Gwen
My favorite restaurant, favorite wine, the most decadent chocolate soufflé I’d ever tasted—and he had to ruin it with three little words.
“You’re cut off.”
My smile faltered. He couldn’t possibly be serious.
“Excuse me?” I asked.
He sighed. “You’re an adult, Gwendolyn. I’ve supported you long enough. It’s time you learned to take care of yourself, stand on your own two feet.”
I leaned back in my chair, my mouth still hanging open in shock. My dad was an asshole. How dare he do this to me? To me, his little girl. The walls of the restaurant felt like they were closing in. My chest felt heavy and my breathing labored.
“How am I supposed to live?” I asked, more to myself than to my father.
“You get a job. Pay your own way.”
“But Daddy,” I whined.
He held up his hand. “It’s done. I’ve tried to help you. I’ve pulled strings and called in favors to get you jobs that most women your age would kill for. Your poor work ethic and petulant attitude has ruined every single opportunity I’ve given you.”
I scoffed. He was being ridiculous. It wasn’t my fault that Madeline Grant was a stuck up old bat who couldn’t handle that I was obviously more talented than her.
Besides, I lost that job because of that bitch Alex. She’d always been jealous of me. I’m prettier than she is and have more talent in my little finger than she did in her dumpy little body. She couldn’t handle the competition and poisoned Madeline against me, the cow.
“Gwendolyn,” he said. “Are you even listening to me?”
“I heard you,” I snapped.
He frowned and fixed me with a hard glare. Time for a new tactic.
I leaned forward and rested my hand on his arm. Forcing tears to well in my eyes, I amped up the sad puppy look that usually got me anything I wanted from him.
“I’m sorry, Daddy,” I said, my voice cracking a bit. “I can try harder. All I want is for you to be proud of me.” Blinking hard, I let the tears roll down my cheek. “If you give me one more chance I promise I…”
He pulled his arm from my grasp before I could finish. “Enough is enough. You’ve exhausted my patience.”
My shock quickly turned to white hot rage as I stared into his hard, determined eyes.
“This is her, isn’t it?” I spat. “That whore put you up to this.”
He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Allison has nothing to do with this.” I snorted, amused that he seemed to know exactly who I was referring to.
“The hell she doesn’t,” I muttered. “Stupid bitch probably wants me gone so she can have more of your money for her and that little brat.”
His head snapped up. “That little brat is my daughter and your little sister. I suggest you show them both the respect they deserve. Like it or not, they are family.”
Family my ass. There was no doubt in my mind that Allison was behind this. She’d been trying to drive a wedge between Dad and me for years. I guess she finally succeeded.
“So, now that you have the perfect family you’ve always dreamed of, you can just abandon me like yesterday’s trash. Out with the old and in with the new.” I waved my hand with a dramatic flourish to emphasize my point.
The scene I was causing began to attract the attention of the other patrons seated around us. I locked eyes with some blonde skank at the next table and shot her a glare that made her quickly avert her eyes back to her salad. Good, the bitch was fat—she could use a few more salads and a few less donuts.
Dad leaned forward and ground his teeth. “You are out of line, Gwendolyn,” he hissed.
I crossed my arms again and turned away from him as real tears pricked behind my eyes. The nerve of him. I’m his daughter, his flesh and blood. It was insane that he could be so heartless. Just toss me out in the cold like I meant absolutely nothing to him.
“This is my fault.” He sighed. “I indulged you, spoiled you, but no more. You’re an adult. It’s time you acted like it.”
I refused to look at him. I could see him watching me out of the corner of my eye. He reached into his jacket and pulled out a stack of papers, sliding them across the table to me.
“The rent on your apartment has been paid through the end of the month. I’ve transferred your cell phone and your car insurance into your name,” he said.
I still refused to look at him. I didn’t want to acknowledge that it was really happening.
“Your car is yours to keep,” he continued.
“Should I be grateful?” I huffed, still refusing to look at him.
“I’ve put five thousand dollars in a checking account for you, but the rest of your accounts have been closed and your credit cards have been canceled.”
“Five thousand dollars?” I screamed. “That won’t even cover my shoes.” The dining area fell to a dead silence at my outburst. I could feel the shocked stares of everyone in the room focusing on me, but I didn’t give a single fuck. All I saw was red.
“You are going to have to economize. Live on a budget until you find a job and have a steady income.”
An angry tear slipped down my cheek. I quickly wiped it away. Refusing to allow him to see me cry. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
“This is for the best. You’ll see.” He reached across the table to take my hand.
I bit my tongue, reining in the complete meltdown that was brewing beneath my skin. This would blow over. He was my father. He loved me and soon he would come to his senses, realize what a horrible mistake he’d made and probably make up for it with a trip to Belize. I was positive that this ridiculous idea of his would be short-lived and it would be business as usual before I knew it. I was in for a rude awakening.