Free Perfect Fit by Naima Simone Page B

constant reminder of her failure as a woman and a wife. Hatred for the life that should have been happy but instead had become a miserable prison that she abused alcohol to escape. Hatred for herself.
    “I’m sorry, Daddy,” Cindy said, regret heavy in the soft tone. “I didn’t want to hurt you, but I thought you should know. I wish I hadn’t recognized Rowyn’s purse and keys. I wish…” Misery etched her features, as if being the bearer of bad news tortured her.
    Rowyn’s palms itched to strangle the deceitful bitch.
    “I wish you had come to me with your suspicions, Cindy,” Rowyn said. “Then I could have explained that my being with Darius had nothing to do with your father’s company or the merger. He and I met months ago.”
    “Liar,” her mother accused. “If that’s true, why didn’t you say something Thursday night?”
    “Because it was, and is, our business,” she countered coldly.
    “You are just like your father,” Pamela ranted. “Selfish. A liar. I should have left you with him, you ungrateful—”
    “Be. Quiet.”
    Pamela gasped, shocked by Rowyn’s boldness. That made the two of them. As often as she’d desired to, Rowyn had never interrupted or outright contradicted her mother. No matter how nasty she jabbed at her. But suddenly a lifetime of grief, resentment, and hurt welled up inside and swept away caution like debris dragged away by the waters of a flood.
    No more. She refused to be her mother’s punching bag any longer. Yes. She was like her father. Loyal. Fair. Loving. And she deserved to be loved. Rowyn had given this family everything. And every one of them had either rejected her affection and hard work or had taken it selfishly, as if she should be thankful they deigned to accept it.
    No longer would she cast her heart before them. Rowyn had worth, value. And if they were too blind to see it, then…
    Then fuck them.
    Daniel cleared his throat, and the sound seemed to reverberate in the tomblike quiet.
    “Even if what you say is true, Rowyn”—and his tone suggested he didn’t believe it any more than her mother did—”I’m afraid the damage has been done. Under the circumstances, I’m going to have to insist that you step down from your position while the merger is in process. We cannot afford the hint of scandal. I hope you understand.”
    Yes, she did. All too well.
    “Oh, I do,” Rowyn said. “I understand that I have lived as your stepdaughter for twenty years. Worked at your company, headed the most productive department, and led the company in profit for the past three years. And I didn’t do it for the title or the money. I did it for you.” She gave a short bark of laughter at Daniel’s confused frown. Because he had never offered her his affection, he didn’t comprehend how she had willingly tried to give him hers. “I not only step down, Daniel, I quit. And not because I have anything to be ashamed of, because I don’t.”
    Rowyn inhaled and met each pair of eyes that stared at her in varying degrees of astonishment and anger.
    “I refuse to be a part of a company that will accept rumor over fact without even giving a dependable, exemplary employee the courtesy of defending herself. And I refuse to be a part of a family who takes for granted and despises the daughter and sister I’ve tried to be. In other words”—she hitched her chin up and, in spite of her pounding heart, declared—”I’m through with all of you.”
    “Don’t be ridiculous,” Pamela scoffed.
    “I don’t think she’s being ridiculous at all,” a soft voice commented from behind Rowyn.
    Startled, she whirled around. Darius stood just inside the open door. He looked formidable in a black jacket, shirt, and pants, with his brown curls brushed away from his striking face—his presence seemed to shrink the large study to the size of a closet.
    He flicked his gaze to her face. And that’s when she noticed the fury that burned behind his impassive demeanor. There