed to throw me with how low he was willing to go to get what he wanted. I just hadn’t expected Alex to fall so quickly into his trap.

I wanted to punch something. Anger vibrated through me, making my hands shake.

“Emerson?” Alex’s voice pulled me out of my rage, but only briefly.

I turned to find her standing there, looking unbelievably beautiful in her gown. Things had been going so well. From her good news about the bar, to the way we had lost ourselves in each other, to the impromptu celebration at the bar, for a moment, everything had been perfect.

But then I learned the truth about exactly how deep Alex’s ambition went.

“Did you and my father work out a five-year plan for me and Rascals yet?” I asked, practically choking on the words. “You two make such a good team.”

Alex flinched. I felt bad about my tone, but it was justified. She had lied to me.

“I had no idea that’s what your father wanted,” she tried to tell me, but I wasn’t interested in her excuses.

“I warned you, didn’t I? I told you that all of his so-called favors came with a price. That he was going to expect something.” I ran my hand through my hair, anger filling every inch of my body. “My entire life, he’s always made me feel like I wasn’t good enough. Like I was a disappointment.”

“I didn’t know,” Alex said quietly. “You didn’t tell me.”

“You wanted me to give my father a chance,” I laughed bitterly. “Well, I did and look where it got us.”

“Your parents love you,” Alex argued, and I rolled my eyes.

“Bullshit,” I argued. “They see me as an extension of themselves. Nothing more.”

“You might not see it, but they want what’s best for you,” Alex told me. “You have no idea how lucky that makes you.”

“Lucky?” I scoffed, the wind picking up around us.

It was spring, but tonight it was cold. I could see goose pimples popping up on Alex’s bare arms. I wanted to offer her my jacket, but I was so mad that I just crossed my arms over my chest.

“My father left, Emerson,” Alex said, her voice quiet. “He woke up one morning, left for work, and never came back. I heard later that he started a new family—a new wife. A new daughter. So yeah, you are lucky to have parents that care. Mine never gave a damn about me, and I would kill to have a father that cared half as much as yours does.”

There was a tremble in her voice, and I could see that she was trying to keep it together, but I was so mad that I couldn’t focus on anything but my own pain. My own hurt.

“Is that what this was all about?” I demanded. “You didn’t get the kind of father you wanted so you decided to get what you could from mine?”

Alex reeled back.

“What are you saying?” she asked, her face white.

“How much of this was about me?” I asked, gesturing between the two of us. “And how much of it was about my family’s name? About what that could get you.”

“Stop it,” Alex whispered, a tear slipping down her cheek. “You know I had no idea who you were when we first started seeing each other.”

My anger warred with my need to comfort her. To protect her. But what was I protecting her from? From myself? From the feelings of anger and humiliation and betrayal that I couldn’t control? My hurt was too great, and it overwhelmed any sense of sympathy I had for Alex. It made me cold. Mean.

“So you said,” I sneered. “But I’m starting to realize that you have no problem lying to me when it suits you and your career.”

I knew I was out of control and I should take a moment to breathe, to think about what I was saying. But I couldn’t. I was like a rock, rolling down a hill. The momentum was too much. I couldn’t stop. I could only crash and burn.

“You’re upset.” Alex reached out for me but I flinched away.

“Of course I’m upset! You’re supposed to be on my side. Mine. But all you can do is tell me how lucky I am, and how great my parents are. You weren’t there,” I yelled angrily, “all the times he would cut me down, pressure me to be better. Do more. My whole life, he’s been judging me. If I got an A, it should have been an A-plus. If I made track team, he’d want to know why I didn’t beat the school records. Even getting into Northwestern wasn’t good enough, not for a Harvard legacy. Nothing I ever do is good enough for him!”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know!” Alex looked stricken, but I was too far gone to care.

“And now that I’ve finally built something of my own, he can’t wait to take it away from me,” I continued. “And you don’t stand up for me, or say a thing, because you want that Hayes name at your firm, to see what his influence can do for you!”

“No.” Alex shook her head. “Emerson, that’s not true!”

“So you told him where he could stick his franchise plan then?” I demanded. “After I just walked out, and he gave you the sales pitch, to get me back on-side again. You told him no way. Or did you play nice, and smile and nod, so he wouldn’t ruin your chances with the partners?”

Alex hesitated. Just a beat, but it told me everything I needed to know.

“You’re just as bad as the rest of them,” I swore. “You’ll do anything to get ahead, even sell your soul to my father for a shot at that job.”

Tears were running down Alex’s face, but her expression changed.

“Sell myself . . .” she repeated, her voice turning icy. “Are you calling me a whore?”

There was silence. I’d spoken without thinking, in the heat of the moment, but now I knew I had fucked up. I needed to apologize. But before I could say anything, Alex turned and walked away.