Page 34 of Paparazzi Perfect
“That will be all,” he said with a cold stare.
“What?” I leaned over him. “Did you even hear me? I’m going to Brisbane, and you won’t stop me!”
Beads of sweat formed on my forehead, despite the glacial temperature in his office. I swiped them away.
With an almost imperceptible flick of his finger, he pressed the intercom.
“How may I assist you, sir?” Lexi’s voice flooded the room.
“Get the Minister for Education on the phone. Tell him I want all of Karson’s college offers rescinded. Except for the University of Sydney. Now!” he barked. “That’s my first move. It’s your move, Karson. But I promise you, Iwillcheckmate you. You need to understand your place.”
Panic threatened to take hold as years of pent-up fury unleashed inside me.
“Then I won’t even go to college,” I spat. “This is MY life. NOT YOURS.” I pointed in his face. “I’m not one of your fucking employees. Threaten me all you want, but you can’t stop me.”
Silent, he steepled his fingers, smiling pleasantly.
I couldn’t let him control me like a puppet… I’d always known I’d have to step up and be my own man one day.
Today is that day.
“Do youwantme to hate you more than I do already? Why the fuck do you suddenly carewhereI go? OrwhatI do?” The tendons in my neck flickered. “You shipped me off to boarding school as soon as possible, like I wasnothingto you. You’ve never wanted me around, so don’t try to pull rank now.”
“Have you finished your tantrum? It’s simple. I built this empire, and youwillcontinue it. Of that you can be certain,” he said, sweetening his blow with a saccharine tone.
“You’re delusional.” My voice rose an octave. “I want nothing to do with you,oryour company. It’s all yours.” I backed away. “I’m done.”
My heart pumped erratically. I moved toward the heavy doors, determined to be as far away from his demands and poison as quickly as possible.
“VLADIMIR!” He snapped his fingers, his lips curling into a snarl.
The doors opened and Vladimir’s hulking frame appeared, blocking the doorway. Meat-like arms folded over his mountainous chest. Beneath his buzz cut, a pin-like stare bored into me.
All hope of leaving vanished.
“So, you’re going to keep me here against my will?” I shuddered.
“Take a seat and listen. Carefully.”
Oh, this’ll be good.I laughed bitterly.What crazy-ass plan has he thought up now?
“You’ll stay here. Your bank accounts and credit cards will be frozen.” His face reddened. “Along with access to your trust fund and other privileges.”
“Hmm. Let. Me. Think…” I paused. “That’s a NO. You can’t manipulate me because I don’tcareabout your money.”
He flattened his palms onto the desk and smiled. “Starting now, Gus is your minder. And if you don’t follow my instructions, he’s out of a job. As I said, you’ll go to college here in Sydney, and as planned you will live in Bronte.”
I cringed. It was like fighting a gunman with a stick. I’d never known him not to getexactlywhat he wanted.
“If you fail to comply, there will be consequences,” he continued.
“Gus can get another job,” I replied, with false bravado. “And I told you, you can keep your money, it’s not an issue for me.”
“But you wouldn’t want anything to happen to the nobody or her father. Now would you?” He shrugged casually. “It’d be a tragedy, really. I’m sure she’d do anything to keep him safe. But, if you insist on following this destructive path, then I suppose we’ll find out for certain.”
A tremor rocked my body.Surely, he wouldn’t hurt Ivy or her dad.My skin was clammy, my head heavy.Is he totally fucking crazy?
I backed away. Speechless.
