He doesn't respond, just looks at me thoughtfully.
"I brought some records for you." I place them on the nightstand. "Should I put one on for you? Maybe the Commodores, you like them..."
"No." His voice is quiet, yet it makes me stop immediately. He turns his head toward me, his gaze piercing. "What have you done?"
My shoulders feel heavy. "I wanted to..."
Yes, what did I want?
A chance to be a part of his life again.
And what did I get?
Another nightmare that I can only blame myself for.
I should have never trusted Kjell. That was stupid.Iwas stupid. Again.
"Why did you even come?" he asks me now, his voice weak. "You promised me you'd never return."
We already talked about that last week. Did he forget?
"I know. But how could I leave you alone?" I ask again, hoping to elicit the wistful smile he gave me the first time.
Today, he doesn't smile. On the contrary, his mouth turns down. "At least you wouldn't have ruined everything." He presses his lips together. "A gossip reporter?"
I nod, knowing there's no excuse I can offer.
"The drug addict was bad enough. But this... I don't know what to say."
Yes, I understand. "I'm sorry," I quickly reply, hoping that's all he knows about Kahlo. "I'll make it right."
Yes, I will. No, I've been working on it for three weeks already, and there's hope. The design team finally delivered some drafts for the Oscar gown. Even though they're not perfect, the submission deadline is not until next week. We still have time. We can do it. The employees are standing by me even though Kahlo quit because of me.
Unfortunately, I still haven't found a way to defuse the bomb that could explode any day now: the publication of my story.
Father's brows narrow. "Let me handle this; it's better this way."
In an instant, I slump down in my chair. "Okay," I whisper because it's what he wants to hear. And I would do anything to make him not be angry with me anymore. "Thank you."
He flexes his fingers as if he wants to make a fist but can't. "We'll force that gossip reporter to sign a nondisclosure agreement."
"I've already tried," I admit remorsefully. Kjell refuses to sign because he intends to publish my story.Ihave to pay for whathe'sdone
How could I not have realized earlier that he's completely twisted? He probably twisted the story with his parents just the way he wanted it to be. Who knows what really happened.
"And you have failed." It's not a question but a disillusioned statement.
Silently, I nod. At the same time, I can feel everything in me resisting the idea of seeing myself as a failure. Am I still the same little, stupid Sky as back then? The one who's good for nothing? The one who's too easily guided by her emotions?
"I'm tired." With these words, Father turns his head to the wall.
The image of the back of his head blurs before my eyes. The whole room becomes fuzzy. My nose swells up, and I can't breathe.
"Give me a chance, Father," I say firmly because I know I deserve it. "I successfully managed the fall collection, and in the past few months, I've gained new customers, and the employees have become a real team."
But none of that matters. Because Kjell will destroy everything.
He will publish my story and erase the things I've done well forever.
No scandals atTouch av lyx.
That's the top priority, even if everything else falls apart. That was the case with my drug addiction, with Mother's depression, and with Father's accident as well.
His silence speaks louder than a thousand words.
My temples throb painfully. "I understand." Thick tears roll down my cheeks and drop from my jaw directly onto my fingers, which are trembling as they clutch each other. "If this is really what you want," I whisper into the silence between us, "then I will go."
