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I glare at him, a burning rage building inside of me. How dare he try and take ownership for my business success. I created my label one fucking garment at a time, with my own hands. I won't let him take that away from me.
He smiles, a smug sense of satisfaction coming over him because I have no comeback. He's already taking it as a win. "That's right. And I can tear it all down just as fast as I built it. Make the right choice. I expect you on a plane to Paris with your children in three days."
My heart slams against my chest, and I feel lightheaded. I'm not sure if I should stay and fight or run the fuck away and never come back to my family home again. Either way, I know after today, nothing will ever be the same. I take one last look at him. This is not the man who raised me. I'm not going to be manipulated anymore. This is my life, and I will live it however I want. My trembling hand turns the handle, and I walk out of his office, my head held high. Seeing my mom with the kids, I plaster on a fake smile as best I can. "Come on, kiddos, we need to get going," I call to them, my voice so cheery it's scary.
"Is everything okay?" Mom smiles, but I can see the worry in her eyes.
"No, it’s not."
Her face pales, and from just that one look I know all I need to; she knew what he was doing all along and did nothing to stop him. I place a protective arm around each of my kids and usher them out of my childhood home, knowing I will never be back here. My family as I know it won't be the same after today.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
AMELIA
Idon'tquiteknowhow but I have made it through the rest of the afternoon with my kids, pretending everything is fine. I'm running on autopilot, I guess. The kids have been fed and are tucked into bed for the night. Heath is still on his way home from LA after meeting with his realtor today. I don't even know how I'm going to tell him he was right all along. He knew Julian wanted something more from me; I just didn't want to believe it. He's going to be livid about this.
Jasmine arrived about half an hour ago, and Andy has finally just pulled up in the driveway after her afternoon training session in LA. I needed all of us together for what I have to tell them.
"Get Cassie on the phone," I say to Jasmine as I greet Andy with a tight hug. I need my sisters today more than I have ever needed them.
"What's going on?" she asks, concern already etched in her features. This isn't something I have ever done, asked all of them to drop what they're doing for me. But something's not right, and I can't work through this alone. I'll go insane with all the possibilities and what-ifs. This is something I know is going to affect us all. I just hope they don't hate me for being the one to bring it to their attention.
Cassie comes into view on the computer screen I set up and gives a wave. She's in workout wear and looks flushed in the cheeks, like she has just been dancing. This is the happiest I have seen her in so long, and I feel bad having to ruin her day. "Hey, Sissies, miss your faces. I wish I was there with you all now," she says.
"Miss you too, Cass," says Jasmine, while Andy blows her a kiss.
"What's going on, Millie? I hate that I'm missing out on all the fun there."
"You might be happy you're on the other side of the country for this one, Cass. I know you’re all going to think I'm crazy when I tell you this, but I have to anyway because having it rattle around in my head is making me second-guess every choice I have ever made and pretty much our reality as we know it."
"Sounds intense, Millie, normally Cassie is the dramatic one." Andy rolls her eyes but gives me a little smirk so I know she's just teasing me for fun. I don't have the energy for her sass today.
"I'm almost certain something strange is going on with Dad." I just come right out with it.
"I don't think you're crazy. I knew something was going on last year but just couldn't quite work out what it was," says Cassie, agreeing with me. Of any of them, I knew she would be on my side. She has been in my shoes on at least two occasions. That's what really has alarm bells ringing. This isn't the first time he's trying to majorly interfere with one of our lives.
"I wish I didn’t have to paint him in a bad light, but I need all of your help here. There's something going on that I don't one hundred percent understand just yet, but maybe together we can all work it out."
Jasmine gives me a worried glance. And I already know she is going to be the hardest to convince. She doesn't like to think badly of anyone.
"What do you know, Millie? Spit it out." Andy cracks open a fresh bottle of water and chugs it like she hasn't had a drink all day.
I take a deep breath, trying to calm the sick feeling that's been washing over me since my run-in with our father. "I dropped over to see Mom and Dad today after my trip to Paris. They wanted to see the kids, and Dad had especially asked to see me." I pause, taking in my sisters’ waiting faces, not knowing exactly how to say this to them. It feels ridiculous to say out loud, like this couldn't possibly be happening to me. But it is. "He's trying to marry me off to the guy I was working for over there. Says he was old friends with his dad, and we would make a good couple, that he can take care of me and keep me safe." I can feel my features tighten as I say the words. The thought of getting remarried makes me uncomfortable. With Heath I could get past that because I really do love him, and I already know I want to spend the rest of my life with him, but some guy I have worked with for a few weeks and hardly even know? No chance in hell.
"Aren't you with Heath?" asks Cassandra, confused, and I realize she has missed a lot. I haven't caught up with her in weeks with everything that has been going on, but I'm sure one of the others has kept her in the loop.
Jasmine gives me a sympathetic smile, having already been filled in on where I'm up to with Heath. "We’re trying to work it all out, it's complicated, but that’s not even the point. Who gets married off by their father? What the hell is he playing at? Back me up here, guys, this isn't normal."
Jasmine looks to the others and then back to me. "Are you sure you understood him correctly?" she says, hesitant.
"He had a contract drawn up, Jasmine," I snap at her, getting frustrated at her positive everyone-is-good way of thinking. "He was deadly serious about this. He wants me to move the kids to fucking Paris and marry Julian, the man who runs the fashion house. I have three days to get my ass on a plane or he has threatened to do something to my business."
"For fuck’s sake, you can't do that. What the hell is he thinking?" yells Andy.
"Honestly, I don't even think the whole marriage contract thing is the worst bit. As I was talking to him, trying to process what was going on and staring at the fucking contract he's had drawn up with Julian, it all started to fall into place. He has been interfering with my relationships my whole life, I'm sure of it. I'd even put money on the fact he knew I was pregnant with Heath’s baby all those years ago, but he and Mom had it covered up and me married off to Declan instead."
Cassie shakes her head, and I see the sympathy she has for me. "Daddy manipulation at its finest, just like he did with me."
