Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 68 -

James.

The short conversation I had with Becca the night before had been playing on my mind all day. She seemed down and worn out over all the issues with the people talking about what was going on with her and me.

It didn't matter how much my PR team tried to make things go away, Allison was very determined to make sure that Becca paid for even thinking that she could have me. Never in my life had I thought Allison was going to be like this. After all these years of us being divorced, she was the pettiest woman I've ever met, and I had regretted ever spending part of my life with her.

Trying to keep myself preoccupied, I made plans to take Becca to Europe during Christmas break. I wanted to show her how much she meant to me and that things were going to get better. She deserved it, after all.

"Mr. Valentino, there is a man here to see you," Evette said from my office door. She seemed on edge, and her nervousness didn't sit well with me. However, I nodded and gestured with my hand for her to let them in.

As the door closed, I let my hand slip to the gun holstered under my desk and waited to see who it was. For Evette to be nervous, it was someone she was familiar with, someone she thought might be dangerous, and that wasn't ever a good thing.

Sure enough, as the door opened, in walked Yuri, Sergie's right-hand man and the last person who I wanted to see. "Yuri... what brings you to my office?"

The blond-haired, brown-eyed man looked at me with a content gaze and smiled. "I'm sure you know why I'm here, James. Sergie wanted me to check on business and see how things were going."

"My business isn't the concern of your boss anymore, Yuri," I replied firmly.

"See, that's where you're wrong," He chuckled. "You don't get to decide when business is over. Sergie respects you and doesn't want to end things badly with you. So he has sent me to talk some sense into you, considering how close we used to be."

"Close? I wouldn't consider what we used to do as being close."

The comment seemed to not sit well with Yuri, who stared at me with hateful intent. I didn't care what this man thought. At the end of the day, he wasn't going to come into my office acting the way he was. This was my business. "James, I understand that you have some personal issues going on right now with your family. Your daughter is pregnant, and your ex-wife doesn't like your new side piece." "Where did you hear that from?" I asked through gritted teeth.

"It seems Allison and Sergie may have had lunch the other day. He felt bad for the woman who was cast aside because she was too old," Yuri replied with disinterest over the situation.

"Cast aside because she was too old?" I laughed at his comment, shaking my head. "She cheated on me, which is why I divorced her, but I replace it interesting that Sergie took the time to speak with her. What did he think he would get from it?" Pausing for a moment, Yuri stared at me with a stern glare before smiling. "Allison seems to think she can persuade you to do business with Sergie."

"Well, that was a lie. I don't know why he would waste his time believing her. I already told Sergie I'm not interested, and my decision is final."

"Are you sure about that?" Yuri asked again, as if he was giving me a chance to reconsider. The man was far from intimidating, at least to me. I wasn't going to be bullied into doing business with someone who didn't deserve it. "Oh, I'm very sure. Sergie will have to do his business elsewhere."

"You do realize this won't end well for you, James," Yuri replied, becoming frustrated. "Don't be an idiot. A man like Sergie isn't forgiving, and the fact he is giving you another chance to reconsider should be a highlighting factor in your eyes." "I don't care, Yuri. My answer is final," I replied firmly. "Now, if you're done, I have other things to tend to."

There was a moment of silence that fell between us as Yuri watched me with a murderous gaze. I wasn't sure what to make of it, but my hand stayed firmly on the gun beneath my desk as I watched him.

"You're a fool, Valentino. He will take everything that you love from you to get what he wants."

There it was. The threat I was waiting for.

I was very aware of what Sergie would do in order to force me into a corner, but there was no way that I was going to give in. This business was my life, and I wanted to go straight. No more shady deals or illegal run-ins. "He can try."

Shaking his head, Yuri turned and headed for the door. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

It was the last thing he said before Yuri slammed my office door behind him. I saved face, and I refused. It was the right thing to do, though, no matter what threats he threw my way.

I wanted a future full of life, and one with Becca.

I wouldn't allow my dark past to catch up with me and end up destroying her. I had to change for the better, and to do that, I had to make choices that might cost me my life.

Pissed off about Allison running her mouth, I picked up my phone and dialed her number. Every second that it rang, I became angrier until finally she answered, and her cringe worthy voice caught me off guard. "James, I didn't think you knew yet—"

"What, that you went behind my back and met with Sergie? Crying wolf to a man. I am trying to get my family away from all because I am sleeping with a woman that isn't you! Have you lost your f*cking mind, Allison?" I yelled at her. "What-James, you have to listen to me..." she muttered and even though she sounded upset, I wasn't going to allow her to play games with me.

I was done with the games and every other piece of bullshit that made its way into my lap. I wanted her out of my life more than ever. She was nothing to me but a waste of space.

"No, you're going to stop f*cking with my life, or we are going to have major issues."

"Don't sit there and act like this is all on me!" she yelled through the phone. "I had no idea your business dealings with him were over. He will f*cking kill you if you don't agree to continue. Do you want to put our daughter at risk?" "She is at more risk being around you!" I replied slowly, losing my temper. "How horrible it must be to have such a shameful mother. You are an absolute disappointment, Allison."

There was a small gasp from the other end of the line, and with a small amount of silence, I knew what was about to be said.

"F*ck you, James. I did everything right, and you were the reason things went bad. All I had ever wanted was for you to pay attention to me. To love me and make things work. Yet, business was always more important than the family you were losing," she cried out with disdain.

"My fault?" I laughed. "The only thing that was my fault was ever being with you. I should have listened to everyone back then. I should have left your ass on the front steps of that house and walked away, never looking back. You ruined everything."

Every word I said was true. I regretted everything I had with her back then. She was nothing to me, and if she died tomorrow, I wouldn't shed a tear. Never had I hated someone so much in my life as I hated her. "Stay away from me, Becca, and Tally. You need to grow up, Allison."

"Well, you will be happy to know that I don't know where Tally is, so I can't exactly be around her!" she snapped with soft sobs.

"What? What do you mean you don't know where she is?"

"While you were off f*cking your little bitch up north... Tally ran off. I have no idea where she is or who she is with. The beach house is dirty, but empty. I even asked the housekeepers at your house if she had been there, and they said no," Allison replied. "She's gone."

No one at my house had said anything to me about Tally or Allison. Then again, it wasn't like I really asked those questions. Allison wasn't supposed to be there, and Tally was a grown woman.

She could come and go as she wanted to.

"When was the last time you saw her?" I asked in slight panic.

"About a week ago. Not long after you two got into that argument."

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath and tried to collect myself. I hadn't meant for things to go the way they had, and knowing she was gone because of me and my situation with Becca didn't sit well as a father. Regardless of the things she had done in her past, she was still my daughter, and I was still her father. The man who was supposed to protect her and care for her.

"I'll replace her. For now... stay the f*ck away from us all!" I snapped. "You're not wanted!"

Hanging up the phone, I yelled out in frustration.

First, Yuri, then Allison, and now this. When was it ever going to f*cking end?

As much as I wanted to call Becca and tell her what was going on, I couldn't. She had school to worry about, and it wasn't like Tally and Becca were on the best of terms. Perhaps, though, Tally had gone back up north. Maybe she changed her mind about school and was going to finish her last year like she was supposed to. There were a lot of different things that ran through my mind, but the main thing was replaceing my daughter. My daughter and my unborn grandchild.