After adding creamer to my cup, I sit at my desk and gaze at the blinking cursor on the screen. I still need to respond to Graham.
Subj: Re: Urgent: Reputational Risk / LP Concerns
Graham—
Thank you for reaching out directly. I understand the concern and can assure you appropriate boundaries are in place. There is no impact to the fund’s process or governance. I’m happy to discuss positioning and risk. If you’d like, I can speak today from 3-5 PM ET or tomorrow during regular business hours.
Regards,
Tori
I read and re-read the message, a calm settling over me.Every statement is true. Hopefully, he’ll want to take the call. But right now, it’s the best I can do.
With a deep breath, I hit ‘send’ and go take a shower.
After spending a long time under the hot spray, I feel better. Almost human again.
Then I switch my phone off ‘Do Not Disturb.’
Big mistake.
I scroll through the series of texts from my father.
Daddy: You missed the flight
Daddy: Steele looks wrecked
Daddy: Didn’t talk to anyone the entire flight
My stomach twists, tension creeping back in between my shoulder blades.
Bennett’s wrecked.
And I’ve been so wrapped up in saving the fund I didn’t even reach out to him.
Daddy: Landed in Florida. Call me
I debate calling my father. But what would I say?
I’m not going back to Driftwood Cove.
I can’t.
The damage has been done — and nothing I do now will fix that.
I set my phone down on the dresser and start unpacking, tossing half my clothing into the laundry.
Buzz, buzz.
Oh my god. If this is my father again, I may actually be forced to block the man.
Grabbing my phone with one hand, I click on the screen and it flashes to life.
Bennett: Can we talk? I need 5 min
Five minutes.
And right above the latest text is another I somehow missed last night.
