CHAPTER THREE
NATHAN
“Daddy,” a soft wonder like voice calls my attention, tugging at the sleeves of my shirt. She tends to do that to draw my attention. I look away from the tablet in my hand down to the little girl standing at my side. Although she likes to tell me she’s not so little anymore.
“Yes, princess?” I ask in a low tone.
“I want a big window in my room. Big enough to see birds flying,” she replies, demonstrating said action of flying with her hands.
Kara an exuberant child, filled with energy and prone to having fantasy like ideas. I’d give my daughter the world, but she sometimes asks for things that don’t exist in it. This isn’t one of those times though, thank God.
“I’m sure I can make that happen,” I tell her.
She beams, her entire face growing brighter.
“Thank you, daddy. And also, one more thing,” she says bashfully.
“I’m listening,” I prompt. “I told you I’d do anything you wanted to make your stay here comfortable.”
“True,” she agrees with a grin. “Which means you can also put stars in my room.”
“Stars?” I question on a frown.
“Yes, daddy. I want to be able to see the stars in my bedroom.”
And here we go with the unrealistic expectations. I’m opening my mouth to tell her that’s not going to work when someone interrupts.
“Excuse me sir.”
I turn around to face a young woman in her early twenties. She’s a consultant sent from the interior decorating firm I hired. We’re currently standing in a large mansion that hasn’t been used for habitation in eighteen years. A couple weeks ago, the place was filled with dust and the outside was overgrown with weeds. It took a lot of work to transform it into a place that looks somewhat habitable. Now all that’s left is the inside.
Right now, almost everything is covered with tarps. Furniture, portraits, any surface really. Which is probably why I can stomach standing in here at the moment. I want them all gone. Every single sign of my former life. I want to change every aspect of it. And the interior decorators here to help with that.
The young woman’s from an interior decorating firm owned by the wife of an acquaintance.
“Yes?” I ask, prompting her to speak.
She nods, looking a little nervous. A common occurrence around me.
“Yes sir. I was just thinking, if your daughter wants stars in her room. We could do so by placing artificial realistic looking ones. There are stickers that are commonly used to emulate the effect of stars in a room,” she explains.
“Yes, daddy. Do that,” Kara says, tugging on my sleeve.
“Alright. That would be good…” I pause. “Sorry, what was your name again?”
I’m sure she introduced herself when we arrived but I neglected to retain the information.
“Paige Lornan, sir.”
“Right, my apologies, Miss Lornan. And thanks for the help. You’re doing a good job,” I tell her.
“Thank you, Miss Paige,” Kara says brightly from beside me.
Lornan smiles at her, unable to resist her effortless charm, which she absolutely does not get from me.
“You’re welcome. I promise to put extra effort into making your room as glamorous as possible,” she states.
“I like glamorous,” Kara tells her. “When are you going to be done?”
“We’re hoping to be done with all renovations in a week in order to meet up with the deadline set,” she replies my daughter, although the answer is meant for me, as is proven when her gaze shifts to meet mine.
“Alright. Keep up the good work,” I tell her. “Let’s go, princess.”
Kara slips her hand into mine, letting me lead her out of the house. The city’s a two hour drive and it’s getting pretty late. We’re not slated to move in until about a week from now but Kara wanted to see the town and the house she’s going to be spending her summer at. And I also wanted to check out how constructions going at the community center so I decided to bring her.
We already dropped in at the community center earlier so it’s time to head back.
“Can we get some ice cream on the way?” Kara asks.
“You had ice cream already today, princess,” I reply. “What do I always say?”
“Over indulgence is bad,” she says on a sigh.
“That’s right.”
I smile at the pout on her face. She’s eight years old right now and a perfect angel that does as she’s told. I know she’s not going to be like that forever though. My daughter’s going to be a handful when she grows older. I’m already dreading the teenage phase.
The car’s already pulled up by the time we step outside. The driver opens the backdoor for Kara and I to get in. I don’t usually drive when I’m with Kara. Or anyone really. It would have to be really urgent if I got behind the wheel with someone else in a vehicle with me.
I try my best to avoid such situations.
The trip goes by smoothly. Kara sleeps for most of it and soon enough we’re back in the city. I drop my daughter off at home first before heading back to the company. It’s 7pm but there’s something I have a lot on my plate and a lot of things to clear up before the big move. I also have an urgent meeting I need to see to.
He’s already in my office when I arrive. I arch an eyebrow at the sight of him in my chair.
“Did I come into the wrong office?” I question, looking around meaningfully.
Nope, that’s my laptop on the desk, pretty sure the framed picture on the desk is of Kara. Which means I’m in the right place.
My eyes narrow, “You’re in my chair.”
“Sit down, Nathan. What are you? Five?” my father asks unimpressed.
There’s a frown on his face. But when is there ever not? I stand in place, staring straight at him and making sure to convey my absolute disinterest in doing as he’s said. Eventually he rolls his eyes before standing from the chair. He walks around the desk, power and confidence in each step as he moves in his custom made three piece suit, shoes polished, not a single lock of brown hair out of place.
His overall appearance could be described as a little too much for a normal day at work, but the CEO of Wolfe Wealth Group must simply look his best at all times. It’s all a show, a carefully crafted persona.
“What can I do to help you today?” I ask, standing in place.
Despite requesting he leave the chair, I’m not going to take it. Neither of us needs to sit down for this conversation. The air between us is thick with tension as always. Unsaid words flowing in the silence. It’s been like this for as long as I can remember.
My father and I don’t have the best relationship. Or any relationship at all as far as I’m concerned. Before I started working at the company, silence was all we had. And then we had the company but we only really clashed whenever we had to relate to one another with regards to it. We went from nothing to a sort of competition.
I’m pretty sure he hates everything I stand for.
“You already know why I’m here, Nathan,” he says and I then I hear it.
The slight tremor in his voice that betrays his emotions. He’s angry. And it doesn’t take a genius to figure out why. His brown eyes are dull, emotionless, but I know better.
“I was planning on telling you,” I start.
Can’t very well take a vacation without clearance from my boss.
“So it’s true?” he asks. “You’re moving back there?”
He says the word ‘there’ like it’s someplace contagious. Would be a little amusing if anything about this whole thing was even remotely funny.
“ There is called Edenton, father. You know, the place you were born and raised. And your father before you. We used to live there when I was a kid….”
“Enough, I’m very aware of those facts,” he grits out.
I raise my hands up in surrender, “Just saying. Thought you needed a refresher.”
“What the hell is wrong with you?”
“What do you mean?” I question dryly.
“You can’t go back there,” he states. “I forbid it.”
Now that’s funny. I chuckle, the sound dry and brittle even to my own ears.
“You can’t forbid me from doing anything. I’ve already started making preparations. I leave in a week. I already put arrangements in place so the company should be able to run smoothly without me until I return.”
“To what end? What could you possibly hope to achieve in that town?” he questions.
“Whatever it is doesn’t concern you, father.”
“I’m sure that’s not true. And you know I’ll find out, Nathan.”
“I don’t care what you find out. You can’t stop me.”
A muscle ticks in his jaw and I watch as his fists clench before unclenching. He’s always so put together until the subject of Edenton comes up. I would know. I’m the same.
I wish I didn’t have to see the similarities between my father and I. But it’s quite literally in my face all the time. How much we look alike. How alike we act. I tried for so long to focus on the things that made me different from him. In the end I chose to give up. Give into it.
“What are you doing, Nathan?” he asks, genuine emotion in his tone.
He looks me straight in the eye and I get more feeling in that look than I’ve gotten in forever. I scoff, feeling disgusted rather than glad.
“Just look the other way, old man. You don’t have to be bothered if you just close your eyes. You’re good at that, aren’t you?”
His eyes briefly close, when he opens them again, they’re dead, cold.
“I’ll put an end to it. Whatever it is you’re planning on,” he tells me.
“We’ll see,” I retort.
Having nothing else to say, he gives me one last look before exiting the room. Once he’s gone, I head to my chair, settling into it and releasing a deep sigh. I reach for the buttons of my shirt, undoing the first two.
There’s a knock on the door a couple minutes later.
“Come in,” I say to whoever on the other side to come in.
“Good evening, sir. How was your trip?” Josh questions, walking into the office with his face buried in the papers in his hand.
He walks forward without looking up and I stay quiet until he reaches the desk. Since he’s not watching where he’s going, he ends up bumping into one of the chairs. He yelps, bending to clutch his shin and dropping the papers in the process.
My only reaction to that is yet another deep sigh.
“Another accident, Joshua,” I scowl, “How many strikes is that?”
“I am so sorry, sir,” he says apologetically, bending to pick the papers on the floor.
I switch on my laptop while he does that, pulling up a diagram of the stock markets and any changes in the past couple of hours. We’re constantly monitoring the market at the company, ensuring that it’s beneficial and efficient in boosting the financials of our clients while targeting new openings and new investment opportunities.
Joshua finally finishes gathering the papers, rising, his blonde hair bouncing around with the movement. He runs a hand through it making even more of a mess.
“I’m sorry again, sir.”
“Constant apologies with no signs of change. This is getting old,” I murmur.
Joshua Fields is my secretary/assistant. He’s pretty young, only 25 years old. He’s been working for me for a couple of months. And it’s been the opposite of smooth sailing. And yet I still haven’t fired him. I’m sure he’s wondering why as well. He’s clumsy and knows nothing about what we do here.
But he’s efficient in other areas. He great at managing my schedule and ensuring I have what I need at all times. Simply put, he does whatever I ask without complaints and he’s somehow genuine. I don’t know how to explain it. But I don’t mind having him around, despite the clumsiness that grates on my nerves at times.
“I’ll change,” he says earnestly, blue eyes pleading.
“No, you won’t,” I say bluntly. “What do you want?”
“Oh yeah. I brought you some reports submitted to me earlier,” he says, dropping the papers in front of me. “You also have a couple of e-mails that you should probably go through tonight.”
“Looks like we’ll be here awhile,” I murmur.
“We?” Josh asks.
I look up, my eyes meeting his, “Yes?”
He clears his throat, pulling nervously at the tie under his dark blue vest.
“Nothing sir. I love working late,” he mutters. “Would you like me to order some food?”
“I’m not hungry,” I state, reaching for the papers before starting to flip through them.
“Oh, okay.”
It’s impossible to miss the sadness in his tone. I roll my eyes.
“You can order some food for yourself if you’d like to eat, Joshua.”
“No, I’m good.”
I hide a small smirk, “Alright, order for us both then.”
“Yes sir,” he quickly agrees.
When I look up at him, he’s smiling.
“I hope you’ve got everything in order for our time in Edenton?” I question.
That wipes the smile off his face fast. He’s not very keen on going with me to the town. But he’s my assistant. He goes wherever I go.
“Yes, sir,” he mutters.
“You don’t have to look so happy about it,” I state. “That’ll be all for now, Joshua. I’ll call you if I need you.”
He nods, before turning around and exiting the office. Once he’s gone, I finally get the chance to take in the day in silence. I’ve been trying hard not to think about it all. What I did.
I went back to Edenton. I walked into the home I grew up in.
I tried to put on a brave face in front of my father. But the truth is, I’m fucking terrified. There’s a slight possibility that no matter how hard I try to fight it, the shadows will eat me alive regardless.
I’m not going down without a fight though. Once I put my mind to something, I do it. This is just another battle I need to conquer. It was always going to happen eventually.
Unlike my father, I’m not a coward.