Page 43 of Housekeeping

“I came to talk about… well, how you’re currently living your life.”

I sighed and walked over to the couch. It didn’t surprise me he had something to criticize. I didn’t exactly live the way he’d taught me to. And of course, perfect, slightly controlling Dad that he was, he’d know. There probably hadn't been a scandal about me already because he’d taken care of that end. Rumors inside the hotels where I stayed at never spread out of the hotel because he threw his weight around and made people listen to what he had to say.

Not that I was grateful to him. He’d always been better at doing whatever he wanted and not listening to me at all. My little rebellious phase meant nothing to him, and I’d known, but it doubled as my distraction, so I’d carried on. It would probably come to a stop now.

“Please, Dad,” I said, waving a hand to the other chair. “Have a seat and tell me all about your troubles, why don’t you.”

Again, I was being sarcastic, and I hated the way that he brought that out of me. A few minutes ago, I was on cloud nine. Now I felt as if I was a few steps from torture. I was too old to be feeling like that little boy he could bully all the time. Maybe I should listen to what he has to say, and then tell him exactly what’s on my mind.

He chuckled as I moved to sit down, leaning back with his legs crossed and his fingers folded together on his knee.

“I’m here to give you an ultimatum,” he said bluntly.

I rolled my eyes, not even surprised. “I guessed it would be something like that. I mean, you couldn’t just be a normal dad and ask why I’m going through my angsty teenage years late, and then talk things out with me.”

“You are right that isn’t my style,” he said. “So I’m not going to bother doing any of that. You’re an adult now, Mason, not a teenager. And you need to know that all of your actions have consequences.”

“Consequences for you, you mean. I don’t have a care in the world.” I waved a hand around blithely, an indication that I wasn’t taking him seriously.

“No, consequences in general,” he retorted. “I don’t want you to think I’m not grateful for all the work you’ve done for me up until now, but your behavior is… horrible. And I’m tired of keeping it from your mother. So… you either stop it with the partying, or you’re out.”

I stared at him, surprised he’d kept it all from Mom. If he’d just told her, she’d have scolded me until I behaved, because I listened to what she wanted. I’d always wondered why she never mentioned it when I went back home.

“Am I banned from all parties in general?” I asked, just to be a smartass. “Like, if a friend asked me to a party, I have to refuse? Even if it’s a birthday or a holiday event that could be publicized? Parties the company will be throwing at some of the hotels, where you, Mom, and all of us usually are in attendance?”

“Don’t be difficult, Mason. I’ve let you have your fun over the years, but haven’t you had enough now? All I want is for you to take life seriously from now on because I won’t always be there to cover your ass for you.”

My eyebrow jumped up when he cursed. It wasn’t something he usually did, and he must have been wound up to curse at all.

“Don’t strain yourself, Dad. It’s not a problem, I’ll stop.”

It wasn’t like I particularly cared for the partying, or that any of the people I invited were friends of mine. They were just acquaintances I’d met in my travels. I’d have no trouble cutting ties with most of them.

Besides, even if he hadn't come to see me, I had a feeling I would have stopped anyway, now that I had Laura to think about. Thinking about her led to thinking about what Dad’s reaction would be when I told him I was dating someone, and it might be serious.

He’d been married before, to Trent’s mother. I believed he loved Mom though, because while he was a hardass with the rest of us, the two people in the world that could still make him go soft were Emily and Mom.

There was a problem though. Not only was Laura a maid at his hotel, but she was also several years older than me, and somehow I didn’t think that would go over well with Dad. It had been him who’d drilled into all of us from the time we were young that we were Thompsons, and we had a duty to uphold the family name and image. That we had to act with dignity, in public or not. My taunts to Emily not to make friends with the help—I got all that from his teachings. And here I was, going above and beyond.

Dad’s sure to be fucking proud, I thought with sarcasm.

“I promise to cut it with the wild parties,” I said, being sincere. “I’ll only go to the parties that you approve of. Now, if that’s all you had to say to me, you can let yourself out. I’ll get in line so don’t worry about it anymore.”

Matthew Thompson didn’t take orders from anyone, but he had nothing more to say to me, so he just got up and left. A part of me was disappointed he didn’t even try to talk to me, though it was completely expected. I was a little worried about when he’d find out about Laura, but not enough to stop him.

When the time came, I’d just have to make Dad listen to me. For the moment, I couldn’t be bothered. I was waiting for Laura to come to me, and I couldn’t let her see me all gloomy or she’d get worried unnecessarily.

Hopefully, Dad’s conviction to have a woman he loved would be extended to his children and their choices. He could butt in with everything else, but I hoped that in this one matter, he’d fucking trust me.

For the moment, Laura won’t try running from me again. I had to convince her we could have something real together, so in case I had to go up against my dad, she wouldn’t leave me.

I didn’t think she would, but… you never knew.