Daddy's Rich Enemy

At least, that’s what I want to believe.

Intrusive thoughts keep popping into my head like iridescent soap bubbles and my stomach twists uncomfortably. It can’t be.

No, there’s no way my father would want a man like Dane out of business.

I feel sick as the pieces begin to fall into place. If my father stole from Dane and then sold the code, that would make our sudden wealth seem a lot more plausible.

And Daddy did want me to get that internship at Lockdown. He looked so broken and angry when I got home that night and told him that I hadn’t gotten it.

It does explain one thing, though.

Daddy must have only wanted me to get that internship so I could spy on Dane!

Sour bile rushes up my throat and I leap from the bed and dash into the bathroom just in time to vomit all over the marble floor. I gasp and cry as I drop to my knees as another brown stream of vomit spews from my mouth. It tastes bitter and horrible and tears leak from my eyes as I dry heave over and over.

When I’m done, I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand and unsteadily climb to my feet. My head is spinning – I can’t believe that my father is capable of something so evil!

I look in the mirror and sigh. My look is ruined. There’s vomit all over my perfect Joan Holloway dress, and the mascara I so carefully applied has run down my cheeks My eyes are red and swollen and my hands are shaking like leaves.

What the heck am I supposed to do now? I can’t exactly go downstairs and act like everything is normal.

No, I have to talk to Daddy. I’m sure I misheard.

There’s no way he would do something so heinous. There’s just no way.

I rinse my mouth from the faucet and wrap a robe around my dress. Still trembling, I leave my room and walk downstairs.

My father is sitting at the dining room table, but there’s no sight of Mom.

“Daddy?”

My father jumps. “What is it, Allie?” He checks his watch. “You and your mother should be leaving soon.”

“Have you been having me followed?”

“No, Allie! I would never do that.”

I swallow hard. Confronting my father is proving harder than I ever could have imagined. “I overheard you.”

My father sighs. “Honey, okay. Yes. I have. But just for a while, and just to make sure you’re staying safe.” He stepped closer.

“You knew I was seeing Dane.”

My

father smiles uncomfortably. “Yes,” he says. “And I can’t tell you how happy that makes me.”

“Why?” I wrap my arms around myself and hug my body. “Why would you do that?”

“Because Allie, well, sometimes we all do things to help our families. Don’t you want to help me? If you keep seeing Dane, we could be the richest family in the country!”

“You want me to spy on him.” The words taste bitter and tangy. “You want me to steal from his company.”

My father narrows his eyes. “Don’t you remember what I said? That I would do anything for this family?”

For a horrible moment, I think that I’m going to be sick again. I feel like my father has reached into my heart and ripped out what remains.

“Yes,” I say quietly. “I do.”