CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
NATHAN
Anika’s still asleep when I slide out of bed, careful not to wake her. We’ve had a pretty busy week with the grand opening of the center. Everything has been going smoothly. The only thing that’s annoyed me has been the mandatory socializing every night.
Thankfully, we’ve got one day off today. Unfortunately I won’t be spending the day in Edenton. After the event today I’m flying to Raleigh to confront my father. A part of me is dreading the conversation. Anika’s right. I’ve never considered the reason he made the decisions that led to my mother’s death. But what I do know is that he’s been suffering, just as much as I have since she died.
Which means a part of him cared about her too.
I head into the shower, needing the blast of water on my face to wake me up fully. I’m grabbing the soap when I feel a presence behind me, right before warm hands wrap around my waist. I look down at my beautiful girlfriend, in awe of her and a little in disbelief that I can call her that now. That she’s mine.
“Hey, baby. I didn’t mean to wake you,” I murmur
“It’s fine. I wasn’t going to let you leave without saying goodbye anyway,” she says pressing a kiss to my back. “Are you sure you don’t want me to come?”
“I need to talk to him alone,” I reply, turning to look at her, my eyes trailing over her naked body. “But I appreciate the offer.”
My cock hardens when she licks her bottom lip.
“You’re welcome,” Anika smiles.
“You mind offering anything else?” I question.
“What do you have in mind?” she asks.
“You,” I reply before placing my arms under her armpits and lifting her up.
She gasps when I place her against the bathroom wall. Her eyes grow heated quickly and then she’s wrapping her legs around me.
“Fuck me, Nathan,” she says breathily.
Sliding into her feels like a homecoming. And I hope it never stops feeling like that.
***
Most of the company’s board of directors are in Edenton for the center’s opening. The CEO however refused to grace us with his presence. My jaw clenches as I stride through the hallways of the company, entering the elevator which takes me to the first floor.
His secretary tries to prevent me from entering his office but one glare has him shutting the hell up. I open my father’s door without knocking. He doesn’t even seem surprised to see me.
“Where are your manners, Nathan?” he questions.
“We need to talk,” I say in reply, walking into the office and shutting the door behind me.
I take the seat in front of him. We’re eye-level, face to face. Which is exactly what’s needed for the conversation we’re about to have.
“Talk?” he drawls, raising an eyebrow. “I don’t think you’ve actually talked to me since you were a child.”
I shrug, “Don’t blame me, blame the fact that you abandoned me.”
He immediately tenses, “I never abandoned you, Nathan. I had responsibilities to the company. I was working hard to provide for you.”
“And mom,” I add.
His eyes grow wide. I’ve never brought her up so casually before.
“What?”
“You were working hard to provide for me and mom, right?”
He swallows, visibly uncomfortable, “Yes.”
“Did you love her?”
“Nathan, where are these questions heading?”
“Just answer. Please,” I add.
He must read the sincerity on my face because he clears his throat once before leaning back in his chair.
“I don’t think there’s any right answer to that question, Nathan. Whether I love your mother or not is irrelevant. She’s gone and I know you blame me for her death. And you should. I blame myself.”
“Good. Because I need you to justify leaving us alone in that house. Why did you fire all the staff? She needed help and you took it away.”
His jaw clenches, “One of the staff sold a story about her to the press. About how sick she was. I was lucky to stop it before it was released to the public but it was a close call. I became paranoid after that. I thought by getting rid of them I could protect her.”
“You mean protect the family’s image,” I scoff.
Anika was right. Nothing he could say would justify his actions.
His face falls, “I made mistakes, Nathan. I’ve never denied that. I wronged you and I wronged your mother. I regret it every single day.”
He never remarried after she died. And I never saw him with any women either. Which is proof that he’s been trying to repent. But I don’t think it’ll ever be enough.
“If you’re looking for forgiveness, you’re not going to get it from me,” I tell him, uncaring if I sound harsh.
“I know, Nathan,” he says on a sigh. “So why are you here?”
“Come to the exhibition tomorrow.”
He flinches at that.
“You know what those paintings mean, father. It’s why you sold them all as soon as she died. You know it’s the physical manifestation of all the pain you caused her. Selling them was the cowards’ way out but now you need to face it. If you ever loved her you’ll come.”
I rise to my feet, my eyes meeting his, “That’s all I came to say. I’m never going to be able to forgive you but you have a granddaughter. And I’m dating someone new. Her name’s Anika and she’s amazing. I’m going to start a family with her. You could try to be a part of that family or you can stay here, remain alone. The choice is yours, old man.”
After one last look at him I leave the room, relieved that it’s over. Maybe my father and I will never be okay but at least I know I tried.
***
The next day when I unveil my mothers’ paintings to the world, he’s standing in the crowd. I make sure that the entire art world comes to know the woman behind the paintings. By the time the exhibition ends, they all know her name, her legacy and that’s all I really wanted.
The night starts to wind down and I step outside to look around, wondering if she’s somehow watching me right now. I hope she found peace.
“I forgive you, mom,” I say softly.
Anika finds me eventually. She intertwines our fingers as she stands beside me.
“Hey, you,” she murmurs.
“How are you feeling beautiful?”
“Pretty good. I got to meet some of my idols in there. And the exhibition was a success.”
“A part of me can’t believe I managed to pull it off.”
“Yeah but you did. I’m proud of you, Mr. Billionaire.”
I smile before looking down at her.
“So I’ve been thinking. You know how I have to return to Raleigh really soon?”
She frowns, “Don’t remind me.”
“We need to talk about this, baby. Obviously you’re not ready to move in with me or to move somewhere new and I completely understand. It’s still too early for that. But I was thinking. What if I made you the manager of this place? It’s not a permanent position. It’s just until you find your feet again. Find yourself. I know you, sweetheart, and I know for a fact that you have all this passion and talent just brimming under the surface waiting to be let out. I don’t want to stand in the way of that. I’m going to give you some space, at least until you feel confident again. Until you feel like you again.”
“It might take a while,” she confesses, her eyes bright and filled with tears, “I think I want to travel the world. I want to go back to my roots. I’ve always wanted to travel to India and maybe I’ll even tour the rest of Asia while I’m at it. I want to remind myself that the world is big enough for all my dreams. And maybe I’ll find some inspiration in the process.”
My throat tightens. I hate the thought of her being so far away. But there’s nowhere I wouldn’t go to be with her so the distance doesn’t matter as long as I can find her.
“Take all the time in the world, sweetheart. I’ll be here waiting for you when you get back. Ready to hold you, to hug you, to kiss you, to love you.”
She silent for a long time.
“I love you, Nathan,” she whispers softly.
My heart soars.
“I love you too, Anika. I would not wish any companion in the world but you,” I quote.
“That’s from Shakespeare isn’t it? You’re such a nerd, Nathan,” she laughs.
When I kiss her, I know for a fact that we’re both irrevocably changed. I almost can’t believe I’m the same man who didn’t believe in love until a few weeks ago.
And now I feel it acutely. It’s damn near painful how much.
Another thing I’ve learned in the time I’ve known Anika is that sometimes the pain is worth it. When it makes way for so much beauty, you’re not sure you deserve it.
But I’m done running—from love, from forgiveness, from my past.
For the first time in my life, I’m not chasing greatness. I’m building something real. A life. A love. A legacy.
And this time, I’m not doing it alone.
THE END.