"Dad, can I have a word?" I say, with an apologetic look to the couple he was talking to.
"Of course, is everything okay?"
"Can we talk in your suite?"
He nods and we walk to the elevator together.
When we're inside the suite, I tell him what happened with Andrew and who he really is. He surprises me by saying he read Ash's book and thought he was a good choice as the winner.
"There's more, Dad. I'm in love with Ash. Even if he wasn't a talented writer, even if he wasn't more than a farmer who works at the market, I would still love him. Mark has likely fed him lies, which is why he left the party. I will make sure this is all cleared up, but Mark's big mouth disclosed an interesting piece of information."
"Go on," my dad says. I know he'll want to get back to the Ash topic, but I need closure with Mark first.
"Mark said he knows we only do three-book contracts now. While we've been practicing it, there's only one person who knows this to be a policy."
"Jessop."
"Precisely. I don't know what their angle is, but I suspect they're working together under a mutual agreement but with different objectives."
"Jessop wants money. And Mark wants...you."
I nod.
"I'm so sorry, son, for pushing Mark back into your life. Your mom and I only want you to be happy. We know how hard you work, and to be honest, we've been a little concerned that you don't have a life outside the company."
"So you decided to retire so I spend more time at work?"
My father gasps, only just realizing it.
"I'm joking, Dad. It's an honor to follow in yours and granddad's footsteps. You're right. If this all happened months ago, I would likely move into the office permanently, just so I wouldn't waste time going home. But now I want more. I want a balance. I want what you and mom have. The messages and calls asking when I'm going to be home. Cancelling meetings because I have to attend my kid's football practice. I want those kinds of problems."
My dad holds out his hand, and when I take it, he pulls me into a hug.
"They’re the best kind of problems, son. Go get your Ash. Leave Jessop and Mark with me. I'm kinda in the mood to go out with a bang."
23
ASH
A knockon the door brings me out of my light sleep, but I don't bother getting up. Victoria has a key, so the knock is just a warning to let me know I'm not alone.
"Hey, how are you feeling today?" she says, coming in and sitting on the side of the bed.
"My body still feels like it's been run over by a truck, but my head is better."
She picks up the thermometer from the side table and takes my temperature.
"Fever has gone down. I'll still get Doctor Silas to come over later just in case."
"He's a pediatrician," I grumble.
"He's a doctor."
She leaves me, and a minute later I hear the tell-tale signs of lunch. I force myself out of bed to use the bathroom. When I look in the mirror, I see pale skin, tired red eyes, and flat hair. Some might call it death warmed up, which is almost accurate because I definitely feel worse than I look.
I drag myself back to my bed but sit against the headboard instead of lying down.
My phone is still turned off, and I can't bear turning it back on to face the rest of the world, their lies, and all the things that belong to a place I was too naive to step into.
