I’m Not Like My Parents

CHAPTER 005: I’m Not Like My Parents

If he recognized me, he didn't show it as he let his head fall back and released a groan.

My middle clenched in response, and I went still.

“I’ll just...you know...leave." My voice was small as I pivoted around, ready to bolt, when his voice cut through the air.

“Wait."

I stopped short, my heart pounding furiously in my chest.

"Tiana." My name rolled off his lips in cold authority, and I shivered.

Shit. He knew it was me.

I heard a loud pop, and I felt the stripper get on her feet.

Please tell me the loud pop was freeing a lollipop from her mouth.

God, I was freaking out.

“Excuse us," he ordered with no hint of emotion in his voice.

Normal people would at least stammer out of panic.

Not this man

The stripper must've gotten her cue to leave because she let out a frustrated purr, like a kid who'd just had her candy taken away.

“Now.” He said, and I heard her footsteps approaching from behind.

I almost became one with the wall as I stepped aside for her.

She turned to me over her shoulder, giving me a dirty look before she slammed the door shut behind her.

Great. I was alone with Derek.

Now I wished I had run off when I had a chance to.

“You can turn around now. I’m decent.” He said it in a flat tone, like it would wipe off the memory of the last few seconds from my mind.

I schooled my face to be neutral.

Not awkward. Anything but awkward.

Walking in on adults making out was totally normal.

Not when he was your best friend’s dad.

“Tiana?” He called, and I jerked before turning around to meet a pair of penetrating topaz eyes.

The way his eyes dragged over me made my knees knock as I walked back to him.

That icy, lethal, dark stare that sets all the nerves inside me on fire.

“It’s alright. Take a seat.” He gestured, clearing a space next to him.

He was tucked in, tie in place, buttoned up, and with an air of finesse.

This kind of man could set a building on fire and somehow piece it back together.

Too clinical.

I took the space, sitting at the edge of the couch to create more distance between us.

He took out his tobacco and placed it in a grinder, pushing a bottle of whiskey to the center of the table before turning to me.

“Did you come here with Hudson?” He asked, and my heart jumped.

“No. I came with my other friends. Hud doesn’t like this kind of place.”

“So you do?” He asked, and I held back whatever additional lie I was about to toss in to protect Hudson from getting into trouble with his dad.

“Uh…I guess it’s a once-in-a-while thing.”

His expression grew more stern, and I swallowed nervously.

“Tiana.”

"Sir," I replied immediately.

He glanced down before meeting my eyes.

“Sit comfortably so you don’t fall off. I don’t bite.”

I nodded slowly, taking a minute before adjusting, and I missed a step.

Then I slipped.

Sliding to the floor, I screamed in fear.

But his strong arm was wrapped around my waist in a second, catching me in time.

“Don’t lie to me. I know Hudson’s here.”

I shuddered slightly, unable to move an inch with how uncomfortable our proximity was.

His warm, large body caused heat to course through me and for some wild reason I felt safe.

“How did you know that?”

I didn't know I was holding in a breath until he released me.

"It doesn't matter.”

“What about my wife’s offer? Are you contemplating it?” He asked out of nowhere, and that sort of brought me back to reality.

It felt like everyone was indirectly pushing me to take the offer except Hud.

“I…have school and my parents—“

“Your work will be well compensated.”

“We’ll wire you an advance. Get your parents a better place to live. Have your scholarship spot secured more.”

“Hudson would drive you to school every day so you wouldn't worry about transportation.”

My fist balled, a nasty feeling settling in the pit of my stomach.

“The offer sounds attractive. Even to me.” He added.

“Sounds more like you’re trying to buy me off, sir.” I thought aloud and caught a glint of dark fascination flashing in his eyes.

Not the typical shy poor girl he was expecting, huh?

He crossed his arms together, his sleeves rolled up enough to see tattoos peeking from beneath them as he leaned into his seat, studying me.

“You’re talking back now?”

I bit my lips in regret.

I shouldn’t have said that.

I admitted I walked in on him basically cheating on his wife.

But my parents worshipped this man and his family like some kind of god.

Dad told me how he covered the hospital bills up until middle school from the moment I was born.

Unlike my parents, I didn't plan to spend the rest of my life waiting on people's benevolence.

Regardless, whatever convictions I had about self-respect didn't matter, I was still a nobody to disrespect him.

Lowering my voice, I apologized.

“I’m sorry.”

“You think I’m buying you off because of what you just saw. Isn’t it?” He asked.

Yes. But you’d have to twist my arm to have me say it out loud.

“No.”

He leaned forward, and I recoiled back.

“No?”

I nodded to confirm it.

“So it’s true. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Your dad was also like this.”

"Obedient. Polite. Too respectful. Too Grateful. He never questioned me. If I told him black was white, he'd nod and thank me for pointing it out."

Instantly, my blood boiled in anger.

All the consideration about being polite earlier went out the window.

I could take a slander but not against my family.

“Just the way you are now. I’m sure your lips are sealed and my wife would never know what happened in this room.” He added.

I dug my nails into my palm, trying to count backward before it snapped.

“She will. Because I’m not like my parents. I don't kiss people’s asses for a living.” I said in a tight voice, and something sparked in his eyes.

Interest. Amusement. I couldn't figure.

“Now look at you. That’s my good girl. Don’t let anyone walk all over you.” He praised.

Wait...

Did he just say that to rile me up?

He twisted his wrist, checking his watch, then stood up.

Slipping a card out of his pocket, he extended it to me.

“In case you change your mind about talking.”

I hesitantly accepted the card, flipping it over.

“Telling Hudson about tonight won’t do him any good.”

“I know you care about him.” His words followed him out as he walked through the door, closing it behind him.

The card read.

Derek Munroe

CEO

Munroe, Inc. Corporation.

Then I thought about his last words.

Geez. I kept getting deeper and deeper into this family’s shit.

Now what was I supposed to do?

Figuring it'd be better if I avoided Hud for tonight and thought of how to go about this by tomorrow, I left the room.

Gwen was stringing him along like her favorite puppy anyway.

He doesn't need me.

My phone’s screen lit up, and I saw Hud had called five times already.

Two texts from Naomi and Ramsey each.

"Hey, you left your jacket with me. Home?” Naomi's text read.

“Hud's plastered. Come chauffeur his ass home." Ramsey's text followed.

Sheesh. I’d forgotten he was lightheaded.

Well, damn it!

I headed for the entrance I thought I came in through and realized I still didn’t know my way out.

“You’re going to the club?” Someone asked, and I turned around to find a bulky bald guy in a black t-shirt and tight jeans, a security vest over his outfit, and a gun tucked in his waistband.

I silently winced at how it seemed as if his clothes would rip apart any minute from now with how they clung onto him like a second skin.

"Yes, please.”

“It’s this way.” He pointed at the adjacent doorway, maintaining a pokerfaced look.

And I remember those stone-faced men in the movies.

Kidnapping little scared girls lost in the hallway was like their thing or something.

"Thanks." I told him.

On impulse I hurried toward the direction he pointed like someone set fire to my butt, and I eventually found a familiar path.

Thank Goodness.

I rushed back to the club and bumped into Ramsey and Naomi on their way out.

“Hold up. You guys aren't leaving Hud behind, right?”

Ramsey scratched the back of his neck, struggling to stand upright as he leaned his weight against Naomi.

"Uh...not exactly. She’s with him.”

They exchanged uncomfortable glances, and Naomi stepped forward.

“We were coming to get you anyway. It’s not like she can drive him back and we trust you with—"

“Gwen is with him.” I repeated, visibly choking on my words.

Naomi rubbed her arm in guilt as I pushed past them, almost breaking into a run back to Hud.

Then I stopped just a few steps away from the lounge area.

He was leaning forward, kissing her neck, while she threw her head back, her fingers running through his hair.

They made up.