Free Scandalous by Donna Hill Page B

little noisy around here today, I see,” Elliott commented, hanging up his coat on the rack. He took out his pipe and slipped it between his teeth.
    Vaughn crossed the room and gave her father a quick kiss. “I took the liberty of ordering lunch,” she said, crossing to the table. “I thought we could eat and talk.”
    Elliott took a seat without comment. He looked across at his daughter and waited for her to be seated.
    â€œWould you like some spring water, or tea?” she asked nervously, the ominous look of her father rattling her. He waved the offer away. She sat down like an errant schoolgirl waiting to be reprimanded. She became angry at herself. She influenced all sorts of men and women and changed government policy. So, why did her father still have the ability to rattle her nerves?
    â€œI want to get straight to the point of this meeting,” Elliott began without preamble. “I just received a report today on your activities over the weekend.”
    For an instant she was sure she couldn’t have heard correctly. “You what?”
    â€œYou were seen at the docks on Saturday, with thatMontgomery fellow in a very compromising position to say the least.”
    Vaughn felt the heat of embarrassment and anger burn her face. She shot up from her seat. “Are you saying that you had me followed?” she asked, her voice rising in indignation and disbelief.
    Elliott cleared his throat and shot her a thunderous look. “Let’s just say that your activities have been brought to my attention.”
    Vaughn spun away, barely able to contain the fury and humiliation that welled inside her.
    â€œSit down!” Elliott ordered.
    â€œI will not,” she tossed back, spinning around to confront him, her face a blanket of outrage. “How dare you? How dare you have me followed? What right do you have to interfere in my private life?”
    â€œI have every right,” he countered. “Wasn’t your experience with Paul enough to teach you a lesson? And Brian,” he added. The impact of his last comment had the desired effect, he noted, as he saw her resistance crumble.
    The cold, on-target remark was like a splash of ice water. Vaughn felt her eyes sting with tears that threatened to overflow. Her throat tightened. She would not allow him to see her cry. Never again, she vowed. She remained standing, stiff and defiant, meeting her father’s eyes head on.
    â€œVaughn,” he said, almost gently, “I have only your best interests at heart. I want to protect you. Now is not the time for you to get…involved.” He cleared his throat. “The last thing you need is for the tabloids to pick up on any relationships you may be having. They’ll eat you alive. You’ll have enough to contend with without the added burden of a relationship that couldn’t possibly goanywhere. For heaven’s sake, child, you only just met the man. I gave you more credit than that.”
    â€œDid you really?” she asked hollowly. “I didn’t think you gave me much credit for anything, Daddy.”
    â€œDon’t be ridiculous. Of course I do. If I didn’t believe in your abilities, do you think I’d have guided your career for so many years? I want the best for you, sweetheart. But I want you to realize your ambitions before you make any commitments. You need to be sure of who you’re dealing with and ultimately of what they want from you. Everyone wants something, Vaughn; you know that as well as I do. It’s the nature of our lives. A mistake now could be disastrous for your career.”
    Is that all she would ever have? she wondered numbly. A career? What about love, a family, a man in her life who loved her for who she was? Was Justin the right man? Maybe her father was correct. Hadn’t he always been right? Hadn’t he always made everything right?
    He reached across the table and patted her cold hands. “I