escaping. My face is mashed into the plush carpet I admired the day before.
We stay in this position. Dad’s deep professional voice tapers off. The call must be ending. Then silence. Until I see Dad’s shiny black shoes next to my face. They walk away. The armchair squeaks as he moves it close to me and sinks into it, not making any motion for who must be his private bodyguard to let me go. His expensive pant leg flops as he crosses his legs and the one on top doesn’t stop moving.
I grunt again. The pain spreading from my shoulders into my back.
He says nothing. He doesn’t need to. The disappointment rolls off him, the constant judgment without having to say a word. It’s nothing I’m not familiar with. I’ve been a constant failure in his eyes. Ever since Mom left. Ever since Mom refused to be controlled anymore. I couldn’t just walk away. Not when he held the purse strings of my trust. Not when he controlled every aspect of my life.
Dad sighs. “It doesn’t have to be this way, Chadwick.”
I bite my tongue. He’s goading me. Wants me to mouth off. Probably so this guy can slam my face against the floor again. I refuse to cry uncle and ask this guy to let me go.
“I had such high hopes for you…for us working together.”
He doesn’t have to say anymore. His words are laden with all the memories. All the times he brought me into his office and let me sit in his twirly leather chair. The times he let me touch his stash of gold coins. I thought those times were bonding, time with Dad. But he really was grooming me, feeding my lust for money and power, so I could grow up and be like him.
The private bodyguard tightens his grip. I stifle a cry of pain.
“You’re dressed the part though.” Dad’s voice is hard and cold like a winter day with no hope of sun. “Outside of your burst of immaturity, I assume you’re here to accept my offer. About time you came to your senses.”
The image of Katie’s face flashing with fear, reminds me of the other reason I’m here. “She almost got hurt.” I force out.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He chuckles. “I know you have this paranoia that I follow you around. Really. I have more important things to do than follow my teenage miscreant son around.”
The anger drives up through my chest. “You know who I’m talking about. Your little threatening act almost went too far.”
A silence settles over the room. His growing rage is palpable, but he’ll never let it show. Something I was never able to master. “If a little friend of yours got in trouble, did you ever think it might be her association with you? The group you choose to hang around with.”
If Dad had nothing to do with it, and this guy’s not part of my crowd, then it’s coincidence that he’s tailing Katie. That scares me even more because there’s no one I can call to intervene.
“But, if you need help in any area all you have to do is ask.”
The tight grip loosens. The almighty has decided it’s the appropriate dramatic moment to let me go. Give me a chance to talk without staring at his shoes. The point is not lost on me. It never is. And he knows it.
Slowly, I get to my feet, refusing to show the pain or rub my arms, which tingle back to life. He says nothing. Waiting for me to ask. I suck it up. For her.
“I’m ready to accept your offer. See where it goes. But if you let anyone lay a fucking hand on her, I’ll kill you myself.”
A second later, I’m back on the floor. My chest hits hard enough that my breath gasps out. I can’t fight it again. This time I know he won’t let me up. Pressure builds behind my eyes. I refuse to show weakness in front of him.
“I thought you’d see reason in your life.”
What he means to say is that I’d see life his way. I still struggle to find my breath.
He clears his throat and moves behind his desk. “Your decision to intern with this law office comes at a most opportune time.
We stay in this position. Dad’s deep professional voice tapers off. The call must be ending. Then silence. Until I see Dad’s shiny black shoes next to my face. They walk away. The armchair squeaks as he moves it close to me and sinks into it, not making any motion for who must be his private bodyguard to let me go. His expensive pant leg flops as he crosses his legs and the one on top doesn’t stop moving.
I grunt again. The pain spreading from my shoulders into my back.
He says nothing. He doesn’t need to. The disappointment rolls off him, the constant judgment without having to say a word. It’s nothing I’m not familiar with. I’ve been a constant failure in his eyes. Ever since Mom left. Ever since Mom refused to be controlled anymore. I couldn’t just walk away. Not when he held the purse strings of my trust. Not when he controlled every aspect of my life.
Dad sighs. “It doesn’t have to be this way, Chadwick.”
I bite my tongue. He’s goading me. Wants me to mouth off. Probably so this guy can slam my face against the floor again. I refuse to cry uncle and ask this guy to let me go.
“I had such high hopes for you…for us working together.”
He doesn’t have to say anymore. His words are laden with all the memories. All the times he brought me into his office and let me sit in his twirly leather chair. The times he let me touch his stash of gold coins. I thought those times were bonding, time with Dad. But he really was grooming me, feeding my lust for money and power, so I could grow up and be like him.
The private bodyguard tightens his grip. I stifle a cry of pain.
“You’re dressed the part though.” Dad’s voice is hard and cold like a winter day with no hope of sun. “Outside of your burst of immaturity, I assume you’re here to accept my offer. About time you came to your senses.”
The image of Katie’s face flashing with fear, reminds me of the other reason I’m here. “She almost got hurt.” I force out.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He chuckles. “I know you have this paranoia that I follow you around. Really. I have more important things to do than follow my teenage miscreant son around.”
The anger drives up through my chest. “You know who I’m talking about. Your little threatening act almost went too far.”
A silence settles over the room. His growing rage is palpable, but he’ll never let it show. Something I was never able to master. “If a little friend of yours got in trouble, did you ever think it might be her association with you? The group you choose to hang around with.”
If Dad had nothing to do with it, and this guy’s not part of my crowd, then it’s coincidence that he’s tailing Katie. That scares me even more because there’s no one I can call to intervene.
“But, if you need help in any area all you have to do is ask.”
The tight grip loosens. The almighty has decided it’s the appropriate dramatic moment to let me go. Give me a chance to talk without staring at his shoes. The point is not lost on me. It never is. And he knows it.
Slowly, I get to my feet, refusing to show the pain or rub my arms, which tingle back to life. He says nothing. Waiting for me to ask. I suck it up. For her.
“I’m ready to accept your offer. See where it goes. But if you let anyone lay a fucking hand on her, I’ll kill you myself.”
A second later, I’m back on the floor. My chest hits hard enough that my breath gasps out. I can’t fight it again. This time I know he won’t let me up. Pressure builds behind my eyes. I refuse to show weakness in front of him.
“I thought you’d see reason in your life.”
What he means to say is that I’d see life his way. I still struggle to find my breath.
He clears his throat and moves behind his desk. “Your decision to intern with this law office comes at a most opportune time.
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