Chapter Nine
Chance
“Sara? Can't you just leave me alone?” I stood up, feeling like I was never going to get rid of her. I wondered whether she had seen me slip the panties between the cushions. I quickly met her on the way to the couch, stopping her short of approaching where I was.
Sara stood with her hands on her hips. Her expensive handbag slung over her shoulder and fancy low-cut dress calling attention to every curve on her body. I was so used to her trying to get everyone’s attention I had become blind to it. Now I saw her in a different way, yet again. “Chance, what's going on with you? Why did you just leave like that?”
I brushed past her.
“What's happening?”
She reached out for me and I pulled away. “What's happening? This has been happening for a really long time, Sara? You just chose not to see it. You are so wrapped up in everything else. Your social events, your shopping. Everything my family name can get for you. Stop pretending you really care about me.” I took a deep breath and stared at her. I was happy that I had finally built up the nerve to speak what was on my mind.
“I know you love me Chance. You know you love me.”
“No, no I don’t. I did. I don’t anymore. It's my dad that wants this, not me. I'm sorry. I have to go. You can stay, but not here in my suite. Talk to my father, I’m sure he’ll set you up someplace, but don’t plan on me making any time for you while you’re out here. I have things to get done.” Sara stood in the center of the room speechless. I gently guided her from the suite and shut the door behind us. “I’m sorry things are happening like this, I’ve tried to tell you so many times.” I walked away, leaving her behind as I made my way downstairs into the lobby.
“Chance, Howard is looking for you.” Mary rushed from the side hallway of the lobby. Our meeting nothing more than a coincidence, but an important one, as she attempted to head off my father before he reached me.
I saw my dad turn the corner and the staff all tightened up, pretending to work harder than usual and willing to kiss his ass to make an impression. I was getting sick of all of this. He calls the shots, people jump. It wasn't too often that Dad made his presence known downstairs. Something was up.
He walked toward me, with that power-trip walk of his. Shoulders straight, head high with his nose pointed to the ceiling. He looked at me, his eyes full of hate. Words began spewing from his mouth even before he reached me. I turned sideways, not wanting to hear his shit at the moment. I had other things on my mind.
“Chance.” He barked my name and I could feel the eyes of everyone within sight looking at us.
“Not now, I’m headed off to an appointment.” I kept moving toward the front of the lobby.
“We are going to talk. Now.” His voiced echoed over the marble floors.
“I really don't have anything to say if it's about Sara. I'm done with her. She's your choice for me, not mine.”
Mary knew he was about to explode and she grabbed us both by the arm and led us into a nearby room. Guests didn’t deserve to see my dad come unglued. Mary spoke before I could even stop her. I could see it in her eyes.
“Howard, what's your real problem? Why are you making such an issue of Chance and Sara? When will you ever learn?”
I knew she had my back and in thirty years, I had never seen her correct or speak back to my father, at least in public..
“Mary, this isn’t any of your business. I have things to say to my son.”
Dad turned to me. Anger still filled his eyes.
“This problem with Sara is a big deal. It's affecting your work. Your projects are late. You’re spending money like there’s an endless supply. I'm not pleased and things will change one way or the other. I'm having a board meeting about your future with the hotel.”
My future? This had nothing to do with my future. It was his future imposed on my life.
“You're meeting with the board because of Sara?”
“I'm sorry, son. I'm sorry that it has come to this. She’s what’s kept you grounded. I thought you both had a future, but it’s obvious you’d rather spend your time doing other things.”
He walked away, leaving me with a most stern look. He was dead serious. I watched as he strutted up the staircase. He must have felt such power, such satisfaction. I followed his trail with my eyes, and he looked down at me as he paused midway up. That stare was enough for me to know that he was serious as hell.
Mary edged over to me, wanting to assure me that everything would be all right. I knew it wasn't. Dad was serious. I couldn't believe that my whole future rode on Sara. If he only knew the truth. What the hell was he so determined for me to be with Sara? I could feel Mary's compassion for me. She is such a sweetheart, always taking up for anyone in dad's destructive path.
“Chance, just give him time. It will all work out.”
“I don’t know this time, Mary.”
I stood, frozen, looking down at the floor and then gazed across the lobby. The staff immediately pretended as if they weren’t watching the drama unfold in front of them. I thought about what he had said. My future was determined by whether I was going to stay with Sara or not. If I chose to live a life that made me unhappy I could be guaranteed anything I would ever want in the world. More money and power than I would ever know what to do with. At least until he died. I smiled briefly at the thought and then realized he had probably had ways to run my life even after he were dead.
The choice seemed clear. All I ever knew was this life.