Bearfoot and Pregnant(41)

“Really, Victoria?” Ivy sighed and stood on four-inch heels. How in the world she could wear them was beyond Cassie. Ivy was just as big as Cassie but her sense of style kicked Cassie’s in the ass, big time. “You’ve barely gained any weight. I think I put on more pounds thinking of food than you have during your pregnancy so far.”

Cassie coughed to hide a giggle and saw Victoria throw a hateful glare at Ivy.

“Oh. Uh, Talen and I eat our steak a special way now. Victoria, could you and he visit the chef then Talen can help prepare our meals.” She got three strange looks. She smiled at Talen. “You know how I like mine more rare than before.”

His head bobbed. “Ah, yes.” He stood and gestured for Victoria to lead. Cassie whispered to his back, “Careful, she’ll eat you alive,” a bit louder than she intended and her father frowned at her.

After the two departing were out of hearing range, Ivy following them, her father stood and headed for the bar. “Cassie, I understand your feelings for my wife, but I appreciate you keeping them to yourself.” He poured a dark liquid from a crystal decanter. “Would you like a drink. You always like my scotch.”

“Thank you, but a glass of water would be great.”

He turned and raised a brow at her, but said nothing as he opened the cooler for a bottled water. He handed the plastic container to her and sat in his dark leather chair.

“So, I see you’re here to show us your new husband-to-be. I hope this one lasts more than six months.”

Fire burned in Cassie’s stomach. God, she was so stupid to come here. Why did she think her father would approve and be happy for her? Ever since her mom died, he’d become a different person. Look who he finally married, for fuck’s sake. She twisted off the lid and drank to cool down her temper.

“So do I, Dad. We have a lot in common, so I think this will last a long time.”

“Is he really the CEO of a corporation?”

“He goes by a different title, but the job is the same. He really loves what he does and his people. That’s one thing I love about him.” Her father snorted. And that just pissed her off more. Even that isn’t good enough. What did it take—

“At least he doesn’t need to empty your bank account and run like the other one.”

Cassie’s mouth dropped open. “You know about that?”

“Of course, I know. And that’s why I thought you were coming over here: to ask for money.”

“I would never ask anyone for money, even you.”

“I know, and it makes me damn proud of you.”

Cassie opened her mouth, ready with a snide remark, then his words sank in. “You’re proud of me?”

A sigh escaped her father as he stood and slowly paced. “Cassandra, I… When you were born, your mother and I were the happiest people on Earth. The doctors told us it would be a miracle if your mother ever conceived. We proved them wrong and made our own miracle. You.

“Around that time, I had risen quickly in the company and was rubbing elbows with the high-end and elite. It seemed like all the men had a trophy-wife, half their age, who didn’t have a clue about anything but spending money.

“One of those bastards suddenly died in a car wreck, leaving his eye candy nothing of his estate. She took the family to court for a piece of the pie. The media painted her as a gold digger who purposely ruined a family to marry the husband and father of six children.

“She got a small amount of money in the end. But nothing close to the millions she was asking for. She disappeared from society for a while then popped back into the media when she married some millionaire in California.

“But she made me realize that without a rich man to cling to, she had nothing. Not even a roof to put over her head. I swore to myself that my daughter would never be like her. My daughter would be strong and independent. She wouldn’t need to depend on anyone for anything. Even when she was down.” He pointed his glass at her.

“And that’s exactly what you’ve become. Someone who doesn’t need anyone, including her father.

“When your mother died, I was devastated. I loved her still after all the years. I tried to bury the hurt with other women, but that didn’t work. I was in constant pain because everything reminded me of her. Even at the office, her memory followed me. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could go on.”

Cassie gasped. Her father looked at her, tears in his eyes as well as hers. “Dad, I didn’t—”

“Let me finish. I have things to say that I should have said many years ago. When I met Victoria, her smile eased my pain. Being around her brought me joy I hadn’t felt since your mother passed. Don’t get me wrong. I still love your mother, but Victoria has made me happy again. She’s different than your mother. Your mother was a woman who owned my heart completely. Victoria has given my life purpose again. Gives me a reason to want to stick around, if you know what I mean.