When Harris Commons texted me, telling me he needed to meet with me as soon as possible, I let it go a few days. It may seem like I’m playing a game of whose dick is bigger, but it’s really because, after confessing to Maddie that I’m moving, Harris has nothing over me anymore. I don’t have to jump when he says jump. But I do need to tell him my plans, so I agree to meet.

“Please sit.” Harris nods to an antique settee, upholstered in worn, green leather. While I get comfortable, he strides to the bar and pours brown liquor into two highball glasses. He hands me one and drops into the seat behind the oversized desk in his home office. It’s probably meant to be subtly intimidating, but it doesn’t affect me.

“After Madeline told us she’d entered into an arrangement with you to keep you in the country, I spoke with your immigration lawyer.” He sets his glass on a coaster and grabs a pair of eyeglasses from a tray. “I’ve always been willing to help you with your status,” he says, sliding the glasses onto his face.

“You have. And I’ve always appreciated that.” I take a small sip of the drink—bourbon—before setting it on the desk.

He opens a drawer and pulls out a thin, document-sized envelope, then leans across the desk, offering it to me.

“What’s this?” I ask, meeting his eyes briefly as I take it, before sliding my fingers under the flap and removing the paperwork.

“It’s a birth certificate. If you stop this ridiculous charade with Madeline, you are an official citizen of the United States.”

More lies. More illegal activities. He’s asking me to stop one ridiculous charade with another—by offering me a doctored birth certificate. It’s the epitome of hypocritical.

“It’s not a charade, Harris.” I shove the document back into the envelope. “I lo—”

“Don’t say it, Erik,” Harris commands. “I’m very fond of you. You know that. I’ve done the best I can for you. I’m not going to cancel your contract here, but you’ll send a crew from now on. I’ll even set you up in an apartment of your own until we figure out what’s going on with your status. I want you to stay away from Madeline.”

Anger boils in my chest, my heart pounds to get out. Clenching my fists at my sides, I silently count to ten and take breaths—any calming technique I can think of, so as not to use him as a punching bag.

I can’t forget how good Harris Commons has been to me and my family. Twenty years ago, he hired my grandfather as a landscaper. Over time, he referred a huge group of his friends to him. Back then, it was just me and Grandpa, working our tails off for those families. As business grew, we hired additional guys to help us make the jobs faster and more efficient, enabling us to take on more.

My grandfather didn’t want to expand, but I knew we had to diversify—and I’m glad. If Harris fires me and his friends follow suit, my business will take a hit—but it’ll be okay. I may be frustrated and angry, but I’ll never hate him, because he is the sole reason we were able to create the thriving business I have today.

“There are plenty of women out there, Erik. You’re handsome and hardworking. You have a good heart. You’ll make a fine husband. I’m sure of it.”

“Then why am I not good enough for Maddie? You’ve said that you’ve always been fond of me. I’m a good person. I work my ass off. I have a thriving business. Even if you took away all of your business and all of your friends, I’m still going to be successful. I’m not trying to live off Maddie.”

“It’s not about that, Erik! This isn’t about your social status or your financial success, or if I think you’re trying to use her for her money. Which, for the record, I don’t think at all.” He takes off his glasses. “This is about Madeline and her future. Simply put: I cannot have my daughter get in trouble for conspiring to a fake marriage to keep you in the country. Do you understand what that could do to her—and to our business?”

“What we have isn’t fake.”

“I understand you believe that. But we both know that Madeline has a soft heart. She would do anything to help anyone—especially you, since you two were quite friendly when you were children. But you need to leave her out of your ordeal. Her career—her life—is on the line. She’s the future of the Commons Stores. I can’t have her involved in something illegal. Her reputation is already tarnished.”

“Tarnished? How?”

“The aftermath of her breakup. I know she went through a rough time with Trent—”

I jump to my feet and look down at him. “‘A rough time?’ He almost killed her and you call it ‘a rough time?’”

Harris stands, refusing to be overpowered, even in body language. “I’ve already discussed the incident with Madeline. She insists it wasn’t that at all.”

“Oh my God!” I roll my eyes to the crystal chandelier above our heads. My body shakes so hard, it feels like the room is moving. “You really have no clue, do you?”

“What does that mean?”

“Do you hear yourself? How could you believe that manipulative scumbag over her?”

He shakes his head and holds a hand up. “Enough of this.”

“Harris, I will promise to walk away from Madeline if you promise not to push her toward Trent.”

“You’re not really in a place to compromise.”

“You really don’t understand how much I love her, do you? I have to protect her—especially if you won’t.”

Harris scowls as if I’ve slapped him in the face.

“I’m not worried about being deported. I’ll go to the Czech Republic and start a life there. What I am worried about is Trent hurting Maddie again.”

“He didn’t hurt—”

“Ask her!” I yell, interrupting any ignorant comment that’s about to come out of his mouth. Harris Commons could have my head on a platter, but I don’t care. He needs to hear the truth. “Straight up ask your daughter all the things he did to her, Harris! But ask her with an open mind, not as if you’re trying to prove her wrong.”

He’s staring at me in disbelief, as if I’d used my fists instead of words against him. But he’s listening now, and this is my chance to help him see the truth about Trent. Maddie isn’t a pawn in a family business. She’s a human being—a human being who’s being sent to the den of a hungry lion every time she’s forced to interact with Trent.

“You’re standing here, telling me you’re worried about her future. You’re worried about the trouble she could get into for marrying an illegal immigrant, and I get that. But you’ll let a narcissistic sociopath abuse her—maybe even kill her?”

“Was it really that bad?” Harris asks quietly, as if finally entertaining the thought for the first time. His hands brace the top of his chair.

I lift my arms as if to shake him, but I know I can’t, so I clench my fists in frustration. “Yes. He’s violent and emotionally abusive. How have you never seen it?”

“He’s never laid a hand on her in my presence.”

“No shit,” I snap. “What about how he talks to her?”

“It’s no different than—” Harris pauses, stopping himself from saying anything else.

It’s no different than how he talks to Cookie? It’s no different than how many of his associates speak to women? I’m not saying I haven’t benefited from a patriarchal system or values, but fuck—unchecked patriarchy is a sad, disrespectful way to live. Especially when you can’t see outside of it.

I can’t say any of that to him, and I honestly don’t want to. I’m never going to change his mind, but maybe I can get him to see it from another perspective.

“Madeline has idolized you her entire life,” I say tentatively. “She never had any doubts about wanting to work in your family business—to work directly with you. This is your chance to be the hero, Harris. To be the man she’s always seen through those beautiful blue eyes.”

He taps the envelope against his thigh as he contemplates what to say next. I honestly have no clue if I’m getting through to him. Finally, he squares his jaw and looks me in the eye. “I don’t know if she’ll ever see me that way again.”

“That’s up to you. But if you don’t start listening to her concerns, you’re going to lose the only daughter who’s always been on your side.”

“I have your word that you won’t let her continue this charade?”

“If I have your word that you will take her concerns about Trent seriously and keep him away from her.”

“I will be sure that the Trent Anderson situation is taken care of.”

A “thank you” rushes out with the breath I’ve been holding. “You have my word that I will end our arrangement. I don’t want her involved in anything that could get her in trouble either. It’s gone too far.”

Though my feelings for Maddie are very real, I can honestly say I don’t want her to be involved in any of this. I certainly don’t want to be linked to any shady, fake birth-certificate that Harris Commons can make happen. I’m done living with lies.

I have to take responsibility for my own life. I can’t blame anymore. If Maddie and I are meant to be together, it will happen. Someday. We live in a world where communication overseas is easy. We may not be together as a couple, but we can still keep in touch.

He holds the envelope out to me. I shake my head in refusal.

“Make sure that record gets wiped off the planet, Harris. I’m doing this the legal way. I don’t want my name tied to any of that fake-document shit.” By the way his eyebrows inch up, he’s surprised by my stern command.

There’s no reason to be intimidated because he doesn’t have anything to hold over my head anymore. Not the secret of my citizenship. Not my job. Not my relationship with his daughter.

Despite his surprise, he keeps a cool demeanor, shoving a hand in his pocket and shifting his stance casually before asking, “How so?”

“I’m moving to Prague at the end of the month.” The relief of finally taking control of my life gives me confidence. “Everything is in place.”

Harris breaks eye contact to toss the envelope on his desk. He leans over and grabs his bourbon. “Does Madeline know?”

“Yes,” I say firmly.

Harris’s eyes fly to mine in surprise.

“She understands I’m doing it because I love her. And I will do anything in my power to keep her safe and out of trouble—even if it means breaking her heart.”