My Dad's Rival

But there’s no backing out without my dad getting angry with me, and that’s the last thing I want. I know that not wanting to anger him is holding me captive, but what choice do I have? I’m already betraying him by catching feelings for his biggest rival…I can’t tell him that I won’t help him out. I’ll just have to tell him that I didn’t find anything.

“No, Dad. I’m not getting cold feet,” I say calmly. He sighs on the other end of the line.

“Good. I knew I could rely on you, honey. And hey, listen…I know that I ask a lot of you. And I know that I push you to your limit sometimes. But it’s only because I want you to go the distance. I want you to have the best life possible. And I know that maybe this time I’ve asked you to do something a bit too far…but this is a big opportunity for us. I hope you can see that.”

I lean against the closest wall, feeling winded by the conversation. No matter what I do, I’m letting someone down.

Either I upset my dad, or I’m untrue to myself and don’t chase what I want. What I’ve always dreamed of. It’s impossible. It’s painful. But I have to keep lying for a little longer. To my dad, to Wyatt…

To myself.

“I know you want what’s best for me,” I say quietly. “Look, Dad, I have to go…I might be late home tonight.”

“Alright, sweetie. I’m so proud of you. Thank you for doing this for me. You’re the best daughter I could ever wish for.”

I don’t feel like it when I hang up the phone. I feel like a traitor. All of a sudden, my life has become much more complicated than it used to be. Once upon a time, I used to just do everything I was told to without a care. I’ve never felt a real reason to rebel against my dad before. But these days, I’m starting to dream of ways to break free.

My lunch break is almost over.

I’m going to have to spend the rest of the day with Wyatt, pretending that I don’t want him more than anything in the world, pretending that I’m not betraying him with every second I spend with him. Then, I’m going to have to go to dinner with him and pretend again that my mind is on business and not on him. It seems like the most impossible task in the world.

But I guess I’m just going to have to try.

The day passes in a blur. Every moment that I’m at Wyatt’s side, I’m enchanted by him. I can’t keep my eyes off his lips when he talks, wondering what it would be like to kiss him. When he stops to let some of the other staff speak, my eyes drift to his body, wondering what it would be like to have him on top of me.

The thoughts I’m having about him make me weak in the knees, and hot under my collar, ready to melt into a puddle at his feet.

I’ve always been so sure of myself, so comfortable in any situation thrown my way…but now, he’s got me coming undone. I never thought that anyone could throw me off like this, but he certainly has. He’s shown me that I have a weakness.

And it’s him.

But I have to hold it together. If we’re going to be spending all evening alone together, then I have to hold my own. I can’t crumble under the pressure or give in to the incessant throbbing of my core. I have to act like a professional, even if the only business on my mind is the sort that is conducted in the bedroom…

I curse myself under my breath. Why can’t I get this stuff out of my head? It’s like I’m obsessed. I am obsessed. I had no idea that one person could have such an effect on another. But I guess that’s the thing about him. He’s not just anyone. He’s the person I want to be with. The only man I can picture touching me, seducing me, enticing me…

He’s the one.

The thought comes at me so fast that I feel my stomach flip over. I must be going crazy. How can I possibly think that someone I met yesterday is my soulmate?

How can I possibly know that this is meant to be?

I don’t have any answers to those questions, but I know that it feels right. I know that it has the potential to be true. Because I’ve never felt something so raw, so real before. I’ve never had much time for emotions in my life, and I don’t get close to many people, but this is making me want to toss all of that out of the window and start anew with him.