AllFreeNovel
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I meet my father at the hotel restaurant for breakfast. Luana is still next to him, and she gives me a big hug when I walk in. Things are visibly tense between us, but judging by the way my father makes an effort to greet me politely when I sit down, Luana must have given him a stern telling-off.
Once we’re all sat down, he gets straight to business.
“You can’t see that boy anymore,” he says. “You can have full access to your trust fund, and you can go to fashion school—but I don’t want you to go anywhere near him.”
“Then I’d rather not have my trust fund,” I answer.
Unlike last night, I’m calm today. I’m cried out, and Noah’s serene strength seems to have seeped into me. It allows me to face my father without fear—even if my heart is beating like crazy.
“You wouldn’t last a minute without my money,” my father sneers.
“Robert,” Luana hisses in warning.
My father raises a hand. “Okay, look, honey. This boy isn’t right for you—you know it. I’ve looked into him. Raised by a single mom who walked out when he was sixteen. No father. No education. Shitty minimum-wage jobs. Fights some amateur boxing matches but works too much to make it pro. He’ll never amount to anything. He’ll never become anyone.”
“He’salreadysomeone,” I snap. “And healreadyamounts to something. Just because he doesn’t have qualitiesyouvalue doesn’t mean he doesn’t have any qualities. And I happen to love his qualities. I love that he works hard, that he doesn’t look down on others. I love that he works all those jobs, that he’s helping his mom pay for her wedding, that he’s still boxing even though he barely has time to train. I like his determination, his strength. And I like that he actually likes me and cares for me, that he treats me with kindness, like I matter. He has something you could never buy, daddy: a good heart.”
“A good heart doesn’t pay the bills,” my father says, rolling his eyes. “A good heart won’t pay for your designer clothes and your expensive champagne and your holidays and your partying.”
I nod. “That’s fine. I’ll pay for those things myself.”
“With what money?”
“With money I’ll make, daddy. I don’t want to end up becoming the person you are, but that doesn’t mean I can’t learn from you. So I’ll do what you did. I’ll get loans. I’ll work hard. I’ll make something of myself. And when I’m a successful designer, when I own a fashion house and end up on the cover of Vogue, then I’ll have the satisfaction of knowing I got there all on my own. And I’ll tell everyone who’ll listen that I did it all without you, that you refused to give me a cent. I’ll wear that fact like a badge of honour.”
We stare at each other across the table. My father’s gaze is hard, and I see my own stubborn pride reflected in his features. There are many things my father dislikes about me, but ultimately, he can’t deny I’m his true daughter. I have his blue eyes, his qualities, his flaws.
I’ll just be the better version. The elevated, polished, kinder version.
“Fine,” he says suddenly, slamming his hand down. “If that’s what you want, honey, then let’s handle this like a business. I’ll make you a deal. You can have your trust fund—but as an investment, in exchange for stocks.”
“Stocks? So that you can become a shareholder of my company before I even set it up? So you can steal my business out from under me?” I laugh, throwing back my hair over my shoulders. “How stupid do you think I am?”
“What do you propose, then?” he snaps. “Since you’re so clever now?”
“Loan me the money. A business loan.”
His eyes narrow. He watches me for a second, sitting completely still the way he does whenever he’s considering an important decision in a business meeting.
“With interest,” he says finally.
“At a fixed rate. And to start accruing only once I finish fashion school.”
“Fine. But once you finish fashion school, you’ll owe me quarterly updates and progress reports.”
“Fine. But I’ll keep sole control over the business.”
He smiles—a cold rictus. “Unless you fail to repay the loan.”
“Which will be long term, with a minimum term of fifteen years.”
He lets out a bark of laughter but nods curtly. “Fine. I’ll draw up some papers.”
“And I’ll have a lawyer look at them before I sign.”
He lifts his glass even though he’s only drinking water. I raise my mimosa. We clink glasses.
“You two are crazy,” Luana sighs. But there’s relief in her eyes when she speaks, and she finally starts eating her breakfast.
