Chapter 82: Scott's Revelation

Scott's POV-

I tried to keep myself busy the next morning, so I didn't continue checking my watch. Molly had slept through the night and seemed like she was going to sleep through the morning. It was hard to remind myself not to worry. Molly rarely got sick and most definitely did not sleep for almost twelve hours.
I tried as hard as I could to fight the overwhelming need to check on her, but by the time the clock rang out eleven in the morning, I was done pretending to catch up on work.
My father sat in the deep brown, high-backed chair in front of the fire, staring into the flames as if he could tell the future in the glowing embers. He hadn't said or even acknowledged me in more than an hour. I had no idea what was going through his mind, but it must have been huge since he had not even paid attention to the stack of paperwork next to him.
Taking advantage of his distraction, I moved out from behind the desk and headed toward the door.
"Where are you going?" My father's voice rumbled through the room, startling me.
"I'm going to check on Molly," I explained as I grabbed the doorknob. "She was very sick, and I want to be sure we don't have to take her to the doctor."
"You need to stay away from her, Scott," Paul said quietly. "If you insist on continuing to entangle yourself with that girl, it is not just your life you'll ruin, but this entire family."
I gave my father a skeptical look and crossed my arms over my chest. "You've given Molly a lot more power than she has."
Paul finally turned and met my gaze with a dark, dire one of his own. “You are spending more time with your step-sister than anyone else. People are starting to talk, and it is not good.”
I swallowed the disgusted sound I wanted to make and tried to calm myself before I started a fight. “I really couldn’t care less what random people are saying, dad. And, frankly, neither should you.”
“You should, Scott. Because it could ruin our company. It could hurt our bottom line. Is that really what you want? For our family to go bankrupt because of some disgusting rumors?” Paul asked.
I frowned at my father, the suspicion growing that he was not in the dark as much as I thought he was. A part of me was frankly relieved by the idea of not having to hide my feelings for Molly. But the other part, the more rational part, knew how much strain it would put on our family.
I didn't know what to say or how to react. Or even if I should say anything at all. Any denial on my part could be construed as trying to cover it up.
It all boiled down to one indisputable fact. No matter what I wanted, this was not for me alone to decide. It was not just my secret alone.
However, I couldn't just leave it either. Living under the thinly veiled warnings and Paul's condescending tone. Not to mention, the meddling was getting tiresome. I turned back around to face my father and gave him a firm, level stare.
"I will not live my life by other people's rules. I will NOT behave a certain way just because other people think I should,'' I informed him firmly. "Whether or not the rumors are true doesn't matter. It's nobody's business what I do with my life. That includes you."
"You're gonna regret that attitude," Paul warned me so quietly that it almost sounded like the wind.
My eyes narrowed at the subtle threat in his voice. "That includes you, Dad. It is none of your business what I do with my life, and I'm not going to let you dictate what I can and cannot do."
Paul's expression became unreadable before he turned back to the fire, effectively dismissing me.
Despite the sudden silent treatment, I felt like it had been a victory, even if it was just a small one. I hurried out of the room, not wanting to compromise my small win.
By the time I made it up the stairs, a decision had formed in my mind about our relationship. I was done letting others dictate my life for me. If working for my father meant him controlling every aspect of my life, then maybe I needed to think twice about working for him. I didn't want to leave the new clients high and dry, especially when one of those was a close, personal friend. But Eric would understand and be the first to advise me to follow my heart.
"The heart is the smartest, beau-beau. Listen to it when your mind gets too loud,"
He would say, sounding a little too much like a fortune cookie.
But right now, his words seemed to apply all too well in my situation. Maybe it was time to listen to that advice for once.
I stopped outside Molly's door and began to run through what I would say to her. First and foremost, I would tell her what I had been dying to say for too long. It was high time Molly knew that I loved her and wanted her in my life. No matter what the consequences were.
I reached for the doorknob, expecting to hear silence from the other room. Instead, there were sounds of rustling and humming. I slowly pushed the door open to find that Molly was not only awake, but she had showered and gotten dressed. Based on how she was dressed, it looked like she was getting ready to head out.
"What do you think you are doing?" I asked her quietly.
It had taken many years to understand that a low, rumbling tone worked better on a submissive than any amount of yelling would do. As I watched Molly freeze before turning to me, her eyes wide with wariness, I could tell it had done its job on her.
"I'm… ummm... I was going to go check on Becca. She was very upset yesterday, and I wanted to make sure she was feeling better," Molly replied.
Holding my tongue, I stared her down as a slow smile tugged at my lips as I watched her shift nervously under my unwavering stare. She was battling her submission as hard as she could. Out of all the submissives I had watched or played with, seeing Molly work her way through it fascinated me. I wasn't sure which side I hoped would win more.
Seeing her submit to me was always beautiful to me. However, as a brat tamer, I lived for the challenge and battle of wills that Molly always presented.
I continued to give her a level stare and waited for her to make the decision. Finally, Molly's eyes raised again, and I knew her answer. The stubbornness practically sparkled from her eyes, making those bright blue depths shimmer like jewels.
God, she was gorgeous when she was fiery.
Molly straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin slightly. "I am going over to Becca's."
"Is that so?" I questioned her in a steady tone.
"Yes," she replied firmly.
I crossed my arms over my chest. "And do you think that's the wisest decision? Especially with you being sick?"
Molly shrugged me off. "I'm fine, Scott. Back off! I'm not even running a fever. Besides, Becca needs me with how YOUR friend treated her."
"Noah didn't want to take advantage of a young, innocent girl. You can't really blame him for thinking twice about starting a Dom/sub relationship with someone who has never BEEN in a relationship at all," I explained to her.
I didn't tell Molly was my response to what Noah had admitted. I told him if he truly felt like that, he needed to back off and leave Becca alone. No calls, no texts, nothing. He had already hurt her once, and I did not want him to risk hurting her even more.
Either way, Molly's health was much more important than Noah and Becca now.
"I understand you're worried about your friend. But it's best if you stay home and rest," I suggested in a way that told her it was very much not a suggestion.
Molly put her hands on her hips and glared at me. "I'm going to Becca’s, and you can't stop me! Now, if that is all... Please close the door on your way out."