“Is it true?” Dad asks them angrily.
Caleb clears his throat and says, “yes..”
Nikkie gasps, and I am stunned. When did Caleb learn to man up to own his mistakes?
Dad is livid.
“You! Oh my G7od! Pathetic!” Dad says in disgust.
“I am sorry…” He says to dad then looks at me. “I am sorry, Sophie…” I can see Nikkie
seething in anger.
But I am confused. Why is he apologizing?
Change of heart? I don’t f7uckin think so. Something is wrong. Warning bells in my head
are going off.
I don’t answer him and turn to dad, “Why did you bring me here? If it was for this apology, then guess I should leave…”
I am still feeling agitated at Dad. For bringing me in front of Caleb and Nikkie like this. When I was not prepared to see them.
eyes.
“You two can leave,” Dad tells them sternly and steers me towards a chair.
“We have to present a united front in front of media,” He says and I want to roll my
Of Course it is about the business. All d7amn business. Not me. It’s never about me. “We recently scored a big contract. Instead of highlighting that, the media is making fun of Caleb & Nikkie. What they did was unforgivable but It is harmful for our Image Sophie…”
I swallow hard. Didn’t he notice how they are smearing my name, too? Calling me fat
and saying I deserved to be cheated on.
I stay quiet then dad adds, “All this belongs to you too Sophie. I hope you know that. The way you have done well for your music company, I am sure you can do good for the
‘Thomas Brown constructions’ as well.”
My eyes widened.
“I don’t want to do anything with your company, Dad!”
“Don’t be childish, Sophie,” he says in a stern voice and I flinch.
F7uck.
Why am I acting like a little girl?
“There is a party tonight and you will attend it.”
What?
I get up out of my seat and finally open my mouth.
“You never cared for me. So I don’t think I am obliged to take care of your company.
Dad.”
“It’s useless to expect from her, Alfred,” Joy walks into the study and says.
“She never wanted to attend the family dinners we planned… She never wanted to be
around for family tours. She wasn’t around or showed her face when you had a stro
years ago.”
Careful
1/4
Stroke!
I look at him and ask in shock, “Dad! you had a stroke?”
“I wasn’t a big deal, Sophie…”
“He couldn’t talk properly for months. We had to take care of him”
I suddenly feel ashamed. Is this why he didn’t get in touch with me?
“Joy!” Dad tells her sternly, but she doesn’t stop.
“He was so stressed after you left. Did you even think about him?”
I want to slap her face right now.
“Was it because of me or the work?” I ask Joy.
She looks perplexed.
“Of Course you.. because you left, he had to handle all the work.”
