“No, don’t be silly.” I patted my desk. “Just put those here.”

“Okay...” Fleur clipped forward, smiling politely at Dad, not giving me the usual broad grin of friendship. “Hello, Mr. Charlston.” Placing the folders on my desk, she gave me a quick arched eyebrow. That eyebrow said: are you okay? Want me to do anything? Should I get the tranquilizer gun? Her voice said, “Anything else?”

I had no doubt she would do something crazy if I asked, but this conversation was all on me.

I shook my head. “Thank you. That’s all. It’s getting late; you should head home.”

“Only if you’re sure?”

“I’m sure.”

“Thanks for your help.” Dad smiled kindly at her. “You’ve been a very loyal staff member to Belle Elle and my daughter.”

Fleur wasn’t the blushing sort, but her cheeks pinked. “You’re welcome.” Turning for the door, she glanced back before disappearing into the hallway.

Her interruption had been too short, but to Dad, it had been too long.

His eyes glowed with irritation. “Elle, what the hell were you doing at the prison yesterday?”

And so it begins.

I held my head high. “I went to see Penn. Or did you forget we’re engaged?”

It seemed like years ago since Penn had pulled that particular lie over my father and everyone at the office, but for the first time, I found it convenient rather than a nuisance.

He scrubbed his face. “Are you sure about that? I’ve been having doubts about you two. It happened too fast, Elle. After what just occurred with Greg and now court dates and testimonies—I don’t want you getting stressed out.”

“Me?” My voice rose with a perfectly curled question mark. “Me get stressed? What about you? Are you taking the meds your doctor prescribed? I don’t think you should even be at the office. I have things under control.”

All right, that lie was obvious and entirely hollow.

I wasn’t coping. I didn’t have things under control. Mainly because I couldn’t stop my mind from drifting to Penn and Nameless and Penn and prison.

Penn, Penn, Penn.

It was a vicious circle and not one I could stop.

“Don’t you worry about me.” He took my hand, pulling me forward to pat it dotingly. “You were kidnapped by a man who’s been a part of our family for years. You won’t tell me what happened in the cabin. All you’ll say on the matter is that Penn saved you, but then Greg filed charges.” He scowled. “There’s more to that story, Elle, and I don’t like you keeping things from me. Why did you go see Greg in the hospital if he hurt you?”

I sighed heavily. “I’m not keeping things from you, but I am going to keep fighting for Penn. He didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Ah, yes, about that.” His face fell even further, resembling an unhappy hound. “You can’t be seen visiting inmates, Elle. You have a reputation to maintain. Our company as a whole has to do what it can to stay on the right side of the law with no controversy.”

I laughed a little. “Don’t you think Greg already caused controversy? No matter how we keep that under wraps, details will get elaborated and the story will snowball on its own. The best way to deal with the media is to grant an interview asking for understanding and give them the hard truth, so false rumors don’t destroy everything we’ve created.”

Dad blanched. “You can’t be serious. The right thing to do is stay away from those vultures and just let it die a natural death.” He paused before saying with fatherly authority. “Just like I don’t want you seeing Penn again.”

I gasped. “How can you say that? You liked him. You gave him your blessing to marry me even when I was telling you it was fake.”

“So your engagement is fake?” His features lit up. “Well, in that case, I believe you now. That means you don’t have to do anything reckless when it comes to—”

“Dad...” I shook my head with disappointment. “You don’t get it. It started off fake, but it turns out he’s—”

The man from Central Park.

The words dangled on my tongue, clinging with little claws to stay unsaid. I swayed between delivering them and swallowing them back.

For three years, Dad did everything he could to stop me from looking for Nameless (after he’d been cooperative at the start). When my hunt for him started to interfere with my work, Dad swiftly put a stop to it.

This time, I wouldn’t give him any more reason to block my helping Penn.

Dad had an obsessive desire to keep Belle Elle and me away from less than satisfactory circumstances—including people.

Only, he didn’t understand that no one was perfect. He wasn’t. I wasn’t. The world wasn’t. Penn was no different, and he deserved every chance to prove he was more than just a liar and reveal the truth.

He’s special.

To me. To my life. To my future.

I wouldn’t jeopardize that for anyone.

Including my father.

“He’s what?” He cocked an eyebrow. “Finish that sentence.”

“He’s on his own, Dad. Sure, he has Larry fighting for him, but I want to be there, too. I’m sorry if it upsets you, but I’m not going to stop.”

He slid off my desk, crossing his arms. “It’s not that I don’t want you to be there for him, Elle. I’m not trying to be cruel by cutting him off from emotional support. But sometimes, other things take paramount. I’m thinking of the company. It’s not good PR.”