I hate doing as he asks, but my feet hurt, and my legs are tired. I fall into the chair like a brick sinks to the bottom of the ocean. “What?” I blow some loose strands from my face.
He stands there, his hands still on his hips. He’s dressed in a black button-down and black slacks. He looks like he just came home from the office—my father’s office.
“There’s something I need you to watch.”
“Make it quick.” I yawn, feeling my eyes grow heavy. Shit, I drank way too much.
He picks up a remote and turns the monitor on that hangs on the wall. This room fills the screen. It had to have been from earlier because the curtains are pulled back, revealing the sunny afternoon.
My mother’s nurse enters; George sits at the desk.
“You wanted to see me, Mr. Wilton?” she asks, placing her hands behind her back.
“Yes, have a seat, Liv.” He gestures to the chair that I’m now sitting in.
She does so and crosses her legs over one another. Liv has to be in her early fifties. Light brown hair that match her eyes. She wears very little makeup and blue scrubs.
“I’m going to have to let you go,” he tells her.
“Excuse me?” She sits up straighter.
“I am unable to afford your rates,” he says simply.
“You can’t do that,” I whisper, but he ignores me.
“But Nancy needs around-the-clock care,” she argues.
He stands from his seat. “This is not up for discussion, Olivia. This is me announcing your termination.” He flips off the monitor.
My heavy eyes look up at him. He has a look of satisfaction on his smug face.
“You son of a bitch.” I manage to get out without slurring.
He smirks, placing his hands in the pockets of his slacks. “I told you; I control everything.”
“Hire her back,” I order, managing to stand to my feet. I still hold my heels in my right hand.
He tilts his head to the side. “Now all of a sudden you care about her.”
“Fuck you …”
“Because if I remember correctly, earlier you yelled at her and then stormed out of this house.”
“You can’t do this!” I shout, feeling my shaking legs threaten to buckle under me.
Stepping around the desk, he comes up to me. He reaches out to cup my cheek, but I slap it away. “You’re right, you know. She does need her nurses.”
She has two who take turns coming to the house to care for her. She can barely get out of bed, let alone take care of herself. I can’t do it. I have to make money to try to get us away from this sorry son of a bitch.
“Then hire them back,” I demand, guessing he fired them both.
“That can be arranged. If …” He trails off, and I know where this is going. He’s making a point that he owns us.
“If what?” I ask, swallowing. I can still taste the vodka in my mouth. Funny, I thought I had too many shots, but now I feel like I didn’t have enough.
He sighs heavily. “See, I don’t care if you go out and party with your friends, but you realize that I have the control here, Emilee.” He steps into me. “You will acknowledge that what I say goes.”
“What do you want?” I ask, already knowing the answer. He made it very clear earlier this morning in my father’s office, but I have to ask. Maybe he’s changed his mind and wants something else.
