Daddy’s Little Liar by Lila Fox

Chapter Eighteen

 

The next few months sped by, and Faith decided to put her fears aside for the time being because she could see how happy everyone was.

She tried to do everything she could to make his life easier and make him happy. The thought of her actually hurting him by being with him kept popping up in her head, but she pushed it down. At the moment, she was making him happy, and that was all that mattered.             

Faith set the letters down behind the desk that Emily sat at inside the main doors of Simmons Corporation. She was the one who let people into the business, and she’d finally started to like Faith.

She looked around for her to say hi when a woman coming through the front door caught her attention.

“Hello,” the woman said.

Faith looked around for Emily and couldn’t see her. “Um … may I help you?”

“I would hope so. I’m here to see Rylan.”

The woman was truly beautiful and made Faith feel frumpy and unattractive in her jeans and t-shirt. “Do you have an appointment?”

“I don’t need an appointment. He’ll want to see me.”

Faith fidgeted, not knowing what to do. She exhaled when she heard the voice behind her.

“Is there a problem here?” Duncan asked.

She turned to face him. “Um… I don’t think so. This woman wants to talk to Rylan, and Emily isn’t at her desk.”

“Do you have an appointment?” Duncan asked the woman.

“Well, no. He just said to stop by today.”

“Why?” Duncan asked.

“We met last night, and we really hit it off at the party.”

Faith stiffened and took a step back. He had been gone the night before. He said it was a meeting, but maybe…

Duncan grabbed hold of her arm. “Oh, no, you don’t.”

Faith looked at him. “Maybe she’s telling the truth.”

Duncan snorted. “I can guarantee she’s lying.”

The woman gasped. “You can’t talk to me this way.”

“Wanna bet? Let’s just give him a call.”

Duncan pulled Faith over to the desk, lifted the phone, and pushed a button.

“Hey, man. I’m down in the lobby, and there’s a woman here saying you told her to come to see you today. She said you met last night.”

Faith couldn’t hear what was being said but continued to step away.

Duncan set the phone down. “He’s on his way down.”

The woman smiled. “Good.”

Duncan grabbed hold of both of Faith’s shoulders and bent forward. “If you don’t stop moving away from me, I’ll spank your little ass.”

Faith gasped. “You can’t do that.”

“Did you forget Rylan giving me permission to discipline you if I see you needed it?”

Faith did remember. Duncan grinned when she growled at him but stopped fighting him.

She dropped her head, unable to look Rylan in the eyes when he stepped off the elevator and headed their way.

He stood several feet away from her and put his hands on his hips. “What’s the problem?”

Duncan spoke up. “This woman said you told her to come visit you today.”

Faith watched Rylan turn to the woman. “How do I know you?”

“I was at your mother’s party last night.”

Faith stiffened. Duncan tightened his grip on her when she tried to move away.

“I vaguely remember you. But I didn’t tell you to come here.”

“Your mother thought we’d get along well.”

Rylan pinched the bridge of his nose, and Faith could tell he was frustrated. The fact he’d gone to a party the night before and told her it was a meeting, and how he couldn’t look at her now, told her what she needed to know. Her time with him had come to an end.

She could feel her lungs constrict and tears fill her eyes. No, she wasn’t going to cry. While she knew this would happen, she didn't think it would hurt this bad. It was actually good that it was happening right then instead of after they moved. At least in Denver, she knew the city.

She wasn’t meant to be loved. She was different. So why couldn’t she get used to it? Or stop trying?

Faith bit down on her lip when Rylan pulled the woman away from her. She couldn’t hear what was said. Both of them faced away from her so she couldn’t see the emotions, but then she didn’t have to.

Duncan growled when she tried to get away again.

“Let me go, Duncan. I don’t want to be here anymore.”

“You’ll stay and let Rylan explain.”

“Why? He lied to me. I get punished when I do that. The fact his mom can’t stand me, and he’s going to parties is enough for me to know I need to leave.”

“You’re not going anywhere, honey. I know it looks bad, but give him a chance.”

She felt the cold ball of misery grow in her belly. At the same time, the walls Rylan had knocked down rebuilt to protect her as much as she could. She’d let her emotions go when she was alone.

The woman walked away and out the front doors, and Rylan came back to them. Faith kept her eyes down and any emotion off her face.

“So, what the hell, man?” Duncan asked.

She heard the anger in Duncan’s tone but didn’t understand.

Rylan sighed.

She cleared her throat and tried to look Duncan in the eyes, but instead, she looked at his chin. “Duncan, why are you mad at him?”

“You’re kidding me, right?”

She shook her head. “It’s not our business what he does…”

Rylan cursed. “Baby, let me explain.”

She raised her hands. “No, listen. Everything’s good.”

Rylan’s brows pinched together. “Let me…”

“No, Da … Rylan. I know you both have work to do. I’ll just head out.”

Rylan scowled. “I don’t think so.”

“What are you doing, honey? Tell him how you feel,” Duncan demanded.

She turned to Duncan and smiled brightly. “There’s nothing to talk about. I’m fine. Really.”

Her heart pounded in her chest, and it took all her strength to act normal. That was the problem. If you had your walls down, it was harder to make people believe you.

“Let’s go upstairs,” Rylan said.

“This is silly. Both of you go back to work.”

Rylan crossed his arms over his chest. “So, you don’t care that I supposedly lied to you and that woman was here to see me?”

She felt herself flinch and hoped they hadn’t noticed. Her cheeks were starting to hurt with the effort it took to keep the smile on her face.

“N … no.” She wanted to say more but knew her emotions were too close to the surface.

Duncan let her arm go, and she took a few steps back.

“All right, good—” Rylan said, but Duncan interrupted him.

“Wait a fucking second. You don’t believe this shit, do you, Rylan?”

Rylan narrowed his eyes on her. “Yes, because she told me she’d never lie to me again.”

She gritted her teeth to prevent herself from yelling, Well, you said you’d never lie to me or throw me away.

Duncan shook his head.

“So, I’m going to head out. I’ll see you later.”

Rylan nodded his head. “I’ll be home later.”

“Okay, Da … Rylan.” She turned and walked out. She strolled several blocks before she leaned against the building to catch her breath because the pain was so intense. It felt like her heart was being torn from her chest.

When she felt she could walk without passing out, she headed to the curb to catch a cab. She needed to get home to Rylan’s house before she broke down. It would take a while to shore up the walls she used to have and hadn’t thought she’d ever need again.

When she got a cab, she sat on the seat and rested her head back. God, she was such a fool. When in the hell was she going to learn? Maybe this would be what it took to make her finally believe she wasn’t worth loving, and that way, she’d never had to feel this kind of pain again for as long as she lived.