Chapter 33
Chapter Thirty-Three
PRESLEY
Iwish Kade could be with me here today. My nerves are at an all-time high as I sit here and fidget in the lobby of the attorney’s office. Everything is settled and we’ll get the final details of my dad’s estate ironed out.
I’m in my only suit today. The pressed blazer and skirt feel stuffy. I’d rather be in jeans and tennis shoes.
My mom and Paul are sitting across from me. It’s an ocean between us. I never thought that it would come to this. My mom sitting with my ex and me all on my own. I got a nod in acknowledgment that I was here and that was it. She hasn’t said another word to me.
It’s like I don’t even know the person who gave birth to me.
It makes me wonder if I was ever happy in my childhood. I never fell in line with what my parents wanted. They wanted me to be a debutante. Be the perfect model child when I’d rather be running around outside playing with my friends.
It wasn’t until I met Kade that I got the first glimpse of what true happiness could be. He showed me the kind of life that the two of us could have together.
He let me be myself and gave me what I always sought after as a child.
“We’re ready for you, Mrs. King,” the secretary says.
Paul and my mother go first and I trail behind them. No need to make small talk for any longer than necessary. Not that they’ve made any sort of attempt to talk to me up until this point, but I might as well have been a light fixture on the wall for all the attention they gave me.
I blow out a breath as I take my seat at the table. Papers are sitting in front of me as Dad’s attorney greets my mom and Paul.
I get a single head nod.
It’s fine. I’m the odd man out here.
My mind keeps going back to our day at the ranch yesterday.
Poppy was so happy riding in the mountains, having a picnic lunch together.
The fall leaves were blowing around us as we talked about today.
Sitting with him, it felt like I was a million miles away because I’m still dealing with my dad’s estate.
It hits me. What exactly am I fighting for here?
A company that I’m going to run that I want nothing to do with all to keep Paul from getting it and to try and have some sort of future for my daughter and me? I know money isn’t everything, but I thought I was fighting for what was best for us.
What am I even trying to do at this point? Piss off Paul because he was a shit husband?
“Thank you all for coming today. Ms. King made it quite clear that she wasn’t going to come back until all matters were settled—”
“So damn difficult,” Paul mutters under his breath.
Dick.
“And I’m happy to report that we have everything settled,” Mr. Tartt says.
“Finally,” I say. “What have we discovered?”
“Presley,” Mom snaps. “Show the man some respect. You are acting like a petulant child. I’d expect this of Poppy.”
I clasp my hands on the table and straighten my spine. If this is how today is going to go, I don’t want to be here a second longer.
“Mr. Tartt, why don’t we make this easy for everyone,” I start. “What is the value of King Properties?”
“Erm…” He shifts through the stack of papers in front of him, pulling out the right one. “After taking into account the last loan and the investments, net worth as of this year is fifteen million dollars.”
Fifteen million.
That’s what I get from my father.
“The rest of the estate—the house, the cars, all investments—are left to his wife,” Mr. Tartt says.
“Paul, what would you pay for my dad’s company?”
“As a married couple, all property would go to the couple.”
I ignore the lawyer. “Paul?”
“How much do you want for it?” he asks. There’s a hopeful gleam in his eyes.
“One million,” I say. “But I want something else more.”
“What is it?”
Leaning forward, I drop my elbows to the table. I have him right where I need him. “I want you to sign the damn divorce papers. And when I start the process of taking you off Poppy’s birth certificate to list Kade as her father—”
“What?” Mom interrupts.
“I don’t want a single issue out of you. I want you to sign the papers so you will be out of our life. You are not my husband and you are not Poppy’s father,” I finish, ignoring her.
“Presley, are you saying Paul isn’t Poppy’s father?”
“Yes.” I turn my attention to her. “She’s Kade’s. I was in love with him, and Dad made damn sure that I never got to be with him. When I found out I was pregnant, Dad didn’t know, but he’d already decided Kade wasn’t worthy of me and didn’t want me to throw my life away on him.”
She shakes her head. “Your father would be so disappointed in you.”
“He didn’t know me. He didn’t know what I wanted in life.”
“He didn’t want this for you. To throw away your life on a man who can’t provide for you.”
“I don’t need anyone to provide for me. I’ve been doing it for Poppy and myself these last few months. I’ll keep doing whatever I need to do for my daughter. Something you never did for me.”
She scoffs, shaking her head.
“This is what you want, Presley?” Paul asks.
“Yes. I don’t want King Properties. I want to live a life with the man I love and my daughter without having to worry about pleasing others that don’t care about me.”
“One million dollars. That’s all you want?”
“And signing the papers, Paul,” I confirm. I’m putting myself and my daughter first. I don’t want these people in our lives anymore. Them or their money.
“Done,” he says. “You’ll have your money and I’ll have the company.”
“No. I want you to put it in a trust fund for Poppy. She can access it when she’s eighteen, and I’ll manage it for her. That way she never has to worry about a thing in life.”
“Presley Ann King. Why are you throwing away your chance at a future?” Mom asks.
Disdain drips from her voice. I don’t even recognize her at this point, but I’m done. If she doesn’t want to be in our lives, then I’m done trying to be the perfect daughter that she always wanted.
I want to be someone that my daughter is proud of.
“Because all my choices were taken away from me. You and Dad made all my choices and for once, I’m doing what I want.”
I loved Kade and was ready to marry him, but they didn’t deem him respectable. Paul was forced on me, and I did what I had to.
But I’m done. I am not going to be that person.
“I am not going to let you control me any longer. I want to be with Kade, Mom,” I address her. “If you don’t support me, that’s fine, but if you side with Paul, you’re not going to see me or Poppy ever again.”
“This is not the daughter I raised,” Mom snaps.
The lawyer’s eyes are bouncing back and forth. No doubt he is eating up the drama.
“No, but this is the person I am. So take it or leave it.”
She leans back in her chair, not saying another word.
“Mr. Tartt. Please draft the paperwork to make all of this final and send it to me, and I will sign it as soon as I receive it.”
“I’ll make sure it gets done quickly,” Paul says.
At least he’s good for something.
Getting the company he wants for a fraction of what it’s worth? It’s not worth the headache of going back and forth. I’ve been taking care of us, and as long as Poppy is set, I’ll be happy.
“Thank you.”
I grab my purse from the chair next to me and leave the office without a look back.
Tension gathers behind my eyes. I’ve lost my family. They never supported me, but it hurts. All in the hopes that Kade will stay here in Pinecrest.
It’s something we haven’t talked about. It’s always been there—the elephant in the room. He hasn’t made a single mention of going back to Seattle. He has a life there, but now he has a daughter here.
And hopefully me.
He told me he’d be out on the ranch all afternoon.
I don’t think I’ll be settled until I talk to him. Throwing my purse into the front seat of my truck, I rip off my blazer and toss it into the front seat before pulling the pins out of my hair. I already feel more like myself.
I don't know what’s going to happen, but at least if I see Kade, I’ll feel better. Today is a day of asking for what I want. No, demanding it.
I want Kade, Poppy, and me to be a family.
And I will fight like hell to keep what we have.