Forever.
Chapter Thirty-Three
PRESLEY
Iwish Kade could be with me here today. My nerves are at an all-time high as I sit here and fidget in the lobby of the attorney’s office. Everything is settled and we’ll get the final details of my dad’s estate ironed out.
I’m in my only suit today. The pressed blazer and skirt feel stuffy. I’d rather be in jeans and tennis shoes.
My mom and Paul are sitting across from me. It’s an ocean between us. I never thought that it would come to this. My mom sitting with my ex and me all on my own. I got a nod in acknowledgment that I was here and that was it. She hasn’t said another word to me.
It’s like I don’t even know the person who gave birth to me.
It makes me wonder if I was ever happy in my childhood. I never fell in line with what my parents wanted. They wanted me to be a debutante. Be the perfect model child when I’d rather be running around outside playing with my friends.
It wasn’t until I met Kade that I got the first glimpse of what true happiness could be. He showed me the kind of life that the two of us could have together.
He let me be myself and gave me what I always sought after as a child.
“We’re ready for you, Mrs. King,” the secretary says.
Paul and my mother go first and I trail behind them. No need to make small talk for any longer than necessary. Not that they’ve made any sort of attempt to talk to me up until this point, but I might as well have been a light fixture on the wall for all the attention they gave me.
I blow out a breath as I take my seat at the table. Papers are sitting in front of me as Dad’s attorney greets my mom and Paul.
I get a single head nod.
It’s fine. I’m the odd man out here.
My mind keeps going back to our day at the ranch yesterday. Poppy was so happy riding in the mountains, having a picnic lunch together. The fall leaves were blowing around us as we talked about today. Sitting with him, it felt like I was a million miles away because I’m still dealing with my dad’s estate.
It hits me. What exactly am I fighting for here?
A company that I’m going to run that I want nothing to do with all to keep Paul from getting it and to try and have some sort of future for my daughter and me? I know money isn’t everything, but I thought I was fighting for what was best for us.
What am I even trying to do at this point? Piss off Paul because he was a shit husband?
“Thank you all for coming today. Ms. King made it quite clear that she wasn’t going to come back until all matters were settled?—”
“So damn difficult,” Paul mutters under his breath.
Dick.
“And I’m happy to report that we have everything settled,” Mr. Tartt says.
“Finally,” I say. “What have we discovered?”
“Presley,” Mom snaps. “Show the man some respect. You are acting like a petulant child. I’d expect this of Poppy.”
I clasp my hands on the table and straighten my spine. If this is how today is going to go, I don’t want to be here a second longer.
“Mr. Tartt, why don’t we make this easy for everyone,” I start. “What is the value of King Properties?”
“Erm…” He shifts through the stack of papers in front of him, pulling out the right one. “After taking into account the last loan and the investments, net worth as of this year is fifteen million dollars.”
Fifteen million.
That’s what I get from my father.
