Fiona
“You’ll what?” I ask as Ethan stands to leave the table.
“I’ll have your desk moved right next to mine,” he repeats.
55%
I stare at this man. What is going through his mind? Like he hadn’t just said we’d be together every day, Ethan slides his phone into his pocket and walks away. Is he serious about moving my new desk or was he kidding?
I mentally smack my forehead. Of course, he isn’t kidding. Mr. Serious–pants over here barely ever smiles, and he’s never joked around with me.
“Ryan will stay with you today while you run your errands since your car is out of commission.”
Ryan waves at me with a grin, and I awkwardly wave back. I find it kind of strange that Ethan treats his friend like his own personal driver, but maybe that’s Ryan’s job. Not wanting to make this any weirder than it is, I merely nod and accept that I’ll have an escort today. After what happened yesterday, I guess it won’t be a bad thing.
“Have a good day.” I call out right before Ethan disappears through the front door.
Once I’m sure Ethan is gone, I turn to Ryan who is waiting expectantly.
“I’d like to thank Ethan for everything he’s done to help me,” I state. Ryan’s eyebrows jump up, and he motions for me to continue. “Can you help me arrange a dinner for tonight if he’s not busy!”
“Of course,” Ryan says, and then I watch as he pulls his phone out and focuses. After a few taps and some scrolling. Ryan grins and looks back up at me. “Ethan doesn’t have any plans tonight.”
I’m surprised, really. Ethan is probably always busy, but the surprise turns to excitement as I step closer to Ryan
“Where are you thinking?” He questions, “There are several restaurants around his office that he likes. We could look there.”
Nodding. I listen as Ryan lists off three restaurants. Each one sounds nicer than the last, all probably high–end and fancy just like Ethan Ryan tells me about the Italian restaurant called Ristorante La Bella that is owned by an Italian family and serves authentic dishes. Then he shows me the Prime Parlor Steakhouse which serves the best steak in the city. The last one he pulls up is Red Koi which is a Japanese and Sushi restaurant that Ryan says has the best authentic and unique sushi around.
After deciding on the restaurant, Ryan calls and makes the reservation. It only takes a minute to confirm before he calls
Ethan.
“Ryan, shouldn’t you be looking after Fiona?”
Ryan snickers and winks at me. I roll my eyes. He’s so different than Ethan
“I am, calm down. I’m calling to let you know you and Fiona have a dinner reservation at Prime Parlor Steakhouse tonight at six, Ryan informs him. There’s a pause from the other end, probably because Ethan is wondering why we’re having dinner.
“That woman,” he grumbles. “She’s always acting on her own and making decisions. I raise a brow at his grumblings, but smile when he adds, “I’ll be there at six.”
As Ryan and I head back to the house to get ready for my dinner with Ethan, my phone rings. An unknown number flashes across the screen, so I answer the call and lift it to my ear.
“Hi, is this Mrs. Fiona Aldridge?” A kind male voice asks.
1/
12:11 500, 127 +
Chopere in
“My my best ape lawyer from daw Law Firm the man explains. “I’m calling in regard to the
leh Kwanza wall Fafraid to inform you that the will we have on file and the will you submitted are
the will be sepped and we wanted to inform you of the foul play as we as pessible
The was old when I got it from my father, I tell him, confused. I didn’t open it to check that
dla sealed it was the same what the arney had card at her will hearing because I didn’t think anyone would swap it
My mind run through the lat of people who would’ve swapped it. My father, for money. My husband, for money. My seats, for my My egolare for money Everyone I can think of would’ve swapped it for the same reason.
official
“We have contacted your mother’s any for the oft al ropy he holds, and it will be delivered soon.” Lawyer Reid tells
“Is there anything I can do!”
“Not at the moment, ma’am, but I will contact you if there’s any change, he says.
“Thank you for letting me know. Have a good rest of your day.”
“You as well, Mr Aldridge
Ryan glances at me through the rearview mirror and shifts the car into drive.
“Everything okay?” He asks.
“I’m not sure. There’s just a lot going on, but I need to change our destination. Can you take me to 125 Carnhall Drive?”
Ryan nods and tells me to relax as he drives, I don’t think I could relax if I tried. One bad thing after another keeps popping up and I don’t know how to stop it all. I just want to live a normal, peaceful life. How can I do that with everyone coming
Nighing. I lean my forehead on the window. The cool glass offers a bit of respite, so I close my eyes and try to relax like Ryan
It doesn’t work, but I do get a bit of time to clear my head before we pull into my father’s driveway.
Steeling myself with confidence, I get out of the car, ask Ryan to wait here for me, and make my way to the house. My father opens the door with a smile, which calms some of my nerves.
“Fiona,” he greets, pulling me into a hug. My surprise is taken over by happiness as I hug him back. “Who’s car is that you’re driving?” He asks, and look up, realizing he’s not paying attention to me but to Ethan’s car.
The happiness I felt immediately plummets in my gut, and disappointment takes over. Why couldn’t he just be interested in me and how I’m doing!
“Yeah, who are you sleeping with now that gives you such a nice car?” Jessica’s sharp, irritating voice asks. I look back inside to find Jessica walking up. “Because I know you didn’t spend your own money
“It doesn’t matter, Jessica,” I say, trying to be civil as I grab my dad’s arm and turn both of us toward her. Apparently, Jessica doesn’t like that because her eyes narrow at me with venom.
She lisses irritably and steps forward, poking me in the shoulder with her finger.
“Why are you always clinging to our father when you have nothing to offer him?”
2/4
12:11 Sun, 13 Apr M.
Chapter 18
“Do I have to have a reason? He’s my father,” I retort, anger building. Ever since she came into our lives, Jessica has been nothing but angry at me… especially lately.
A disgruntled laugh falls from her lips as tears begin to form in her eyes. Here we go again. Anytime she wants something or doesn’t get her way, she starts up the waterworks.
A broken sob wracks Jessica’s body, and my father takes a step back. She wails. “You’ve never done anything for him! Never been there when he needed money or when he wanted any gifts!”
She spots
the accusation like I’ve committed murder. Then she keeps going. “And he only treats you well. I’ve done so much for him, and he favors you! You! The witch who doesn’t give him anything!”
“Why, Jessica? Why did you pretend to be so nice on the surface but hide your hate for me? Why weren’t you just truthful? Maybe we could’ve–fixed the problem,” I tell her. I wish she’d tell the truth.
“Because he was mine and you stole him!” She screams.
“Dad?”
“No, Jack. He was mine first, and you came in and stole him from me,” she growls, shoving me into the wall. The push was nowhere near as shocking as her words.
They’d been dating?
“Why didn’t you tell me? I had no idea you two were together!” I protest, thinking back to when Jack asked me out. “Jack said he was single, and then he proposed. If you were a couple, why didn’t you say anything?”
It’s not my fault, I tell myself
My disgust for Jack grows with every new thing I learn about him. Seems he’s a cheater all around.
“I had nothing. Even if I told you, it wouldn’t have mattered,” Jessica says then sniffles, wiping her tears as her eyes narrow, resentment and venom filling them again. “When your mother died, I was actually overjoyed, but I had to pretend to be sad and console you.” She rolls her eyes, and my heart squeezes in pain.
“All I wanted was for our father to publicly acknowledge me as his daughter, but he kept refusing, afraid of hurting you,” she shouts, shoving me again. “But I’m his daughter too! I was only seventeen!”
“And how is any of that my fault?” I sneer. I understand her pain, but there’s no reason she should’ve treated me this way. The unsteady feeling I always get from being stuck between my family makes me feel powerless
Looking at my father, I hope to get some kind of response from him, but he just looks away, unable to meet my gaze.
“When you were a child, you always wanted a sister,” my father says, catching both of our attention. “Then when Jessica came into the picture. I thought you would be happy. You both acted like you were happy with each other. I remember when you both went on a shopping spree for your senior year prom.”
He sighs and a faraway look fills his eyes. Seems like he remembers things in a much nicer light than we do.
“You both looked so pretty on your prom night in gorgeous gowns. My daughters,” he murmurs, and finally, the tears filling. my eyes spill over.
Everyone stays silent, watching him remember the time with a fondness I wish I felt.
A sharp, loud ring fills the air, making me jump
Jessica groans and pulls her phone out of her purse, lifting it to her ear. She listens for a moment, her eyes growing wider and wider, until she screeches, “What Bankruptcy“”
3/4
12:11 Sun, 13 Apt 1.
