Page 81 of Juniper Hill (The Edens 2)

“If you want a thorough discussion . . .” I threw his words at him. “We’ll be having it here. This is your window of opportunity.”

He pursed his lips.

“Fine.” I made a move to stand but he held up a hand.

“I received a call from a woman.”

I settled into my chair as the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. “Who?”

“She didn’t give me her name. But she claims that you have Oliver MacKay’s child.”

It took everything I had not to react. I felt the color drain from my face, yet I didn’t move. I barely breathed.

“She’s blackmailing us. Either we pay her to keep quiet or she’ll be going to the press. You’re to come home so I can ensure you keep your mouth shut while my lawyers eviscerate her.”

My heart beat so hard it hurt. Who was this woman? How could she know about Oliver? Unless this was all a lie. Maybe Mom’s private investigator had done more than simply follow me to Montana. Maybe I’d screwed up and left some trace along the way.

Dad was stubborn enough to intrude into his daughter’s personal life.

“Here’s what I don’t understand.” I held up a finger when Dad opened his mouth. “Why do you want to know so badly? Why?”

“Why won’t you just tell me so we can deal with this mess? Is it Oliver MacKay?”

“It’s not your business.”

“Damn it, Memphis.” He leaned forward, a growl in his voice. “You are acting like an insolent child.”

“You are not entitled to control of my life.”

“I am your father.”

I shook my head. “You do not understand the meaning of that word.”

“Memphis, this is so petty,” Mom said. “Your father is trying to help. But we need all of the information.”

“This woman. This blackmailer. Let her go to the press.” It was the last thing I wanted but I suspected my father felt the same. So I’d call his bluff.

As long as I didn’t admit or confirm that Drake was Oliver’s child, there was nothing but speculation. Considering I was in Montana, this drama wouldn’t touch me in the slightest.

But it would definitely put a damper on Dad’s day.

“Oliver MacKay?” Dad seethed. “Really, Memphis? I thought you were smarter than that. Instead you’ve acted like a whore and now I’m cleaning up this mess.”

Mom tensed in her chair but she certainly didn’t come to my rescue.

A whore. Maybe. It stung, but it wasn’t the first time he’d used his words like a whip. “If you’re worried about your reputation and a scandal, then pay the woman and be done with it. Or don’t pay her. I don’t care. But I told you months ago, my son is mine and mine alone. You can either accept that or not. It doesn’t matter. We don’t need you.”

“I’ll use the money from your trust fund.”

“Are you here looking for my permission? Trust me, I realized the day I left that the money would never be mine.”

“Is it true? Is it Oliver?” Mom asked.

I clamped my mouth shut.

“Memphis.” Dad enunciated both syllables of my name. That meant he was moving beyond angry to infuriated. “You realize that if this gets out, people will believe we’re linked to that family.”

“So?”