Wrapping the blanket tighter around me, I’m ready to flip to another page and finally find out if the hero conquered the new land, only to yelp when Father comes and rips the book from my hands, throwing it into the fire where it burns brightly. “Stop floating in the clouds, Diana, and focus. Your books will get you nowhere. Now pick up the damn study board and learn something useful instead of yapping about some nonexistent character.”
“No, thanks,” I tell her quickly, barely holding back my bitter laughter because just imagining such a thing makes me want to vomit.
For years, I dealt with his hatred and constant disappointment in order to feel at least some sense of familial bond. Sometimes family becomes so toxic that you need to let go and never look back, which I intend to do for the rest of my life.
Just as this thought flashes in my mind, we hear the door open again and share a confused look.
Who the hell would come here at this hour?
My confusion turns into shock when I see my father enter, shaking off his umbrella and coat while his eyes roam all over the space, finally settling on me.
We gape at one another for what seems like forever before I finally snap out of my stupor. “What are you doing here?”
“Is this how you greet your father, Diana? Show some respect.” Familiar guilt, along with discomfort, washes over meat his disapproving tone, coated in resentment, as he sweeps his gaze over the library, and disgust etches his features. “I see things are going exactly as I expected.” Something falls once again behind me, adding salt to injury, and his face twists in displeasure.
I cross my arms, trying to protect myself from the upcoming scrutiny, and that’s when Psyche jumps up, spreading her lips in that famous fake smile of hers that she usually reserves for her stepmother. “I’m going to check on the noise. It’s nice to see you again, sir.” He ignores her words, never hiding the fact that he doesn’t like her or care for my friends in general. “Call me if you need me,” she whispers for my ears only as she passes me. Sending a grateful grin her way, I thank the gods for having such a good friend.
At least life was kind to me in some way, even if it managed to screw me up in all other departments.
Small wins and all that.
“What are you doing here?” I repeat my question, lifting my chin and refusing to fall back into the insecure little girl who desperately seeks her father’s approval, only to be met with anger. “We both know you hate this place.”
And me.
Not that I can ever voice it because he will come up with thousands of excuses to justify his horrible treatment when there are none.
Only the simple truth.
I was a baby he never wanted, and he got stuck with me because his mistress refused to get rid of me.
“I have an important matter to discuss with you.” His cryptic reply makes me frown, and since I can’t really kick him out, I point at the chair opposite me. “This building is being held together by a thread,” he mutters, opening up his coat, his eyeson me while I perch my ass on the table, hoping he’ll keep it short. “If you’d listen to me, you’d never be in this situation.”
“If that’s the important matter, I don’t want to hear it.” Surprise flickers in his gaze at my cold and detached tone. The little girl who kept her mouth shut while he spat his bullshit is long gone. Living independently after he kicked me out sure cured me from my endless desire to please a father who couldn’t care less about hurting me. “I have to be somewhere in an hour, so what is it?”
It’s a total lie, but if there is one thing my father respects, it is punctuality, followed by society’s opinion of us.
According to his staff, he was a good and fair boss who valued family and gave his employees many opportunities. Somehow, his great character and warmth never transferred to me, so at the end of the day… even his amazing work ethic served as a reminder that when a man doesn’t want a child, he cannot display kindness toward it. “The company is in trouble.” He flicks back his coat and grabs a nearby chair, the legs scraping soundly over the cracked wooden floor, while I’m still reeling from this bomb he dropped on me.
“What do you mean?” I’ve never heard my father use this particular word about his company. It was always his top priority because he felt responsible for all his employees. Some of them have worked at the company for over forty years!
I notice the dark circles under his eyes and how his wrinkles have gotten deeper. Exhaustion oozes from my father, so different from his usual stoic, confident demeanor.
“We’re in debt. Grant had some ideas that didn’t work.” I snort despite the seriousness of the situation.
My older brother, the apple of my father’s existence, rarely has any good ideas and usually brings more trouble than he’s worth. Still he ended up being Dad’s favorite.
He’s a brilliant scientist who would have gone places if only he'd focused on his own goals and stopped being so attached to Father. Then again…when you grow up in luxury and everyone caters to your every whim, I imagine it’s hard to let go.
I wouldn’t know.
Father never spoiled me and forced me to be grateful for every little crumb he hurled my way.
“Can’t you use the family fund to fix it?” My grandfather valued his empire. However, he still managed to leave his children individual fortunes so they wouldn’t have to rely solely on the business. My father frequently used the money to cover up some bad decisions. It paid off in the end because he always came out on top and brought more wealth to the company.
“We used up all our funds, and we are on the verge of bankruptcy. Orion Wright wishes to buy our shares and keep the staff.” A hollow chuckle slips past his lips. “Or rather, he won’t stop at nothing to get what he wants.”
“The corporate world’s beast?” I ask, dread filling my bones at the prospect as his reputation precedes him and, well…if anything stands in his way, he isn’t nice or kind about it.
