Chapter 47

Linny

Hours have passed since I got to my dad’s office, although it feels like days.

It’s past seven p.m. and he’s still not here. I finally gave in thirty minutes ago and sent him a text message.

Linny: I’m at the office. You need to come down here.

My dad’s response was swift considering the fact that he hates texting.

Dad: I’m dead tired. What’s wrong? I’ll send Mitchell to take care of it.

I laughed aloud, the sound vibrating off the walls and out into the empty offices beyond.

Everyone cleared out by six p.m, many of them stopping in the open doorway of my dad’s office to ask if I needed anything.

They all looked confused. It’s not surprising since they caught me sitting in his chair behind his desk.

I’m still sitting here.

The last message I sent was twenty minutes ago.

Linny: It’s urgent. Only you can handle this.

It only took a beat until his next message popped up on my screen.

Dad: I’m on my way.

I’ve spent the past few hours rehearsing in my mind what I’ll say. That’s been punctuated by memories of my childhood.

My dad taught me how to ride a bike in Central Park. He sat in the bleachers of my high school gymnasium cheering Harmony and me on during all those volleyball games.

He watched me graduate from college, and he was the first person I cooked dinner for in my new apartment.

He’s always been my best friend and confidante.

I hear the elevator ding its arrival on this floor. He’ll walk past my empty, darkened office and then notice the light shining into the corridor from his.

I take a deep breath as his footsteps near.

“I’m here. What is it?” Sweat peppers his forehead, his cheeks flushing. It’s obvious that he put in some effort to get here as quickly as he could.

I’m on my feet in an instant. “Thank you for coming, dad.”

He clucks his tongue. “You don’t look panicked. Is there an actual emergency that warranted me coming down here at night?”

I step closer to him; close enough that he can see the redness of my eyes. “It’s an emergency to me.”

“You’ve been crying.” He moves quickly toward me. “What happened? Did you lose the Rizon account?”

No. I lost every ounce of trust I had in you, dad.

I glance down at the black sweatpants and college sweatshirt he’s wearing. This is how he looked at night when he used to tuck me into bed when I was a child.

This is the man I miss.

“You told Mitchell about Corbin.”

He reaches for something to steady his balance. His shaking hand lands on my forearm. “Linny.”

“Why?” It’s a simple question, but the expression on his face is anything but that. He looks as though a train is barreling down on him at breakneck speed and there’s no time to jump out of its way.

“He said something to you?” he asks somberly. “I made him promise never to mention it.”

I laugh unexpectedly. “You made me the same promise.”

“I know.” His voice is dull, emotionless. He moves away from me seeking out one of the chairs in front of his desk. Lowering himself into it, he glances at me again. “Families shouldn’t have secrets.”

I take the chair next to him, crossing my legs at the knees. “He’s not my family.”

His eyes search mine. “He is.”

I shake my head vehemently; tired of playing the good daughter who accepts her father’s second marriage and everything that comes with it.

I stuck around. I stayed when Bethy ran because my dad wanted an heir to take over the family business.

I made nice with Diane and tolerated Mitchell because I could see the joy in my dad when he was around them.

“He is your family. Mom, Bethy and you are mine.” I clutch my hands together in my lap.

His eyes well with unshed tears as he stares at me. “Mitchell is your brother.”

“Stepbrother, “ I spit back. “I don’t even consider him that. He’s my competition.”

His hands fly in the air in a wide arc. “To hell with it. I’m so goddamn tired of the lies. All of the lies.”

His words stop me in place. “What lies?”

“He’s my son, Linny. I didn’t know until he was fourteen.” His voice is hoarse. “Diane sought me out when she moved to New York and…”
I stumble out of my chair, swatting his hands away as he tries to reach for me. “No.”

“We had a brief affair before I met your mother.” He pushes heavily to his feet, following me as I walk across his office to the open doorway. “I never saw Diane again until we met for lunch one day and she told me. We did a paternity test to confirm. I did love your mother, but Diane was different.”

My mom.

She had been so brave during their divorce, telling Bethy and me that sometimes people fall out of love. We believed her even though we heard her crying in the bath each night.

This is why.

“You left mom for her?” I turn and face him. “Did you leave mom so you could be with them?”

“Diane didn’t want me.” He skims a hand over his head. “I wanted to be available in case she did.”

Apparently, she eventually changed her mind since they’ve been happily married for years.

“Why didn’t you tell me he’s your son?” I point my finger at him. “Why didn’t he tell me?”

My dad folds his hands together in front of him. “He doesn’t know. I haven’t told him. I will. I plan on doing it next year when I hand the reins of …”

A low guttural cry escapes me when I realize the next words he’s about to say. I fall to my knees, wrapping my arms around myself. “Oh god. You knew all along that you’d give the company to him, didn’t you?”

“My father wanted me to pass it on to my son.” His voice quivers. “I’m honoring that request.”

I look up at him, grief and disillusionment clouding my view of the man I once thought hung the moon just for me. “I quit.”

“No, sweetheart.” He scrubs his hand over his face. “You’ll stay on. You’ll keep doing what you’re doing. You’ll work with your brother.”

“I. Quit.” I enunciate both words as I push to my feet. “Effective immediately.”

“What will you do? Where will you go?”

I glance down the corridor to my darkened office. “We’ll negotiate my severance. I’m taking some clients with me.”

“We’re family, Linny. Family doesn’t abandon family.” His shoulders shake. “Let’s talk about this tomorrow after we’ve both had a good night’s rest.”

“I’m not abandoning anyone. I’m leaving so I can salvage this.” I circle my hand in the air between us. “If I stay I’ll resent you more. I can’t, dad. I have to go.”

“I won’t accept your resignation.” He widens his stance. “I won’t.”

“Fire me then.” I hold my hands over my heart. “I’ve been in a relationship with Jeremy Weston since we signed the Rizon Vodka contract.”

Shock slides over his expression. “What?”

“I’m involved with Jeremy.”

“You kept that from me?”

I hold up my hand in the air between us. “Don’t go there. You have no right to go there.”

He nods in surrender. “How serious is this thing between you two?”

I swallow hard, tears of joy replacing those of sorrow. “I love him.”

“You love him?” he repeats back. “How does he feel about you?”

I start toward my office so I can grab my purse and go find West. “I’m about to find out.”