8. Chapter Eight
Chapter Eight
Will
My phone buzzes again when I get back to my room at Gatsby’s Inn.
Georgiana: Will?
I sit down on the small couch in my room, sighing as I text her back.
Me: Hey Gia. I’m sorry I left. I had to.
Georgiana: I know. How are you?
Me: Better, actually…
Georgiana: Have you thought about moving into Aunt Katherine’s home? It’s fully furnished and perfect for you… all you have to do is talk to Mom and Dad.
Me: All I have to do is beg Dad to write me back into his will and ask for my job back at the company. I can’t do that.
Georgiana: You won’t have to. Mom told me that Aunt Kat left the house to you in her will… it’s paid for and everything.
Me: Dad won’t let me have it that easy. You know he will do anything to keep me from being happy if it’s not what he wants for me.
Georgiana: Come home and tell him to let you live your life.
Me: I am living my life without him in it.
Georgiana: What about me? What about Mom?
Me: Mom chooses Dad every time. You and I are still good. Always. Just don’t try to force me to join the family business anymore.
Georgiana: I don’t care about the family business. I care about you.
Me: I’ll think about it, Gia. I’m not pushing you away. I promise. I’m just trying to figure things out.
Georgiana: I’m here if you need me, Will. Praying for you. Love you.
Me: Thanks. I need all the prayers I can get. Love you too.
***
Lizzie texts me while I’m watching TV, trying to unwind after the long day. At first, I think it’s a work thing, but then I see… she’s texting as a friend.
Lizzie: Hey, sorry about earlier, Darcy.
Me: About what, Boss Lady?
Lizzie: (rolling eyes emoji) For the fake relationship thing. My bad.
Me: I forgive you. LOL. But can you forgive me?
Lizzie: For what?
Me: For saying you’re not my type…
Lizzie: What are you saying?
Me: Don’t make me type it.
Lizzie: You have to now.
Me: You are a great catch, Lizzie… I didn’t mean to offend you.
Lizzie: You’re laying it on pretty thick, but I forgive you, Darcy.
Me: What do I have to do to get you to call me Will?
Lizzie: I like your last name, though.
Me: You like it enough to make it yours?
Lizzie: …
Me: Joking! Too soon… anyway, just wanted you to know that I think you really are amazing and you deserve to be happy…that Wickham guy gives me bad vibes, but if you think he’s good for you, okay. Just be careful…
Lizzie: You care about me, huh?
Me: I wouldn’t be a member of the crew if I didn’t care about you.
Lizzie: Well, for the record, I’m glad you’re in the crew. And I think you’re a great catch too. Too bad there aren’t many options for you in Selah though.
Me: Don’t you have like four sisters? I’m sure you can hook me up with one.
Lizzie: ABSOLUTELY NOT!
Me: I was joking. I’d never cross that line. You’re the only Bennet girl I’d date. If was interested…
Lizzie: Which we have already established that you are not. Clearly.
Me: But I’m just saying…
Another text comes through, and it’s not from Lizzie; it’s from Mom.
Mom: Honey, your father hasn’t cut you out of his will.
He told you he did, but he lied. Your credit cards, your bank accounts.
He’s threatening to cut it all off and to take your aunt’s house too if you don’t come back home soon.
I’m trying to hold him off and calm him down, but I need you to try.
Come back. Make things right; I can’t support you if he cuts you off.
Me: Come back? Make things right? He was the one who made things worse. It’s his fault I left. And you are still defending him?
Mom: No, I just wanted to warn you because I love you.
You have a decision to make. He wants to see you do the mature thing.
You up and left everything behind. What do you have to keep you there?
Your home is here. It’s all laid out for you: a job, a place to live, a nice girl to marry…
we just want the best for you and the company. Come back home.
I sit back on the couch, thinking about what to do. But I don’t know what to do. So, I close my eyes…
I can’t deal with this right now. I can’t just go back home, but I won’t be able to afford to live here on my own on what I make working at the cafe.
Lizzie pays well, but I need to afford a place to live since I can’t stay at the inn forever. I may not have another option. I need money to survive here.
How can they cut me off? How can they take my inheritance away because I didn’t want to work in real estate anymore? I can’t believe I’ve been disowned because I had a different dream for my life.
I didn’t want an arranged marriage. I didn’t want to run the family company. I didn’t want to live that life, the one where my family controls every aspect of what I do and who I love.
That’s done and over with for me. But I have to make a move. I have to build something here to prove to them I made the right choice.
Another text comes through, this time from Lizzie.
Lizzie: Saying what?
I think about what to reply. Because one text could change my life. If I text her the right thing.
I need a new life here that shows my family that I am happy and can do this on my own. But before they cut me off, I need to do something with the money I still have access to from my trust fund.
I need to do something that could change my life for the better. I could find a place to live, or I could move into my aunt’s place and use the money for something else. Something like opening my own bakery. Or I could invest in something.
I tried to buy a building when I first came here to open a bakery, but that fell through thanks to the crooked former mayor, Tom, and his equally crooked accountant, Jordan. Maybe opening a bakery isn’t the best choice right now. But I could invest in the cafe. I already work there.
We could hire more help, update a few appliances, maybe get raises for all of us.
Lizzie works so hard. This could help her. This could help me.
I text Lizzie. This plan has to work, and it has to work fast.
Me: Maybe I can’t be your fake boyfriend, but do you want to be my business partner, Boss Lady?