Read Online Fiance by Fate by Jennifer Shirk - Free Book Online Page B

hospital last month, he needed you. I know because I was there and visited him. And where were you? In Los Angeles with your latest Tabloid Tallulah . You should have been there for him. It was despicable for you not to come home.”
    Jack’s blue eyes turned to ice, and for a second she almost became fearful of the change in them.
    “ You ,” he said carefully and slowly as if he was using every ounce of control he had not to lunge across the table at her, “know nothing about my family or my relationship with my father—or me , for that matter. You’re right that family is important, and you’re also right that I should have been there. But you don’t know any of the circumstances that kept me away, so don’t for one second try to pretend you do.”
    She stilled. “Circumstances?”
    “Yes,” he said between clenched teeth. “I don’t know why I even feel the need to explain myself, but I can see that if I don’t, these issues are only going to sprout up again, so we might as well clear the air. Yes, I took some time off and went to California to see my girlfriend, who was participating in her first runway event for charity. It was important to her I be there. In fact, so important, she erased the messages I’d received about my father’s hospitalization. She didn’t think it was serious enough for me to leave, but—unlike you—knew I would. It wasn’t until my dad was about to be released that my sister managed to get ahold of me.”
    “Oh.” The heat on her cheeks sprung up as fast as a slap in the face. She dropped her chin to her chest and mumbled, “I didn’t know that.”
    “Obviously.”
    “I’m sorry, Jack.”
    He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. “Whatever.”
    “No, really, I am. I had no right to judge you like that.”
    “It goes with the territory. The stockholders probably thought the same thing. Why should you be any different?”
    She bit her lip. No, she wasn’t any different from them or anyone else, but the fact that Jack thought that about her made her feel small. “I’ll make it up to you.”
    “You don’t have to. However, if you insist, I think I might like where this is going,” he said with a small grin.
    She squelched a laugh, relieved that the tension between them had lifted. “I meant, I’ll do my best to help change public opinion of you.”
    Something in those blue eyes of his shifted as his gaze captured hers. “Actually, I hadn’t expected anything less than the very best from you.”
    Her cheeks heated, feeling unexpectedly touched by his words. “Thanks.”
    “You really are loyal to my dad, aren’t you?”
    “Yes, I am.” She didn’t hesitate in answering.
    “Even though he passed you over for a senior position?”
    “Well, I was a little surprised at first, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized I can’t fault him for preferring his own son over me.” As much as she admired and respected the man, she knew blood was thicker than water. But it still hurt because he’d been like a father figure to her up until that point.
    Jack sat back, his eyebrows lifting. “Ah. I took the job you wanted. And here lies the real reason for the animosity you have toward me.”
    “Perhaps. Although your personality might have a little to do with it,” she said, hiding a smile. “On the other hand, your father has always treated me kindly, almost like a daughter.”
    Jack’s brows creased together in a dark V as he took a large bite of a roll and chewed. “I know my dad is great—there’s no denying that—but what about your own father?”
    She pensively ran a hand through her hair and glanced over her shoulder. She hated answering questions about her parents. Even after all these years, the wound still stung deep. No one could understand how much it hurt to lose them so suddenly and find herself so alone. She certainly didn’t want to share that information or anything else about herself with Jack. It was too personal, and