“Okay, will do.”
She sniffs and gives me a once-over, and I’m too happy to care. My dad goes through personal assistants with rapid-fire precision. I suspect he dates the women and then gives them a job, but it could also be that he hires them knowing he wants to date them. Either way, they don’t last long. Nicole is my dad’s latest, and for some reason, she thinks we’re in competition for his time.
Long before Nicole was in the picture, I’d learned that I wasn’t high on my dad’s list of priorities. Nicole’s in this competition alone because I no longer feel the need to get my dad’s attention at all costs. I’d much rather keep the peace. I come to work, focus on the job, and leave everything at the office, knowing it’s the closest I can get to having a relationship with my father. It’s not the worst relationship in the world. He’s provided for me financially my whole life—as an adult, in the form of a job. That’s a lot more than some can say about their fathers. His emotional deficiency notwithstanding, I’m grateful for what he is capable of giving.
I stop in my office long enough to hang my coat and put my purse away before heading to my dad’s office.
He’s on the phone, and I freeze when I hear his tone.
“I will make sure you never make another penny in this industry again. You’ve messed with the wrong man,” he says between clenched teeth.
The blood drains from my face. There are two sides to my dad: one who smiles at my daughter when we go to dinner, makes sure I’ve rotated my tires, and gives me advice about investing, and then the one who guilts me for not spending enough time with him, is cutthroat in business, and is very manipulative.
There are times I feel I don’t know him at all.
And then he’ll be so sweet that I second-guess myself for ever questioning him.
“You’re late,” he barks after he hangs up.
I glance at my watch in confusion. “It’s 7:45. I usually begin at 8. From home.”
“So you say. You know I’d like to see you in the office more often.”
“Dad, we agreed that I only come in a couple of times a week. I’m getting my work done.”
“We need to revisit this. I’ve been here since 6:30.”
“Okay.” I wait for him to finish that thought, but I guess that was it. “What did you need?”
“I want you to take your job more seriously. There are plenty of people who’d kill to have your position, and you just skate by because you’re my daughter.”
That stings, but I don’t react. “Am I doing unsatisfactory work? In last month’s review with Melvin, he said I was doing an exceptional job. Not only are we saving in the areas I recommended cutting back, but I’m doing the job of what used to be three people.”
My dad scoffs. “Melvin has always spoiled you.”
“What can I do to make you happier, Dad?” I shift on my feet, trying to maintain my posture when everything inside wants to wilt.
You are strong. You are smart. You are kind.
“For starters, you can be here instead of gallivanting across the country whenever you feel like it.”
“I’ve only taken four of my vacation days this year, Dad, and the year is almost over. I had to take Chloe to Christian’s—there was no way around that.”
“Do you know how many days I took off when I was starting this business?” He puts his fingers together in the shape of a zero. “That’s how many. You don’t get to the top of real estate or anything else in life by doing the bare minimum.”
I swallow hard and nod. “Anything else?”
“Yes. Withdraw the latest proposal to the Peters group and remove them from everything.”
“But Dad, that’s not right. They’ve done so much for?—“
“They said disgusting things about us in the last meeting. I’ll make sure they lose everything. They’ll never work in this town again.”
I stare at him in shock. “You can’t possibly mean that. Take a breath. I’m sure it’s just a misunderstanding.”
“You know I’m paying you more than you could get anywhere else. It could all go just like that.” He snaps.
And there…that’s where he has me under his thumb. Because he’s right. I’m making more working for him than I would as an accountant anywhere else in Minnesota. Maybe I could make more elsewhere, but I want to live close to my mom, and this is my home. I make enough to afford a nice condo and to save each month for Chloe’s future. I’m not frivolous with my income, but I’m comfortable, and that keeps me peaceful. I’m aware that I could lose it in an instant, if Dad chose to make good on his occasional threats. I’m never quite sure how far he’d go. So I stay, and I suck it up.
