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“Then get going, and don’t you dare stop. Carmelo Enterprises is no longer in your control. You have been stripped of all rights associated with the Carmelo name. Including any rights to yourself. Now, walk.”
Chapter 1
Fay
My dad once told me the secret to happiness was realizing everything you needed, you already had. I never understood what he meant by that. There were plenty of things I needed that were clearly missing from my life. For example, I needed a job. I needed a place to live. Right this very moment I could have been happier if I had caffeine, tissues, and a rewind button. But I had none of those things, and the last thing I was was happy.
Lights blurred in a mass of color against the dark sky, and unfamiliar voices faded in and out. I kept going over the last week as if it had been some outlandish nightm
are. It was just days ago my mom was making muffins as my dad sat at the table with his laptop. The aroma was still heavy in my memory, but I wasn’t comforted by the phantom smell. Not after the last few hours.
I felt broken.
“Perfect timing, Fayette. Come, take a seat.”
But I hadn’t wanted to. With my parents having me at such a late age, they continually doted over everything I did. They always had since birth. And with two dozen blueberry muffins already in the basket on the counter, and another in the oven, I knew why I’d been called over. It was because of him. And me. I wasn’t ready to face my pain or embarrassment as a fiancé. As an employee, a friend, a daughter…I wasn’t ready for this.
“Fay, come sit by me. I’m not mad at you.”
Still, I hadn’t been able to move towards my father.
I was embarrassed. Defeated. This wasn’t how I was raised. We’d grown up middle-class at best, and although my parents did everything they could to provide along the way, my dad didn’t help but remind me every chance he got about the importance of money. It was the epitome of responsibility. Whether it was yours or someone else’s, if you didn’t have a handle on finances, empires crumbled. You could crumble. I used to think he was being dramatic…until I saw it for myself.
“I know what this is. Dad…don’t.”
“We need to talk, Fayette. I think it’s time. There’s something you need to know. Come sit. This won’t take long. If I contact Thomas—”
“The banker?”
“He’s not the actual banker, but—”
“No way. Remember what happened when you convinced me to let you help with my school loans? Absolutely not.”
“Did you not go to the best university?”
“Who pushed for that? Dad, you begged me after I told you it didn’t matter.”
“But it did matter, Fay. Did you not graduate at the top of your class? Did you not travel the world before you decided to leave the firm and go independent? You had it all. The loans were worth it. Besides, this isn’t school, this is your life. Andrew took everything from you. He cleared out your bank account and almost got you arrested. Your boss is going under because he neglected to take the necessary steps to protect himself in the first place. You refuse to come home. I have no idea where you’re even staying. Let us help. The loans worked out fine last time. We paid them off. Besides, you won’t have—”
“Won’t have, what? Such a high interest rate this time? Won’t be paying for almost as many years as I went to school? I’m not taking any chances. I had to hear about it constantly before. I’m fine, Dad. I’m twenty-six. I’ve been taking care of myself for a while. I’ll find a new job. Someone will give me a chance now that Andrew is in jail and paying for his crimes.”
“Fay—”
“No. I don’t want your help. I did this. Let me clean up my own mess for once.”
“What do you mean, you did this?”
My head lowered through the shame. “What Andrew did was my fault. I should have paid more attention. I…shouldn’t have trusted him. Mr. Weller was more than my boss; he was a friend. I promised I’d take him to the next level. I should have made sure his business was protected against something like this.”
“That was not part of your job, Fay.”
“No, but I should have inquired about it. Keith was just starting up. He kept asking me all these questions. I should have made sure he had all his bases covered. I mean, theft? I never thought in my wildest dreams—”
My sob had my hand shooting to my mouth. I never cried in front of my parents. If I was anything it was prideful. Sometimes too much.
“You don’t have to worry about anything anymore. Let me make a call. It’s time, Fay.”
“Absolutely not. You never trust my decisions. You never give me a chance. All you do is dictate my life. I said I got this. Trust me, and just leave it alone. Please. I’m begging you.”
