“Yessir.”
He left and closed the door behind him as my father came to sit down on my sofa, shoving a box aside. “Please sit,” he said, waving a hand at the chair, which also had a box sitting on it.
I lifted the box and set it on the floor, saying nothing as I sat down. I crossed my legs and waited him out. For the first time since I could remember, calmness washed over me, whereas before, my stomach would twist as the acid rose in my throat. Itwas freeing not to feel those things. Right then, any doubts I may have had were squashed.
“Are you dating him?”
“Yes.” How did he notice?
“I can see how Atlas looks at you. You’re either dating him, or he wants to date you. Is that why you’re leaving?”
“It’s not the only thing.”
“You know how I feel about you having relations in the office, especially after what—”
I raised my hand to stop him. “I don’t care how you feel about it. You’re no longer my boss.”
“But I’m your father.”
I shrugged.
“Since when have you been into men?”
“Since college. I’m into both men and women.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
I raised a brow and didn’t bother answering. It was obvious why.
“Atlas is a little… effeminate, don’t you think?”
Honestly, the question caught me off guard. He didn’t complain about my being with a man, but he did about Atlas being femme.
“Is there a point to your visit?”
He sighed and narrowed his eyes at me. You could tell he wanted to lash out at me, but he kept his temper in check.
“I came to ask you if there’s a way to get you to stay.”
“No. You had over three months to talk, but you’ve ignored me. I told you that night that you had to apologize if you wanted a healthy relationship. This doesn’t sound like an apology.”
“Would you stay if I did?”
“No. Linden and I are opening our own business.”
He uncrossed and re-crossed his legs. Having to look into a mirror was always difficult, especially for men like my father.
“You’ve changed, Hugh.”
“No, I’ve grown up. It took me long enough.”
Dad stood, stepped next to me, and placed his hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry that you believed you were never good enough, or rather, that I made you feel that way. You were. I was only trying to make you a better man, but my approach was clearly not the right one. I just wanted you to be ready to take over the business. Anyway, your mother and I talked extensively. You, Chloe, and Linden will each receive a third of everything should we die. No stipulations. No ultimatums. You and your sister are all we have.”
With that, he walked out of my office, closing the door quietly behind him.
My eyes watered, and I pinched the bridge of my nose to get them to stop. It was all I ever wanted from him. He wasn’t a sentimental man full of affection. I understood that. But this was… something. A way forward. I’d take it.
We all sat at the dinner table, about to explode from so much food. I still had some rice on my plate, so I shoved the last couple of bites into my mouth, trying not to throw up from overeating. I swore that being a part of Atlas’s life was going to add on the pounds.
