Free Perfect Sense (Perfect Series Book 1) by Amanda Cowen Page A

glasses into focus. “– the charter bus is booked. Also, please confirm with Coach Bartley that his corporate travel card hasn’t expired and that it is up to date.” I blink a few times, before Theo adds, “Oh, and your father wants to speak with you in the boardroom.”
    “Sorry, what did you say?” I ask like an idiot.
    “Your father. He flew in from Santa Anna this morning. He asked me to have you meet him in the boardroom.”
    I swallow the nervous lodge in my throat. Why would he want to meet with me? Sure he travels back and forth from Santa Anna to Bexley on a regular basis, but why is he making our meeting so formal?
    “Right now?”
    Theo leans back in his chair and crosses his arms in front of his chest. “Are you okay, Quinn? You’re acting a little off today.”
    “I’m fine.”
    I drop the papers that need signing in front of him, exit his office and walk down the hallway into the boardroom.
    My father sits at the end of the boardroom table with his hands tented in front of him. His gray eyes study me with a disapproving glare as I slide in the empty seat next to him. Once I let out a steadying breath, he leans forward, all business and no smiles.
    “We need to talk.”
    He watches me with a frown. An unnerving sensation coils along my skin. I am not unfamiliar with his puckered brow and what it means. He is unhappy about something I’ve done. He is about to interrogate me. I hate the deafening silence building between us. What is going on? Did something terrible happen to Lyndsey?
    “Something has come to my attention,” his voice is low and authoritative. “That’s why I’m here.”
    My stomach drops.
    “What did Lyndsey do this time?”
    He shakes his head. “No Quinn, this time my concern is you.”
    “Me?”
    “It’s a week into your internship. I never thought I’d have to warn you. I thought you were smart enough to know better.” He pauses again, shifting uncomfortably in his chair as he mumbles under his breath. He gains his composure then looks back up at me. “You are a beautiful girl, just like your mother. And you may be blessed with her beauty, but you have my brains, my drive, and my ambition, which is exactly why I recommended you for this internship. You have a very bright future ahead of you…and I’m warning you… do not fuck it up over Cash Brooks.”
    Feeling blindsided, I blink rapidly as he stares at me. “Dad, nothing is going on between us.”
    “I hope not,” he taps his finger on the edge of the table. “I received a call last night from my Executive Assistant of Hockey Operations, who said she saw you leave the post-game party with Cash. What on earth were you doing there? You should know better than to mix business with pleasure. This is something I would have expected from Lyndsey, not you.”
    I swallow, regretting ever going to that stupid game and showing up at that party . Smarten up Quinn! I silently scold myself. The last thing I need is to get fired, disappoint my father and have that mistake looming over my professional future.
    “I’m only going to warn you once. Stay away from him.”
    “How do you expect me to stay away from him? He’s a player on the Bruisers. Why would you recommended me for an internship with the Bruisers if you expected me to stay away from your star player?”
    “I expected you to get to know him on a professional level. Not leave a post-game party with him outside of working hours.” he raises his voice and slams his fist on the table. I jump in my seat. “The last thing I need is my daughter flouncing around with Cash Brooks. He’s a disaster and the last thing you need in your life.”
    “Dad – “
    He cuts me off, “I’m telling you this, because I love you and I care about you and your future. You are perfect for this internship Quinn. Do not embarrass me. I wouldn’t want you compromising your position with the Bruisers because of him,” he says in a hard voice.
    Is he threatening me?
    I’m