‘Are you sure? Because you’re sure as hell acting like it is. Do I have to remind you about what is on the line here?’
‘A deal,’ I say listlessly. Every time I’m reminded as to why I’ve had to resort to these lengths, my heart breaks a little more. ‘There’s a deal on the line. That’s all.’
He opens his mouth and then closes it tightly, his lips spreading into a thin grimace.
‘I’m assuming you’ll make a lot of money if the deal with Georgios goes through,’ I decide to continue since he hasn’t responded. ‘But we already have a lot of money, Daddy. Is my happiness really worth a little more?’
I’ve never thought of my father as the Jeff Bezos type, the kind of business magnate who hoards money like a dragon. He started Peregrine Airways because he genuinely loves the skies and delivering a service to our customers that no other airline has even come close to replicating. For as long as I’ve had sentience, I’ve known that our riches have been a happy, and very welcomed, second-place prize to simply being the best of the best in the industry. But that’s changed too, it seems.
‘How many lectures have you given me about quality over quantity?’ I ask. My father didn’t even start flying internationally for the first ten years of Peregrine Airways, preferring to perfect the service we delivered here before he ventured into international airspace. ‘How many companies have you watched fail because their founders started chasing profits over delivering a service people actually love to use? And yet you’re hellbent on getting this deal with Georgios Vouvalis, of all people, over the line? You’re mad at me because of what happened last night, but how many sordid stories are there about Georgios out there? How many times has he had his face plastered over the trade papers because he ripped off a partner or got caught cutting corners in the expansion of his hotel empire? Is that really what you want to be attached you? What you want to attach the Peregrine Airways name to?’
By the time I’m finished my impromptu speech, I’m breathing heavily. The pillow I clutched earlier has fallen to the wayside and my hands are balled into tight little fists by my side. I hadn’t even realised this was something I felt so passionate about, but I guess it makes sense. I may not have areal role at the company, but it’s been my big sister, looming over my life for as long as I can remember. I love it just as much as my father does, and the thought of him diluting what he’s created just for a few extra zeroes on his tax return come April is enough to make my vision blur with unshed tears.
‘Imani…’
I look up, daring to feel just a smidge of hope. He said my name with some warmth, with respect. That’s the father I know and love.
‘You just don’t understand.’
‘Then help me,’ I plead. ‘I want to understand.’
He shakes his head. ‘The less you know, the better.’
Alarm bells start to ring. ‘What do you—’
‘All you need to know is that the Vouvalis deal will secure not only our comfort for the rest of our lives, but for your children too. And your children’s children. Entire generations of Davies’ will never have to know what hardship is, as long as you play your part now.’
I turn frantically to my mother, hoping she’ll jump in, but she studiously avoids my gaze and is instead pretending like her shoes are the most fascinating thing she’s ever seen.
My father lets out a long sigh. ‘But I can’t have you behaving like this. The damage you’ve done to the Davies name in just one night?’ He shakes his head and I just about manage to resist the urge to grin. This is it. He’s about to do a U-turn on this whole ridiculous scheme.
‘I’ll talk to Georgios.’
My lips twitch. Come on, say it. Say it. Say it! Say you’llfind a different way to get your shareholders and investors on board with a Vouvalis merger. A way that doesn’t involve me and Asher.
‘And arrange a time and place for you and Asher to do some damage control.’
The world starts to spin. ‘Excuse me?’ I rasp, because that is definitely not where I thought we were heading.
He nods to himself and begins pacing my living room again. ‘You two will meet somewhere public, a restaurant perhaps. Somewhere you’ll be seen and noticed by the right people. You’ll make amends and begin repairing the relationship.’
‘Daddy—’
‘We’ll float that this was just a lovers’ spat, exacerbated by stress. You’re both very embarrassed that it played out in public as it did, but you’re still committed to one another and—’
‘Daddy,’ I say, louder this time. My voice comes out weak and wobbly and I will myself to not start crying. I won’t give him the satisfaction. ‘I am not marrying Asher Vouvalis. Not for you. Not for any imaginary future children. Not for anyone. I won’t do it.’
‘You will,’ he says quietly. ‘You’ll do it, and you’ll do it with a smile on your face. Because if you don’t, all of this?’ He gestures around my home and it feels like my heart stops for a beat or two. My apartment suite is in a high-rise serviced building in the middle of Central London. My neighbours are celebrities, politicians, athletes and wealthysocialites. He bought it for me on my twenty-first birthday and I hadn’t realised there were strings attached. ‘I’ll take it away.’
I’ve had access to my very healthy trust since I was eighteen, and I’ve always been smart with my money in terms of savings and investments, but even I can admit that maybe I’ve been relying a bit too heavily on the limitless black credit card that’s still in my father’s name for the everyday.
I deserve it, I’ve always told myself every time I swiped with his card without thinking. I’ve treated it like a salary for the arduous job of being Imani Davies 24/7. For being the perfect business representative at all times. For being expected to build on father’s success but never have anything to call my own. It never once crossed my mind that he’d ever use his generosity with money as a leash, and tighten that leash if I ever stopped being the dutiful daughter.
Maybe that was naïve of me.
‘You wouldn’t,’ I say, desperately hoping to call his bluff.
‘I don’t want to,’ he says coldly. ‘And I’ll certainly get no enjoyment out of it, but I will.’ His phone suddenly buzzes and he pulls it out of his jacket pocket and scowls at the screen. ‘I’ve got to take this.’
