Daddy's Rich Enemy
“Why do you want to be here, aside from our reputation?” Tracy prompts expectantly.
Shit, I think. Why can’t I remember any answers? This should be so easy! She’s asking about me, for crying out loud.
“I’m sorry, I was so nervous this morning,” I babble. “Um, I know that I have an answer to this, I just—”
The woman interrupts kindly. “Allie, take a deep breath and try to relax,” she says.
I inhale but a speck of dust gets caught in my throat and soon, I’m coughing and gagging and choking. Tears well up in my eyes and I can feel my face burning with shame as I bury my face in my hands.
“I’m sorry,” I choke in a gravelly voice. Panic rises in my chest and my heart starts to thud like I’ve just climbed on a rollercoaster. I know that every passing second is only damning me further, but I can’t help it. The panic snowballs and soon I’m sobbing and coughing into my hands.
Tracy hands me a tissue box. “Try to breathe deeply,” she says kindly.
I grab at the thin tissues and wipe my eyes. The tissue comes away soaking wet and stained with black and the sight makes me groan – of course, I hadn’t thought to use waterproof mascara.
God, I’m such an idiot.
“I’m sorry,” I sniffle weakly as I dab at my eyes and cheeks. “I don’t know what happened. I just panicked.”
To my horror, Tracy is on her feet again. She smooths her skirt with both hands.
“Dear, it’s fine,” she says. “Come with me.”
“Are we going to another room?” I ask nervously.
Tracy doesn’t reply. My heart sinks as she leads me into the floor’s small lobby.
“It was very nice to meet you, Ms. Carter,” Tracy says. She holds out her hand for a shake. “Thank you very much for taking the time to come in.”
My shoulders droop and I feel a fresh wave of tears coming on as I press my hand to hers. Tracy gives me a firm shake and an encouraging smile.
“Don’t worry,” she says. “Everyone has days like this. Just trust me on that.”
I nod. I know that she only said to make me feel better, but it has the opposite effect. By the time the elevator doors ding open and I step inside, I’m crying so hard that my whole body is shaking.
I feel like I’m trapped in a nightmare. All I had to do was prove that I’m not a total idiot…and if anything, I just proved that I really am as stupid as my father says.
Oh, god.
My father.
How the heck am I supposed to face him now? Daddy will be so angry, except this time he’ll be right … this screw-up of an interview was all my fault.
Chapter Two
Dane
“Mr. Andersen! Mr. Andersen!”
“Dane! I’m here from CNN, and—”
“Mr. Andersen, what do you think of the break-in?”
“I heard your client was robbed blind! Can you comment?”
I straighten my posture and stare out into the sea of press and reporters. They’re like thirsty little fish, all squabbling for a tiny crumb of food.
“The break-in has been handled and all Lockdown clients have been taken care of,” I growl into the microphone.