“Again, what are the consequences?” She genuinely wanted to know.
“I’ll get the locks changed on the loft. I want the keys to your car and your salary will be all you have to live off of.”
He continued, “The company board also feels your public association with him is becoming damaging.”
Nina stared at him in disbelief. “Who told them that we’re dating? Because I’m very private, and as far as the blogs are concerned, they think I’m with Kobie.” Her daddy was a liar, but she knew that already.
“It’s speculation, but I won’t protect you.”
Her parents sucked. They’d failed her and they didn’t even care.
“That’s fine, Dad. I need to know if I should go look for a job.” She was confused by exactly what he was threatening her with.
“No,” Charles said calmly. “I’m protecting the company, and unfortunately, it’ll look bad if you step down.”
“I’ll just say I was fired because my parents couldn’t mind their business,” she shrugged.
“You are making choices we cannot support.”
Nina nodded slowly. “Yeah, so you’re cutting me off. Got it.”
She grabbed her purse.
“Nina, please don’t leave angry,” her mom had the nerve to say.
She laughed through the ache building in her chest.
“You should’ve thought about that before trying to financially discipline your grown daughter.”
“Nobody is disciplining you,” her daddy disagreed.
“That’s exactly what this is.”
Charles stepped forward. “Make better decisions so you can have your life back.”
Nina looked at her family. Her entire life sat inside this house. The house filled with expectations that no one had to meet other than her.
Every version of herself they loved more than the real one and it saddened her.
“I gotta go.”
“Nina.”
She stopped near the doorway but she didn’t bother turning around.
Her mother’s voice cracked behind her.
“He’s going to destroy you. First, he will start with your career, then he’ll take your confidence, and before you know it, he’ll break your heart. You’ll be back…. trust me, little girl, you will be back.”
Nina closed her eyes briefly and said a quick prayer for mercy on their souls. She truly believed her family didn’t know how thrown off they really were.
“He might, but that’s for me to worry about.”
η
“Oh yeah, Nina’s mother put a hit out on me,” Jio shared with Kadeer. They were on the wrap-around balcony of his penthouse, smoking a blunt.
Jio found it hilarious, but Kadeer didn’t.
