You can’t be here…” My father’s office assistant called out to me as I shoved past her and in the direction of his office. I didn’t care what she said, or whatever rules he had in place to keep me away. I was going to plead my case and if he refused to give in to my demands then I would walk away just as I had the first time.
“Father…” He looked up at the sound of my voice, his eyes growing large with dare I say a smidge of fear?
“Zane what a surprise it is to see you here.” The shock on his face didn’t meet his voice so he wasn’t that shocked.
“I’m here to cut a deal. I want you to leave Brooke and me alone.” I spoke with conviction refusing to take no for an answer. Brooke and my future counted on this deal. My father tapped his fingers against his desk lightly.
“I’m not really in the mood to cut deals Zane. Sandra and I have concerns about you two being together and obviously now that you’re having a baby those concerns have changed.” He smiled at me like he had the upper hand or something.
I leaned against his desk, staring him straight in his evil eyes. “I know you need me. I’m not stupid. I’m the heir to this corporation. It’s the reason you pulled me from college and offered me a high paying salary.” I narrowed my eyes. “I know that without me you’ll be forced to sell the company or sign it over to a colleague.”
The look on his face changed from cocky and knowing it all to pure anger. He hated that I was right and I knew I had him right where I wanted him then.
“It would be a grave mistake to pass up on such a large fortune don’t you think?” he snarled. There was no convincing me to stay unless he did what I wanted and that was leave Brooke and I alone.
“No. I think it would be stupid to sell it to someone that you don’t want to… There’s nothing like working for years to just hand it over to someone else…” I sneered hitting him right where it hurt.
He signaled to someone behind him and I turned on my heels taking notice of the two guards that were out of breath and heading down the hall.
“What awesome security you have…” I pushed from his desk and settled into a chair in front of it instead, letting him simmer on everything I had said. If he thought he could get me to break, he thought wrong. I was playing for keeps with the things I already had. I didn’t need this company. I could take a job somewhere else making just as much money, if not more.
“What do you want?” His voice was grating against the headache that was starting to form behind my eyes. All of this was a ton of stress and I was doing my best to hide the fact that he was stressing me out.
“I want you to leave Brooke, me, and our unborn child alone. Sandra called and told Brooke she needed to get an abortion this morning and that’s not something that she should have to deal with.” My father’s tongue darted out onto his bottom lip as he examined my face for any cracks in the wall I had put up.
“Truthfully, if you were smart you would make her get an abortion…” he started but I cut him off.
“Say one more word about Brooke and I’m leaving. I don’t have to give you my time. I can find a job working for one of your competitors. I can take care of my family and be the best man possible…” I snarled showing my teeth. Maybe it was in what I had said to him or maybe it was the fact that he knew I was serious, I didn’t know right then but he seemed to realize I was really going to leave and he was going to be forced to sell out to someone who didn’t give a fuck about his company.
“I’m not doing this for you…” he hissed, the wrinkles that marred his features became more evident as he started at me. “I’m doing it for the company because even if I hate you, I would rather my company be in the hands of family.”
A smile pulled at my lips, it was my turn to have the upper hand and I would. “Good, then you’ll do as I want or you’ll be leaving your company in the hands of those that couldn’t care less about it. Understand?” A part of me died that day because I knew having to make a deal with my own father meant that our relationship was over, or whatever was left of it was.
“What is that you want? I will order Sandra to leave Brooke alone.” I rubbed at my chin for a moment before speaking again.
“I want Brooke to be able to finish her degree, I want the cottage put in our name and I want my income to stay the same. I will not work in the office but instead from home.”
“That’s quite a list you have…”
“Do all that I asked or I will walk out of this room right now and never turn back around. I don’t need you. You need me.” I pointed at him, watching the flames flicker in his eyes. I wasn’t going to negotiate with him a second longer if he refused to agree then I would do just as I stated.
Seconds ticked by without a word said from him. I needed to call his bluff because he didn’t think I was serious. I stood shoving from the chair and heading toward the door. As soon as my foot met the threshold he spoke.
“I’ll do it. I will have my lawyer draft up the documents and send them to you.” I twisted around, elation filling my belly. Brooke was going to be so fucking happy and we could finally do whatever we wanted without a worry in the world.
“Good choice Dad.” I smiled. He blinked at me, his fists clenched on his desk. He hated being forced to do something that he didn’t want to. I gave him one last glance before walking out of his office.
The man wasn’t getting any younger and I prayed some day that he would come around and be the dad that I had always wanted him to be. For now though, I had my own child to get ready for and a future with Brooke to focus on. With my pride still intact I knew exactly where it was that I was going to go now.
I walked around the jewelry store looking at all the sparkling diamond rings. Each one was different and though they were beautiful they weren’t the right fit for Brooke. I knew the moment that I saw her ring that it would be the one.
“Can we help you sir?” A salesman questioned, and I lifted my eyes acknowledging him.
“Yes. I need something that is elegant but somewhat old fashioned.” I continued to eye the rings in front of me while the salesman walked away and came back a second later.
“Something like this?” he questioned and I looked up at him and then down to the ring in his hand. It was perfect with a large diamond in the center and two pearls that accented it on either side. The band was thin and had intricate details on it that made the ring look older than it was.
“That’s perfect. I’ll take it.” I would bring the ring in to be sized perfectly as soon as I got done using it to propose to her. I wanted her to know that I meant what I said. She was important to me and the baby that was growing inside of her was too. This ring would signify that importance.
“That will be twenty five thousand dollars.” The salesmen smirked as if he didn’t expect me to have the money to get the ring. I ignored him, having dealt with enough bullshit for the day and pulled out my credit card handing it over.
Shock filled his features as he walked away to run the card. The ring sparkled as I moved it back and forth in the light.
It was perfect, absolutely perfect and it would look great on Brooke’s finger showing every man in the world that she belonged to me.
I was a happy man. I had the girl and I had saved us from a gloomy future.