Using the towel around my neck, I dry my hair. The black strands fall in front of my eyes, partially obscuring my view of Jonathan.
“What did he say?” he asks.
“Nothing important.”
He narrows his eyes but doesn’t press the issue. “Keep your head in the game.”
Sure thing, Dad.
Only, well, he never earned the right to be called the ‘D’ word. Other than dick.
“Jonathan?”
He stops but doesn’t turn around. “Yes?”
“I’m breaking off my engagement to Queens.”
He slowly faces me, his body rigid. “That nonsense is off the table.”
“I’m not asking for your permission. I’m informing you that my engagement with Queens is off. Effective immediately.”
“Are you choosing to side with Ethan?”
“This has nothing to do with that.”
“It has everything to do with that. Sebastian is our ally and a member of the Rhodes’ vote committee. He won’t vote in our favour if you dump his daughter.”
“Then find other allies. Sebastian Queens isn’t the only member of the Rhodes’ voting committee.”
&
nbsp; He squints one eye at me. “It’s because of that Steel girl. I knew she was rotting your mind.”
“She’s mine, Jonathan. Mine.” I throw the hair towel away and walk to stand toe to toe with him. “Once you accept that fact, I’ll accept to be your heir. Until then, you’re my enemy.”
He stares at me for a beat. It’s not intimidation, more like contemplation.
I don’t know what he fucking expects. Does he think he can reach me now when he’s never made an effort before?
That ship has sailed with Alicia.
“You’re an ungrateful fucking brat.” His jaw clenches.
“I can’t think of a reason why I should be grateful to you.”
“Not to me, but to your mother. You have no respect for her memory.”
“Stop using Alicia in your mind games.”
“Games? Was her death a game? Have you forgotten who caused her accident?” He tilts his head with a manic look in his black-grey eyes. “Have you forgotten how many hours she suffered before she eventually died?”
“Elsa isn’t the reason.”
“Her father is.”
“And so are you.”
He pauses for a second, his jaw ticking. “What did you just say?”