chapter 38

Bernard

"Bernard, I wasn't expecting you-"

I pushed past him and stepped into the apartment. "Don't. We both know why I'm here."

My father lingered in the doorway, his drink in his hand. A moment later, he shrugged and shut the door. Then he finished off his drink and set it down on the table by the door. He turned, so he was facing me directly, and said nothing.

"How could you? Carla, really? I guess I shouldn't be surprised, considering what you've tried to do in the past."

"Everything I've done has been in your best interest," he replied without missing a beat. "I know you can't see it now, but both my company and Carla are your future. Everything else doesn't matter."

I narrowed my eyes into slits. "That's as far as you're concerned. Why is it so hard for you to believe I can make a good life for myself? Why are you so desperate to have me come back to the company?"

He straightened his back. "Because it's where you belong."

"I don't belong with you," I hissed. "I don't even want t