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“Don’t call me ‘sweetheart.’ I hate it. And secondly, that isn’t how empires are made either. Empires didn’t conquer. They grew with the help and input of their people. But rulers had to earn their trust. Rulers had to work with them. Now, if empires wanted to branch out beyond their formulated borders, then the conquering happened. But you haven’t done that. You haven’t breached the borders of Washington State yet,” I said.
My father’s eyes burned into me as the lawyer stood from the couch. He excused himself from the room and walked by me, offering his hand for me to slap. I gave him a small high-five as I heard a slow clap begin behind me, pride welling in my chest.
I turned around and saw my brothers clapping. Supporting me with grins on their faces as I stood toe-to-toe with my father on his business practices.
“When in the world did you start taking an interest in business?”
I whipped my gaze over to my mother and took in her proud stare. There was a grin on her cheeks and a surprise in her eyes. For the first time in years, I saw a sparkle in her features. Her skin glowed with intrigue and happiness as she stood from her chair. My mother was proud of me. Impressed with me. Not angry like my father. Not shocked like our lawyer. But proud.
Like a mother should be.
“Books. I snuck them in before, but I’m not doing that anymore. I’m not hiding my knowledge or my thirst for it. Dad, you’re going about this all wrong. If you want to build an empire of a company, then you have to start by making compromises with those you run into. If you continuously burn bridges, you’ll be stuck on an island you’ve conquered by yourself,” I said.
I couldn’t identify the look in my father’s eyes, but I knew it wasn’t good. He gripped his fists as he started pacing the floor. His face was redder than I had ever seen it and sweat started to gather on his brow. He physically bit down on his tongue, his temple throbbing with the movement as my legs grew weak. I was paralyzed with fear. I have never seen this kind of anger in my father’s stance before, and I knew that whatever was coming was going to be bad.
“Get out of my sight,” my father said.
“What?” I asked.
“I gave you the easiest life imaginable. While other fathers are forcing college onto their children, I groomed you for a life of ease. A life of bearing children, rushing them off to nannies, and sitting in a room entertaining guests. I made sure every decision was made for you so you wouldn’t have to struggle making them yourself, and this is the thanks I get!? My daughter assuming she knows how to run my company better from some old library books!? You are a selfish, ungrateful piece of work, Ava Lucas. And I want you out of my sight.”
“Is that what you thought you gave me? By taking my ability to decide the kind of life I wanted, you thought you were helping me?” I asked.
“Get out!” my father roared.
“Fine!” I said. “I’ll get out. And I won’t just get out, but I’ll stay out. This is the most insane thing I’ve ever witnessed. You’re acting like a toddler who can’t have his way. The Benson’s company won’t give you exactly what you want, so you’re throwing an adult-sized tantrum about it!”
“Ava,” Hunter said. “I think that’s enough.”
“Just to let you know, I’m applying for a job at the library. I’ve been thinking about it recently with all the time I’ve been spending there, and a job has opened up. I’m putting in my resume for it and getting a place of my own,” I said.
“With what money?” my father asked. “And what resume!?”
“I’m pretty sure being your daughter counts as work experience,” I said with a hiss.
“A job?” my mother asked. “Why would you want a job?”
“You’re impressed with my business knowledge, but you don’t want me applying that knowledge anywhere? Really, Mom?” I asked.
“You don’t have to respect me,” my father said. “You don’t have to appreciate anything I’ve given your spoiled little ass for your entire life. But you will not disrespect the woman who brought you into this world. Who ripped her body apart to bring you into it. Apologize to your mother.”
“For what?” I asked. “For calling her out on her hypocrisy? All I want is to no longer live off you guys. To make my way in this world and have my own place. To show you that I’m made of more than you could’ve ever imagined, and yet you are set on stuffing me into this ignorant, whimsical little mold. Why? I deserve at least that.”
“Deserve?” my father asked. “You want to know what you deserve, Ava? A swift kick in the rear! For the past week, you’ve been stomping around here like you’re an adult. Forcing your tongue into discussions that don’t require your input and throwing the life I created for you back into my face. You want to go live on your own? Fine. Because once you realize how hard it is out there for someone like yourself, you’ll find yourself right back on this doorstep. And when you return, you won’t step foot into this house until you apologize.”
I looked around the room before I glanced back at my brothers. Their eyes were worried, but their stances were strong. I knew they would stand behind me every step of the way. They had been ever since I had tiptoed around the idea of leaving in the first place. My eyes darted between the three of them, drawing strength from their love as Lorenzo nodded his head.
“Go for it,” he said with a whisper.
“Fine,” I said. “I’ll go. But I’ll leave you with this. If you do get your way and you do lay that pipeline through the mountains, two things will happen. You’ll destroy this town and your business will never be what you want it to be. Reputation is everything in the business world. And right now? Yours is shit.”
I turned on my heels and walked away before my parents could say anything else. I saw my brothers’ jaws drop in shock as their eyes followed me out of the room. I grabbed my purse and my keys, then made my way for my car. I closed the front door behind me as I sighed, allowing my nerves to subside. It was the first time I had to work through that kind of fear and my body was exhausted. My legs trembled and my knees felt weak, my body leaning against the door so I could regain my strength.
Then I walked to my car, slid into the driver’s seat, and sat.
I dug through my purse until I found the envelope full of money my brothers had given me a couple of days ago. In California, it was enough to get my own place and afford it for three months. But in Kettle, it was enough to get my own place and afford it for almost seven. I could do this. I had to go by the library and apply for that position, but I was already halfway there.
But there was someone I wanted to see first.
