AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He kissed my forehead, and I leaned against his shoulder. We watched the clouds and looked over the garden from his expansive windows, and I wanted to save this moment in time.
“I’m going to do what I can about Blake, but I have a lawyer for you. I’d offer mine, but it would be a conflict of interest for him. Chase recommends him highly. He’s gone against him a few times, says he’s a pit bull, and hates losing. Chase hates going up against him and says he does everything for his clients. Please call him and get him established. I have an account set up for you to use now, and it’ll pay for his retainer.”
In my dad’s arms, I froze. Lawyers, retainers, bank accounts, it was all out of my norm, and I struggled with accepting it, but my dad wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Chan, this is important. I need to know you’re taken care of. If I had done things differently, you wouldn’t be in this mess I’m about to throw you in. If I could protect you from it, I would, but you’ll have to face this. I assure you you’ll be all the better for it. You’ll be a force to be reckoned with. I hate you’ll have to learn it so roughly, though.”
“Dad, have you met my mother,” I chuckled. “I can do tough. I only wanted you to be here.”
The sadness of how little time we had kept mounting, and I didn’t want to think about loss any more today. It’d be there regardless, and after my dad died, I’d have copious amounts of time to work through the loss of both my parents.
“Tell me more about your company.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Everything.”
Richard laughed and started talking. The joy in his voice showed how much his company meant to him and how much he missed not going into the office every day.
“The Barclays have been a prominent family since the first settlers arrived. We’re an ambitious bunch, which shines brightly in you, my dear.”
I smiled at the compliment.
“However, there’ve been a couple of bad apples, such as my father. He was too greedy and didn’t believe in putting in the work. If it wasn’t for my grandfather instilling hard work in me, I don’t know what would’ve happened to the company. My father, your grandfather, brought the business to its knees. When I was twenty-five, the board had had enough, pushing him out and bringing me in. I was ambitious and hardworking and did everything necessary to bring it to the empire it is today. It was always a lucrative business, but I took it further. Within three years, I brought it into the black, and within two more years I brought it to a multi-million-dollar status. In ten years it became the billion-dollar enterprise it is today.”
The fact he took a floundering business and in ten years made it into a billion-dollar company astounded me.
“Wow, I have big shoes to fill.”
Richard laughed with a strain in his voice. He was getting tired, and this conversation needed to end soon so he could rest.
“No, sweet girl, you do you. You’ll be impressive in whatever you decide to do. I know it, deep down you’re a Barclay through and through.”
Happiness bubbled in my chest. I liked him calling me a Barclay. I never had a connection to Montgomery. My mother made it up. Her last name wasn’t even Montgomery. She always said it sounded more distinguished, as if I came from money and not a trailer park. I didn’t even know my mother’s maiden name. She took on her first husband’s last name as quickly as possible and changed it with every marriage. She became a pro at dealing with the social security office.
“I’d like to talk more about this when you have rested. Go ahead and go to sleep, Dad. I’ll stay for a while longer. If I have to leave before you wake, I’ll come over again soon.”
“Please be sure you do. This has been the best afternoon of my life, and I hate for it to end.”
I squeezed him a little as I stayed curled in my dad’s arms and let him close his eyes and rest. Once his breathing changed and he fell asleep, I let silent tears fall at how I hated our situation and wanted my father for much longer, but I’d take whatever we had left.
Chapter 19
Chantilla
The past couple of weeks had been dull. I still hadn’t told anybody about my mother or Blake, but I’d been talking to my dad every day, and I’d been able to sneak off and visit him when Abel had other things to do. I still wasn’t ready to share the upheaval of my personal life.
My dad took care of the arrangements for my mom, and I got a call to pick up her ashes, but I didn’t know what to do with them, so I took them to dad’s mansion until I wanted to deal with it all. He asked if I wanted to do a funeral, but I didn’t. It wasn’t something I needed.
Thanksgiving Day came around, and Abel and I headed to his father’s. I wanted to spend the day with him, but mostly, I wished we had gone to my dad’s, and we could share it together. Blake would be there, though, and I wanted to stay far away from him.
Things had gotten a bit better, but I had this strange feeling of being watched and wondered if it was Blake. I didn’t dare tell Abel or my father because things were calm. The days were about school, and it made things easier. I secretly grieved for my mother and having everything else calm worked for me.
Abel’s hand rested on my thigh as he drove us to his dad’s, and Abel appeared to be a little tense.
“Are you okay over there?”
Abel rubbed his thumb over my thighs and smiled as he looked over and back at the road. “Yeah. The whole family will be there, and I’m introducing you as my girlfriend.” He let out a breath.
