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“And you look tired.” She threw herself down in the dark leather chair in front of him. “You look like you’ve been up all night. Have you been drinking?”
“No, I haven’t.” He smiled at her indulgently. “But I have been thinking. A lot.”
“About what?”
“About you.”
Serena frowned as she looked into her father’s gentle gray eyes. “What about me?” Then her heart melted in realization. “Oh, I know what you’ve been thinking about.” She jumped up from her chair and went quickly around the desk to put her arms around her father’s shoulder. “I know you’ll miss me, Dad, but it’s only going to be for a few months. You can survive without me.”
Her father nodded then patted her hand gently. “That’s what I want to talk to you about, Princess.” He took her hand and pulled her around to face him. “I’m afraid the trip is off.”
Serena’s mouth fell open. She pulled her hand away from her father’s grasp and stepped back quickly. Then she jammed her balled fists on her hips.
“What are you talking about, Daddy? How could the trip be off? I’ve been planning this all year.”
“I know.” He sighed and clasped his hands across his middle. “But I’m going to have to change that plan. There is something that I want you to do that is far more important than a trip to Europe.”
“What could be more important than my trip to Europe? That’s supposed to be the last part of my education. The finishing touch, remember?”
“Serena, be quiet for a moment.” Richard’s voice was stern.
Serena sucked in her breath. He rarely spoke to her in that tone of voice. Something serious must have happened. She walked back to the chair she had vacated and sat on the edge. She looked across at her father and his usually gentle eyes were now sharp and businesslike.
“I want you to listen to very carefully, Serena.” He rested his hands on the desk. “I love you very much but I have to admit that I’ve failed you as a parent. Now I want to make things right. I want to make sure you’re well prepared for the world.” He leaned back in the chair, loosened his arms and put a hand to his eyes as if in pain.
“Are you alright, Dad?” Serena got up and quickly went over to her father. “Is something wrong?”
“No, no.” He shook his head and dropped his hand. His face looked grave. “I’m so ashamed of how I've handled your upbringing all these years. I have failed your mother.”
“Daddy, why are you saying these things? You’ve been the best dad in the world. You’ve given me everything I’ve ever wanted.”
“Therein lies the problem.” He sat up straight and fixed her with a serious look. “Serena, I’ve arranged for you to work with Steele Enterprises assisting the president and CEO, Roman Steele. It will be an internship of sorts so you can gain some experience in business."
“What?” Serena jumped up from her chair and stared at her father. Had she heard right? “What are you saying, Daddy? I’m supposed to be traveling all summer. How can I be in Europe and work with this Roman person at the same time?”
“That’s the thing. You won’t be in Europe. You’ll be working starting Monday.”
Serena gasped. “That’s in less than a week." She shook her head, confused. "What happened, for you to do this to me? I don’t get it.”
“That’s what I was trying to tell you, Serena. I need to prepare you for the world. I’m not going to be with you forever. I want to know that when I leave this earth you’re prepared to face the world alone.”
“But I don’t need to cancel my trip. I can do all of that when I get back. I’m only going away for three months.”
“I'm sorry, Serena, but you have no choice in this.” Her father’s voice was firm. “It's time for me to put my foot down. You'll report to work on Monday and you'll be with Steele Enterprises for the next six months. You'll earn your own money, learn to budget, and your allowance will be suspended until the end of your internship period.”
Serena jerked back, shocked into silence. Then she felt quick tears sting her eyes. "How could you? What have I done to deserve this? How am I going to manage without my allowance? It’s not fair!”
“It’s what has to be done. I can’t prepare you for the world by pampering you. You’re a woman now, Serena, not a child. From now on I will treat you as such.”
For a long while Serena could only stare back at him, her dismay burgeoning till she felt she would burst into tears right in front of her father. That had worked for her in the past but somehow she knew it would not work for her now. With a sob of frustration Serena spun on her heels and stalked back to the door. When she got there she turned and glared at Richard.
“I'll do what you say because I have no choice but I will never forgive you for this.” With that she marched out, slamming the door behind her.
******
Serena rode hard as she hit the open field. Her eyes were narrow slits and she was breathing hard as she leaned forward in the saddle but it was not because she was exerting herself. It was because she was seething. She could not believe her father was making her cancel her long awaited trip. He'd even threatened to cut off her allowance. In all her life she could not remember her father ever speaking to her in that way. And he'd said it was because he loved her. And he was showing his love by making her work for one of his old fogey business partners?
Well, she was going to make him change his mind. And she knew one way that she could do it. She would get an ally.
Within minutes she was trotting the horse up the dirt track to the back of her grandmother’s house. She was lucky to have a grandparent who lived just a few miles away, someone who always had time for her and who listened to what she had to say. If Serena was upset about anything at all she knew that Grandma Sylvie would be there for her. This was one of those times.
Although it was not yet eight o’clock when Serena knocked on the kitchen door the smell of eggs and hot chocolate already wafted through the air. Within seconds the door flew open and Grandma Sylvie stood there smiling, her gray hair in rollers.
“What took you so long?” She took Serena’s hand and pulled her into the kitchen.
“How did you know I was coming?” Serena stepped into the kitchen then gave the petite woman a quick hug. “Are you psychic or something?”
“No.” Sylvie’s eyes twinkled. “Your dad called. He knew you were going to head right here after the little talk you both had.”
“He told you about that, did he?” Serena pulled out a chair and sat around the kitchen table while Sylvie bustled about doing what she loved best.
Sylvie loved cooking, especially for people who had problems. She'd often told Serena that it was her way of helping. If you came to her with your woes the least she could do was make your stomach happy. Right now she was making a cheese omelet just the way Serena liked it - with lots of onions and green papers wrapped in the middle. She quickly slid the omelet onto a plate and laid it on the table. She poured two glasses of orange juice then pulled out a chair and made herself comfortable beside her granddaughter.
“So. Tell me all about it." Sylvie put her elbow on the table and rested her chin in her palm. Her green eyes sparkled with interest. "Richard gave me his version but I know you're ready to share yours.”
“He practically threw me out of the house, Grandma.” Serena was pouting but she didn't care. She was so angry. “He told me I had to get a job. Can you believe it?” Sylvie chuckled as she popped a piece of egg into her mouth. “Sure I can believe it. You just finished college so the next step would be to use those skills in the working world. Or did I get things wrong?"
“You’re forgetting something. I was supposed to be in Europe a couple of weeks from now.” Serena folded her arms across her chest and frowned. "That was supposed to be one of my graduation presents. You know that. Now I’m going to have to stay here and work for some old geezer." She shook her head. "I don’t understand why he would do this to me.”
“You’ll understand in a while,” Sylvie said as she reached over and patted Serena’s arm. “Now eat something before you wither away. You’re so skinny already.”
“Oh, Grandma.” Serena got up and began to pace the floor. “You just don’t understand. Daddy is trying to sabotage all my plans and I don’t get it. Why does he hate me?”
Sylvie burst out laughing. “You are such a drama queen. You know your father doesn’t hate you. He loves you. Don’t you see that’s why he’s doing this?”
Serena scowled. “This has nothing to do with loving me. If he did he would let me go away like I planned. My best friends are going.”
