My Dad's Rival: A Steamy Standalone Instalove Romance Read online

  CONTENTS

  My Dad’s Rival

  NEWSLETTER

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Epilogue

  Extended Epilogue

  Extended Epilogue

  NEWSLETTER

  A MAN WHO KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS

  BRATVA BEAR SHIFTERS

  LAIRDS & LADIES

  RUSSIAN UNDERWORLD

  IRISH WOLF SHIFTERS

  Collaborations

  About the Author

  MY DAD’S RIVAL

  AN OLDER MAN YOUNGER WOMAN ROMANCE

  _______________________

  A MAN WHO KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS, 281

  FLORA FERRARI

  Copyright © 2022 by Flora Ferrari

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  The following story contains mature themes, strong language and sexual situations. It is intended for mature readers.

  MY DAD’S RIVAL

  Lucy

  Wyatt Callaghan has been my dad’s business rival for as long as I can remember.

  I grew up hearing stories about him over the dinner table of what a monster he is.

  And now, my dad wants me to infiltrate his company. Find out what he’s hiding and take him down.

  I was all too willing to oblige…until I meet Wyatt and my entire world turns upside down.

  Because the man I meet is not the man, the monster, my dad told me about. The handsome older man is all I’ve ever dreamed about. The man of my dreams.

  Too bad he’s my dad’s rival.

  Because I could never be with him, right?

  Wyatt

  She’s just an intern.

  But I can’t get her off my mind.

  With curves in all the right places that drive me wild, from the moment she stepped onto my office, I knew I needed her to be mine.

  But I can sense she’s holding something back.

  Will her secret be our undoing? Or will they just add fuel to the fire burning inside of me?

  I don’t know what she’s holding back but there’s no way I’m holding back. Because from the moment I laid eyes on her she was mine.

  Now it’s time to get my girl.

  *My Dad’s Rival is an insta-everything standalone instalove romance with a HEA, no cheating, and no cliffhanger.

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  CHAPTER ONE

  Lucy

  “Lucy, I have a very important favor to ask of you.”

  I look up from my bowl of cereal. I’m sitting at the kitchen table, just trying to eat my breakfast, and my dad already has a favor to ask. It’s typical, really. Dad is always running one scheme or another, and I’m definitely used to being roped into his antics. But that doesn’t mean I like it.

  I try not to sigh. It’s too early for this.

  “What is it, Dad?”

  “I’m glad you asked,” he says, taking a seat opposite me, a gleam in his green eyes. Two things I got from him: my drive for my career and his brilliant eyes. “Now, I know you’re fresh out of college and you were hoping to take some time off before you start working, but I’ve discovered something that’s too good for you to miss out on.”

  “Does this benefit you in some way, perchance?” I ask, raising my eyebrow at him.

  I know my dad better than anyone. When he asks for a favor, he always dresses it up as something that will benefit the person he’s asking. And by the time he’s done with you, he’s convinced you that you’re the one winning out.

  Dad grins. “Oh come on, pumpkin, don’t be like that. You haven’t even heard what I have to say, yet.”

  “Then spill. I’m not one of your clients. I don’t need the preamble.”

  “Alright, then. I recently discovered that there’s an internship opening at a very important company…Callaghan Industries.”

  My heart stops for a moment. I stare at my dad, wondering if he’s finally lost his marbles. Callaghan Industries is owned by the notorious Wyatt Callaghan, one of the most ruthless businessmen in the country. At least, according to my dad, that is.

  He’s spent the last twenty-one years drumming into me that Callaghan is the worst man in the world and his biggest competitor. And now, it seems like he’s suggesting that I take on an internship at his company.

  “Dad, what is wrong with you? You haven’t stopped complaining about Wyatt Callaghan since I was born. I swear to God, my first words were probably ‘Wyatt Callaghan sucks.’ And now you want me to go and work for the man? Why?”

  “Come on, pumpkin, use your brain. You can surely see the benefit of me sending you in there, can’t you? You can give me all sorts of insider information! You can figure out what his secrets are and report back to me. Hell, maybe we can even take him down for good.”

  “You’re talking as though I’m a secret agent or something. Besides, I would be a lowly intern. What makes you think that I could find anything out about Wyatt Callaghan? We probably wouldn’t even meet.”

  “I’ve heard that he has a very hands-on approach with his employees. He doesn’t allow anyone to work for him that he hasn’t met in person,” Dad says eagerly, his eyes bright. He’s clearly thought this entire thing through. I drop my spoon and fold my arms, frowning.

  “Alright. So say that I go to an interview for the internship. Say I interview with Callaghan himself. What happens when he puts two and two together and realizes that I’m your daughter? What happens when he realizes your little plan? He’s not stupid, Dad. He’s your biggest competitor for a reason.”

  This conversation has me tired already. I’ve always understood my dad’s drive, his desperation to be the top dog in the business world, but this whole thing is borderline obsessive.

  Dad claims that Wyatt Callaghan is stealing business from us, poaching our customers, but it’s not like our company is struggling. We live in one of the most expensive areas in the state. I went to a top college and my future children will be millionaires by default because of our family business. This whole thing with Callaghan Industries is just pettiness at this point.

  “This plan will work, I promise you,” he tells me. “And look, I know that it seems like a risk for you, but no matter what, my company is yours when I retire. You don’t need to worry about finding a job elsewhere, right? So who cares if Callaghan tries to blacklist you. That would be so typical of him, of course.”

  “Dad…he’s not the one sending spies into your company.”

  “You don’t know that,” snap back.

  I roll my eyes. I’m fully aware that when my dad gets like t
his, there’s no talking him around. I’m going to have to accept that he’s not backing down on this issue. Of course, I could say no to this mission he’s set for me. He’d be upset with me, but he’d forgive me…someday.

  Who am I kidding? When it comes to business, there’s no budging my dad. He wants me to do this, so there’s no real way I’m going to back out. He’s probably already thought of every answer to my protests. At this point, it’s easier just to go along with his crazy plan.

  I sigh. “Alright, this is the compromise. If I interview and don’t get the position, then you drop it, okay? There’s no guarantee that he’ll hire me, after all. And secondly…you owe me big time. I haven’t decided what I want from you yet, but I’ll let you know when I do.”

  He grins at me. “There she is, my little businesswoman, always cutting deals.”

  “Yeah, well, I learned from the best.”

  He stands up and rounds the table to kiss the top of my head. “Oh, I should mention as well…your interview is in two hours.”

  I blink in shock, turning to face him. “What did you just say?”

  “I already arranged for you to go in for an interview. I knew you’d say yes. And I wanted to get the ball rolling,”

  “Dad, I can’t believe you!”

  He smiles fondly at me.

  “First rule of business, always be one step ahead of the rest. You’ve still got a lot to learn from me, darling. Go on, go and get ready. I’ll drive you to the interview.”

  I spring to my feet and hurry up the stairs, feeling flustered. I can barely believe what he’s done this, but at the same time, this is exactly the sort of stunt he’s always pulling. I shower as quickly as possible and then pull out my best pantsuit for the interview. I pull it on, glancing at myself in the mirror. The shirt I’m wearing strains against my breasts, making me sigh in annoyance. Having curves that never seem to end is both a blessing and a curse. I’ve always been a confident woman in many ways, but sometimes, looking in the mirror has me second-guessing myself.

  The one thing I’ve always wanted more than a successful career is love. A strong, handsome man capable of sweeping me off my feet and protecting me from anything. Maybe that’s old fashioned in a world where women are able to do whatever they want, but since I was a kid, my heart’s desire has always been to find love, to get married, and have a bunch of kids.

  My career is important to me too, but it’s a secondary concern.

  But being a curvy girl makes finding love so much harder. I’ve never found a guy I’m interested in in any way, but I know that most guys reject me just because of the way I look. They think I take up too much space, that I’m less worthy of love because I’m a bigger girl. It’s hard, knowing that people are still so closed-minded, but that’s just the way things go sometimes.

  But that doesn’t matter today. Even though my search for love is constant, I’m definitely not going to find it at this interview. My dad has always referred to Wyatt Callaghan as a ‘handsome bastard,’ but even if I do meet him, I could never fall for my dad’s rival…for one thing, he’s my dad’s age. Second of all, I’ve been taught to hate him for years on end. No matter how charming he may seem, I should know better than to trust a snake in the grass. I’ve got my head screwed on right. There’s no way that’s going to happen.

  I smooth my blonde hair down over my shoulders and glance one more time in the mirror. My eyes look brilliant and bright. I look ready for a challenge. And I’ve got to complete this one, for my dad’s sake.

  Normally, I’d be angry with him for pulling a stunt like this. He’s given me no time at all to prepare for this interview. Fortunately, though, I know Callaghan Industries inside out. It’s like my dad has been prepping me for this moment my entire life.

  As I head out to the car, I don’t feel nervous. Not even knowing that I’m going to come face to face with my dad’s biggest rival of all time. I’m a strong and confident woman. I don’t need to be afraid of anything.

  The drive to the Callaghan Industries office building in the city is a quiet one. I spend the time preparing what I’m going to say, how I’m going to keep my identity a secret. Fortunately, my last name is common. Callaghan is unlikely to make the connection between my dad and me, so long as I’m careful. Hopefully, he’ll be so impressed by my interview that he’ll overlook the family name.

  As we pull up in front of the building, my dad grips my arm, excitement overflowing from him. I haven't seen him this excited in a long time and it makes me all the more determined to do a good job for him.

  “Good luck, pumpkin. I know you’re going to ace the interview,” he says. I lean in and kiss his cheek.

  “Thanks, Dad. It’s so nice that you have faith in me,” I say dryly.

  “I owe you. Big time. Anything you want, it’s yours.”

  “I’ll start thinking.”

  I get out of the car and take a deep breath before striding confidently up to the front doors. I’m directed to the elevator by the receptionist and I ride it up all the way to the top floor of the building, to Wyatt Callaghan’s office. It feels strange to be meeting him after all this time. So many years have gone by with me picturing him as some kind of supervillain. Now, I’m going to meet the man behind all the mystery. The man whose name I’ve known since I was a kid.

  The man who makes my dad’s blood boil.

  The elevator opens and I’m greeted by a waiting room full of candidates. Still, I’m right on time, because just as I arrive, my name is called by a woman in the doorway to Callaghan’s office. I smooth down my suit and stride toward her.

  This is it. I have to make this work.

  But the second I step inside Wyatt Callaghan’s office, my breath is stolen from my lungs. Because my dad was right.

  He is a handsome bastard.

  I stare at him as he sits behind a large oak desk, his fingers threaded together. He watches me, his piercing blue eyes seeming to look deep into my soul. His dark hair is beginning to show signs of graying, and yet it only makes him more attractive.

  I can barely breathe.

  I feel light-headed.

  Like I’ve lost all of my senses.

  Oh boy, I’m in deep now.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Wyatt

  The woman standing in my doorway is absolutely stunning. I’ve never seen such a beautiful creature. I can’t take my eyes off of her with those incredible green eyes and endless curves, she’s a goddess.

  My body is responding to her in ways I’ve never experienced before.

  No woman has even made my heart stutter in my chest and cock harden to the point of pain, but it happened the moment I laid eyes on her. Something awoke inside me, something primal, something animalistic. I make a low sound before I can stop myself. This effect she’s having on me…it’s unstoppable, it’s raw, it’s wild.

  And it’s left me completely thrown off.

  “Good morning, Mr. Callaghan,” she says after a long moment of us both regarding one another. “My name is Lucy.”

  “Lucy,” I growl, scanning her up and down. I can’t help but let my eyes linger on her chest, her breasts practically bursting out of her shirt…and those curvaceous hips…if only she’d turn around for me so that I can see her delicious ass. I just know she’s the full package. Of course, she is…

  She’s mine.

  I always knew that when I met the woman I wanted, my woman, it would be like this. The attraction instantaneous, that she would appeal to me in every single way. One look at her, and I can see everything I’ve ever wanted right in front of me. I know she’s the one I’ve been waiting all these years for.

  She’s the only woman worth my time.

  “You must be here for the interview,” I grunt, trying to contain myself.

  She nods.

  “That’s right, should I sit down.”

  “Yes. Please excuse me one moment, though,” I say, then stand and walk toward the door. She moves out of my way, looking a little
nervous. I tend to have that effect on people, particularly women. I’m tall and broad-shouldered, something many find to be intimidating. But I’m kind of hoping that in Lucy’s case, she finds it intimidating in a good way…in a sexy way.

  I step out into the waiting area. It’s usually reserved for clients, but today, it’s filled with hopeful interns. Well, I’ve already made my choice. There’s no chance that I’m letting Lucy out of my sight. I don’t need to interview her to hire her for the position.

  I already know what I want, and what I want, I get.

  “Thank you all for coming, but I have found my candidate,” I tell the other young hopefuls. “Please don’t hesitate to reapply when a new position opens.”

  I can see the disappointment spreading across the room. Every young businessman or woman is desperate to work for a company like mine, one of the biggest in the country, so this must be a real blow to them. Normally, I might feel bad for brushing them off, but my priorities just changed entirely. Suddenly, the big bad world of business doesn’t seem so important anymore. The meetings I have scheduled, the clients I have lined up, the employees I have relying on me…none of it seems important.

  Only she matters.

  I return to my office and sit down at my desk. Lucy, having just heard me outside, looks shell-shocked.