Page 22 of Scandal
The door bursts open.
“Asher!” he hollers.
Mercury jerks awake just as my father takes in the scene before him. He doesn’t seem surprised, but he shakes his head, disappointment marring his face.
It seems Cormac wasn’t the only person the guard informed of my overnight guest.
“Father,” I simply say.
“When Nicholson told me you brought someone onto the grounds, I told him he must be mistaken,” he snaps, stepping into the room. He regards the crude table with a sneer, as if its very presence offends him. He’s dressed in simple gray slacks and a navy sweater. At some point while I was away, he stopped coloring his hair, and the natural silver took over, making him look paler than usual.
“My son would never take such a risk to his safety and security for a quick lay from the village.”
“She’s not a quick lay,” I snap back, wincing as I hear Mercury’s sharp inhale at my father’s cruel words. “That’s not what this is. She’s?—”
“I’m his girlfriend.”
My head jerks to the side. Am I hearing things, or did she just say…
“You’re his…girlfriend?” My father tilts his head, looks utterly unconvinced as his gaze slowly and methodically sweeps over her.
“Yes,” she calmly replies, although I swear I can feel her hand trembling next to mine under the blanket. I reach out and cover it with mine. “We’ve managed to keep our relationship out of the press for this long. Do you really think I’d ruin that by risking his safety?”
A smug grin spreads across Mac’s face as my father struggles to come up with a reply.
Even I’m halfway convinced by her steadfast conviction, which is why I should really put a stop to this and clear things up before they get out of control. But when my father looks at me with that condescending expression I loathe so much, I can’t help but say, “Is there anything else you need? Or will you leave us to enjoy our breakfast now?”
It’s probably a little rude, but he did barge in here at seven in the morning, expecting to catch me naked in bed.
His eyes narrow, and I realize I’ve gone too far. “Yes, actually.” Fuck. “Bring your girlfriend to dinner tonight. Your mother and I would love to meet her in a more…” His gaze drifts over her faded hoodie and messy hair. His nose scrunches in displeasure. “Appropriate setting.”
“I’m sure she would love to, but Mercury actually has to?—”
“We’ll be there,” Mercury answers.What the fuck?
“Wonderful.” He feigns enthusiasm. “You remember what time, don’t you, Asher?”
Nothing ever changes here. “How could I forget?”
He gives us both a once-over. “And don’t forget the dress code.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
I’ve been home for a month and avoided every invite, request, and demand my parents threw at me. Less than twelve hours after her arrival, Mercury and I are joining the family for dinner.
As a couple, no less.
Fucking hell.
After my father’s departure, Cormac makes himself scarce, leaving breakfast—for two—from the kitchen and promising to return later in the afternoon with lunch.
The old man doesn’t miss a thing.
He knows just as well as I do that Mercury isn’t my girlfriend. He’s been with me every day for the past month. If I had someone special in my life, he would know.
But he’s also perceptive enough to realize Mercury isn’t just a random woman from the village. Her accent alone would have given that away, but I saw him notice the bar logo on her shirt.
He’s paid attention to my other life over the years. He knows who the Creeds are. He understands how important Lance and his family have been to me over the years.
