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tony

I’m going out of my fucking mind. Teddy and Laura are at my penthouse for the next couple of nights before they make a life together in upstate New York. Teddy quit her job; they’re leaving. Wish I could.

We’re six weeks apart, and this sucks. I have a fucking asshole on me 24/7, so unless I’m in my home, I can’t use the other phone. Mak’s messages go unanswered all the time. I fucking hate my dad. We’re theoretically two weeks out from freedom. We’ve missed so much over the last year. I’m putting a chunk of money with Claire, and I’ll invest every paycheck so this can never happen again. I want out of all the Ladd business, the trust included. This shit has to stop.

I lean forward to my regular driver and my new babysitter. “Change of plans, assholes. Take me to Ladd Tower. I need an audience with the almighty one.” Today’s the day I get shit figured out. He can’t duck me.

The babysitter of the day says, “No. He’s too busy for anything.”

“What did you say to me?” He turns around, and I look at my normal driver’s eyes in the rearview. He flicks them to the side. I wink and turn my attention to the BSOTD. (Babysitter Of The Day) I don’t play the asshole rich guy card often, but I do have it in the holster.

“Fuck face. You’re not to talk to me like that. Forget your little mission or who you think I am and know me as the president of Ladd Media Group. And for all intents and purposes I’m your boss. But fine, take me to work.”

I unbuckle discreetly, quietly gathering my bag and nod to the face in the mirror. I smirk. The light turns green, and he pulls over slightly. I jump out, and he speeds off. I take off the four blocks to my dad’s office. He’ll have a heads-up, but at least I have the corporate key to the family elevator.

I go around the back of the building and enter my code; miraculously, it opens. I hop in the elevator. It opens to my father with his arms crossed and Dax waving behind him. I don’t know if Dax was here or if he was summoned in the last couple of minutes, and he rushed over from his advertising office.

I hug my dad despite his stiffness, which is actually uncharacteristic.

Dax hugs me, and we embrace fully. I love my brother and haven’t seen him nearly enough lately.

“Sophie status?” He puts his thumbs down and shrugs.

“Dad. Good to see you. Mrs. Doubtfire tattle on me?”

“I was informed. What’s on your mind son?”

I ignore him and walk toward his office. This isn’t a hallway conversation. Dax puts his hand on my back. “Don’t blow up again. It wreaked havoc on him.”

“And you think him blowing up my life and holding a leash like I’m a fucking child or a dog is any better?”

“Point taken, bro. Just talk to him.”

“I’ll give him the same respect. Stop being our go-between.”

“What will Mom and I do if not this?”

I laugh.

I enter the room and toss my bag on a chair. I sit in one across from his ’90’s desk, and he takes his place behind it.

“Dad. I’m going out of my mind. I’m sneaking around, I’m spending my savings and”—I put my secret phone on the desk—“I call her when I’m not being watched or working, on this phone. This is all ridiculous. She graduates today from her pre-med program, and I can’t be there. It is slicing me in two. You come clean now. Why the fucking barbaric behavior?”

Dax sits down. “Dad, I agree. What the fuck is going on? The staff is scared of you. We’ve been kept off corporate board emails.”

“We have?” I ask.

“It’s not like you ever read them.” Dax glares at me.

“And you did? You’re a copywriter.”

“And a voting member of Ladd Industries, as are you.”

“Yeah, I know. I wait for the email telling me how to vote, unless it involves the media end.”

My father exhales. He stands behind his desk, puts his arms out straight, and leans towards us.

“You’ve been embargoed from the board.”