Chapter 10 Arabelle #3
Against my father’s wishes, I hired Dale as soon as my career took off.
I remember arguing with him for hours about it, and that told me that I was doing the right thing.
Of course, he wanted his attorneys in control of my legal affairs, which would have given him access to my money while I was underage.
If I’d done that, I would be broke today, no matter how hard I worked.
From the beginning, I made it clear I wanted to keep my career completely disconnected from anyone associated with him, and that remains true today.
My father isn’t a trustworthy person, which didn’t take me long to figure out.
And I have no idea about Florian’s character, but I can only speculate with a name like Beast and his affiliation with my father he must not be very admirable either.
I’d be stupid to sign this contract without letting Dale read over it.
I pull up my contacts and scroll until I come across Dale’s number. It rings a few times before his calm voice comes through the receiver.
“Hey, sweetheart. Is everything all right?”
This won’t go over well with him, but he’s the only person I can trust.
Dale just turned thirty-seven. With sandy blond hair and a towering height, he possesses a physique that would put most twenty-year-old men to shame. But beyond his appearance, he’s the sweetest person I know.
When my career took off at seventeen, my dance teacher highly recommended him to oversee my legal affairs.
At nineteen, he began extending dinner invitations to me that I politely declined every time.
He’s mentioned his feelings for me on many occasions, but I can never move beyond a friendship with him.
Not because of him, he’s a wonderful man, but he’s got more to offer and better things to do than waste his time on a workaholic like me.
“Hey, Dale. And to answer that question, I’m not sure.
” I chuckle, but it’s hard to keep the uneasiness out of my voice.
I have no idea what my father has gotten me into, but it makes me wary.
It may be something I can’t get out of. “Are you available like right now? I need you to look over a contract.”
“Whatever you need, Belle. Come on in. I’ll let Alice know to send you on up when you arrive.”
“Thank you, Dale. I appreciate it.”
“No problem. See you soon.”
“It’s all pretty straightforward, Belle.” Dale leans back in his chair and steeples his fingers. His face is tinted red in anger. “Marry Florian Larsson, and your father is covered. But why in the hell would you even think about signing this?”
“So, this is legal?”
“There isn’t a legal obligation to the marriage stated in the contract, Belle. It’s written as a long-term business partnership instead of marriage, which is a loophole Mr. Larsson is using. It’s not enforceable if it’s written any other way. So, yes. It’s legal.”
I can hear the anger in his voice, and I know why he’s mad. Hell, I am, too. But I know what needs to be done so my family isn’t left with nothing. I need to step in.
As usual.
He grabs the contract, stands, and moves to the front of his desk. He leans against it, folding his arms across his muscular chest and crossing his legs at the ankles.
“Because I have no choice, Dale.” I sigh. “I’ve already told you this.”
“But that’s not true, Belle. You have a choice. It’s past time you stopped bailing your father out. You’ve been doing it for years now.”
“I know, but what do you expect me to do? Let him lose everything?”
“That’s exactly what I expect you to do.
You’ll want for nothing until the day you die, Belle.
You’ve done wonderfully for yourself. You’ve invested wisely and saved your money like a responsible adult, unlike your family.
Your father’s debts are just that, his debts.
Not yours. It shouldn’t be left up to you to save him again. To save any of them.”
Even though I know Dale is right, I can’t turn my back on my family. While they treat me like trash, they’re the only family I have left. What does it say about me if I don’t save them from ruin? I’ll be just like them. Selfish. I refuse to be a selfish person, even to those who are that way to me.
“You know I can’t do that, Dale. No matter what he’s done, he’s still my father. I have to do this.”
Defeated, his shoulders sag. As he stands to his full height, the anguish in his eyes sends a pang through my chest. The thought of causing him pain fills me with guilt and sadness. He’s been a good friend, and I care a lot about him, but I don’t love him.
If I’d lived a different life, I believe I’d easily fall for Dale, but he has too much to offer someone who’s more worthy than me.
Someone who will give him everything he needs and deserves.
At this point in my life, that person isn’t me.
Maybe it’ll be in the future, but not now.
Right now, I can’t give him anything but lonely days and nights since mine are consumed by my career.
I stand, make my way toward him, and then gently place my hands on his face. “Whoever you fall in love with is going to be one lucky woman.”
“I’ve already found that woman,” he says with sadness in his eyes. “Unfortunately, she’s getting ready to marry another man.”
“Dale, no matter how much I would love to be that woman, and no matter how much you want me to be her, I’m not. But she’s out there. Trust me.”
I stand on my tiptoes and try to kiss his cheek, but he has other things in mind.
With his strong arms wrapped around my waist, he pulls me in, pressing our bodies together.
Another look of sadness passes over his handsome features.
I don’t want to be the cause of his pain, and I wish I could make it all go away, but there’s nothing I can do.
I have to marry Florian to save my family.
His kiss is slow and thoughtful. Although nice, I don’t feel any kind of excitement or spark.
No butterflies. No increased sense of longing for more or heartache that we can’t take our friendship to the next level.
Immediately, I know I’ve made the right decision.
Dale is not the man for me. As he lifts his lips away from mine, his gaze locked with mine, I can see the spark of realization replacing the lingering pain in his eyes. He felt nothing either.
“Don’t be a stranger.” He steps away from me and hands me the contract. “Call me if you need me. I’ll always be there for you.”
“I know you will.” I wrap my arms around his waist and lay my head against his broad, muscular chest. Although things will be different from now on, Dale will always have a special place in my heart. “Thanks, Dale. For everything.”
I don’t know why it seems so final, but after I put my name on this contract, I have a feeling that things in my life will never be the same. I pull back and give him a final wave before exiting his office.