Impulse (Billionaire Secrets 5)

“I mean, you could have waited for my son to come back from college,” Onslow said. “I remember that last fight that Simon and I had. You came up a lot. Maybe it isn’t Simon’s mother who came between us. Maybe it was you, Heather.”

“What are you talking about?” Her gaze shifted to Simon. “Simon, what does he mean?”

“I’m not bringing that fight up again,” Simon said harshly. “Why did you have to bring it up, Heather?”

“I’m not the one who brought it up,” she insisted. “Your father did.”

“He wouldn’t have brought it up if you hadn’t attacked him,” Simon said.

“Expecting the truth isn’t an attack,” she said, unable to swallow the bitterness in her tone. “He said something that’s obviously not true. If your father had supported you when you were a kid, why would you two have been estranged all these years? Pretending everything was great in the past isn’t going to hold up in the present.”

“You’ve had it out for me ever since I showed up.” Onslow stared down at his cup. “I know I’m just a scruffy old man—”

“Dad, don’t listen to her,” Simon said. “Heather has been going through a tough time with her own family.”

“Don’t you dare try to use my family against me.” Her eyes narrowed as she glared at him.

“Isn’t that the reason you’re behaving like this?” Simon asked. “Don’t try to pretend like your relationship with Gary hasn’t altered your judgment of people. You think because Finn’s father was terrible, then my dad must be terrible as well.”

“I don’t think your dad is terrible,” she hissed. “Stop putting words in my mouth and try to listen.”

“I am listening,” Simon said through gritted teeth. “You’ve done nothing but give my father a hard time. All he’s trying to do is reconnect with me, and you can’t seem to handle that for some reason. It’s like you’re jealous or something.”

She laughed humorlessly. “Jealous? Simon, that’s nonsense and you know it.”

“Is it? Because during our trip over the weekend you were very understanding. It’s like when you have me all to yourself you’re fine, but the minute my father shows up you start lashing out at him.”

“That’s what you think of me?” Anger was making her blood boil. Obviously, Simon was going to insist on acting like a stubborn ass, and she had put up with just about enough of it. “You think I’m some jealous harpy who has to compete for your affections? I’m not a child, Simon, so I have no idea where you’d get a ridiculous notion like that.”

“So, if you’re not jealous, give him a chance like you promised,” Simon shot back.

“You don’t get to tell me what to do,” she retorted. “You’re my boss at work, not anywhere else.”

“Stop. Stop this,” Onslow interrupted.

She froze, suddenly remembering that this argument had an audience. More regret flooded her, and she grimaced. “Onslow, I didn’t mean to fight in front of you. That was unprofessional.”

Onslow sighed heavily. “I think my presence here is causing you two to argue.”

“No, it’s not you, Dad,” Simon said. “Heather and I have our own issues. None of this is your fault.”

That stung. Mostly because she didn’t agree that she and Simon had any issues that would lead to such an argument. They’d had their arguments in the past, but it was almost like his father had instigated it. Some of the things Simon’s father had said were downright cruel, but his contrite manner had her reeling. Confusion settled over her as she grasped at her memories of the argument. Surely Simon could see that things had started to get out of hand when his father had interjected.

A knock on Simon’s door dragged her attention away from the argument. “Come in,” she said warily, hoping that whoever was on the other side hadn’t heard them fighting.

The door swung open and Agnes Morton stepped inside with a strange man in tow. “Oh, good. You’re both here. Look who dropped by early. This is Theo Nowak, one of the potential producers of your documentary.”

Heather got to her feet and forced a smile. Even if Agnes and the producer had heard the argument, she still had a responsibility to be professional. “It’s so nice to meet you. I’m Simon’s media relations assistant and spokeswoman,” she said as she headed over to the producer.

“Great to meet you.” Theo reached out his hand to her. “It’s Heather Hall, right? I recognize your voice from our phone call last week.”

She took his hand and shook it briefly. “Yes, it’s Heather.”

“Sorry about showing up so early,” Theo said. “I was scheduled to meet some of Dover’s board members before our meeting later today, Heather.”

“But I wanted you to meet as early as possible.” Agnes grinned, seemingly oblivious to the tension in the office.

Simon headed over to them and introduced himself to the producer. “Good to meet you, Theo.”