by E. L. Todd
“Yeah, it’s nice to have a friend that won’t say mean things the second you turn your back, not that you would know what that’s like.”
“Well, you can’t be talking about John since all he did was complain about you when he was cheating on you with me,” Isabella snapped.
“Ooh,” Casey said. “Good one.”
That was cold, ice-cold. I kept a stoic face and pretended like she didn’t slap me in the face with a tennis racket. “And he’ll complain about you to the next mistress he finds when he grows tired of you.”
“Well, I’m not a shitty lay,” Isabella argued. “So he won’t get tired of me.”
Knowing John paraded our personal life to anyone who would listen hurt most of all. And the fact he complained about it, said whatever he said about moments I found personal and beautiful was enough to make me cry. But I kept it together, refusing to give this witch that satisfaction. “Have fun choosing your flowers for the big day. But make notes for the ones you’ll have for your divorce.” I casually walked away, keeping my head held high.
“Don’t let the door hit your fat ass on the way out.”
I stopped before I walked out. “If you fit through it, then I should be fine.” I gave her a smile as rage contorted her face. She opened her mouth to speak but I walked out before giving her the chance to make herself look even more ugly than she already was.
***
As the assistant director of Refined Oil and Gas, I was tied up a lot. I didn’t take lunch very often because I simply didn’t have the time, and breaks were unheard of. But at least the time went by fast.
I handled all the finances, averted legal processing, and controlled the distribution of oil and energy. I was also in charge of research, and currently, we were working on new methods of clean energy. While oil was extremely profitable, the company wouldn’t survive years down the road when climate changes were unavoidable or we simply ran out of resources. My boss didn’t always agree with me, but I knew it was the best move.
His resistance to research was financial. It cost a lot of money to recruit college students to the research program. We found scientists all over the world, especially India and paid them big bucks to make us big bucks.
My boss was narrow-minded, and investing in something that wouldn’t be cashed in until his lifetime had come and gone was all he cared about. It didn’t matter if he had kids or something else to work toward. He was a very selfish man.
And he was my father.
My intercom went off. “Mr. Lane wants to see you in his office.”
“Thank you, Cindy.” I left my office then walked to his side of the building. His office was as big as an average house. It was covered in floor-to-ceiling windows, and he had a putting golf course inside. Whenever he was on speakerphone, he putted the golf ball around.
After I knocked, he ushered me inside. He was sitting at his desk, his jacket hanging over the back of his chair. Suspenders covered his shoulders to keep his pants up. He’d always been overweight since I could remember. But he never bothered to take care of himself or join a gym, despite my encouragement.
“How’s your day going, Dad?”
He ignored the words entirely. “Why am I just hearing about a two million dollar investment into the research program?”
We already discussed this—countless times. But I kept my cool. “We can’t expect our scientists to discover something without the right equipment. They petitioned to me several times that their lab tools and instruments were worn down and old. They need the best to discover the best.”
He rubbed his temple then his eye as he usually did when he was extremely annoyed or about to scream. “Aspen.” His voice reverberated off the walls and echoed long after he spoke. “I gave you this money for clean energy, but yet, they haven’t discovered anything. They’re just taking their checks and fooling around.”
“I check on them daily, sir. I assure you, they’re working hard. Most of them work overtime without pay.”
He waved away my words. “This is a waste of resources, Aspen.”
“No, it’s not,” I said calmly.
“Oil is where the money is.”
“And oil won’t always be around.” I realized I was getting irritable. “Sir,” I added.
“That’s not my problem.”
I had this conversation too many times to count. “With all due respect, it is your problem. This company won’t survive the future without adapting and evolving. We must change with the world. Climate change is the biggest problem we face.”
“Climate change is bogus.” He lit a cigar and inhaled it.
Sometimes I wanted to quit. But I knew the company would be mine soon and I wouldn’t have to argue with him anymore. I could add more funding to research and make this company stronger. But while he was still around, all he cared about was money. “Two million dollars is negligible to your net worth.”
“But I’ve already put millions of dollars into this program with no return on my investment.”
“Because these things take time,” I said calmly.
He groaned and rubbed his temple again. He was in a particularly bad mood.
“Dad, they’ll discover something soon, and people will pay any price to have it. Just remember that.” Money was the only language he understood.
“You better hope so.” He opened his drawer then browsed through some papers. Then he tossed a newspaper on his desk. “Have you read it?”
I looked at it but didn’t pick it up.
“I asked you a question, Aspen.” He stared at me with cold and unforgiving eyes. I didn’t see any part of myself inside him. It was like I was adopted, which was what I hoped for sometimes.
He pushed it closer to me. “John and Isabella’s wedding announcement. You should give it a read.”
I kept a stoic face and pretended his words didn’t cut me to the bone.
“Do you realize how embarrassing this is for me?”
My eyes narrowed on his face but I didn’t explode. I didn’t yell all the things I wanted to yell. I kept my cool and acted like the insults meant nothing to me. They were hollow bullets that went right through me.
“You become engaged to John and then he leaves you for someone else? Now he’s marrying her?”
I didn’t have anything to say. It wasn’t my fault. I had no idea John was cheating on me. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have stuck around. I wouldn’t have accepted his marriage proposal.
“To your own cousin?” he demanded. “Now the whole world knows about it and thinks you’re a fool—that I’m a fool.” He grabbed the newspaper and ripped it into pieces, his anger directing his actions. “It’s humiliating.”
My breathing increased but I didn’t show a single emotion.
“Please don’t tell me you’re going to cry.” He gave me a disgusted look. “I told you to never cry in my presence.”
“I’m not crying.” My voice was low so I cleared my throat and spoke up. “I’m not crying.”
“Good. Because it’s annoying. Maybe that’s why John left.”
I averted my gaze and remained strong.
He was quiet for a long time, rubbing his temple like he was fighting off a headache. “I’ve been thinking…a lot about this fiasco.”
I held my breath.
“I really don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be the face of this company. You brought me shame once. You’ll do it again.”
Knives stabbed each lung and I couldn’t breathe. It was a death threat, a promise to ruin everything I worked for. I believed in this company and knew it could change the world. I was the person needed to commandeer this ship into prosperity. How could he take that away? “Sir, I’m more than qualified—”
“It’s not about your qualifications. You do a great job—behind the scenes. I need someone that represents strength. You haven’t even had a boyfriend in over a year. You just work all the time. When the American people look at you, they don’t see a strong lea
der. They see a weak one who can’t even keep the loyalty of a man. How will you keep the loyalty of a million people?”
His words were cutting me right where it hurt. But I kept my voice steady. “My personal life has nothing to do with my work ethic. And what happened between John and I wasn’t my fault. He was the lying sleazebag, not me.”
“Image is everything, Aspen. When will you realize that?” His voice was cold. “Unless you regain my trust and your image, I can’t give you the company when I retire. You can keep your position indefinitely but I won’t trust the company in your hands. I’m sorry. I wish things were different.”
I didn’t believe that for one second. I wanted to argue and scream. I wanted to knock his desk over then push it out the window. My hands balled into fists and I restrained myself from exploding with profanities and threats. I took a deep breath and stilled those emotions, understanding that arguing would get me nowhere.
“You’re dismissed, Aspen.” He took another puff of his cigar then turned back to his computer.
I stayed there for a moment, thinking of all the things I wanted to say to my father, my worst critic. But every feeling and emotion was irrelevant. I could scream at the top of my lungs but he would never hear me. I’d suspected it for a long time but never accepted it as truth—until now.
My father didn’t care about me—at all.
***
“I’m so sorry I’m late.” I arrived at the restaurant late because I cried when I got home then fell asleep. I didn’t even have time to shower so I just threw on whatever I could find. I washed my face but I had a feeling nothing could dissolve my tearstains.
“It’s totally fine.” Harper held up her drink. “Some old guy bought me a Mai Tai. So, I was entertained.”
I forced a chuckle. “Who says you can’t have a good time alone.”
“Who said anything about alone?” She shook her glass at me. “This was my best friend until you showed up. And we had a great time.”
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything,” I teased.
“I can juggle both of you.” She put her drink down then gave me all her attention. “Thank you for the flowers. They were beautiful—like always.”
“I hope they jump-started your day.”
“They totally did,” she said. “They’re sitting on my kitchen table right now. I may not have a man, but I have a girl who loves me more than any man ever could.”
“I’ll drink to that.” I held up an invisible glass then clanked it against hers. “Speaking of love…” I grabbed the small bag beside me then handed it to her. “Happy Birthday.”
“You shouldn’t have,” she said. “You already got me flowers.”
“Shut up,” I said with a laugh. “Don’t act like you don’t want it.”
“You’re right,” she said mischievously. She pulled out the tissue paper then found a picture frame. “Awe, this is when we saw David Letterman.”
“It’s a good picture,” I said. “You look incredible.”
She eyed the picture and smiled. “My tan looks amazing.”
I laughed then tapped the bag. “There’s something else.”
She grabbed another picture frame but it was empty. She stared at it in confusion for a moment before she spotted the tickets inside. “You got tickets to see Kevin Hart?”
“Yep.”
She screamed loud enough for everyone in the restaurant to hear. “Oh my god! I love him.”
“I know you do.” We watched his specials on Netflix at least twenty times.
“He’s the most hilarious guy on the planet,” she said. “Like, ever.”
“And we’ll take a picture there and put it in the picture frame.”
“Awe.” Her eyes crinkled in affection. “That was so sweet.”
“I knew you would like it.”
She came around the table and hugged me. “No. I love it.”
I returned her warm embrace, feeling better than I had all day. It was nice to be in the arms of someone who loved me, someone who cared. I had a million problems on my plate but I kept them to myself since it was her birthday. I wasn’t going to bring her down with my baggage.
She returned to her side of the table. “This calls for fajitas!” She snapped her fingers like a Latin dancer.
“This is an Italian place,” I said, trying not to laugh.
“Actually, I had a few Mai Tais. I forgot to mention that…” She snapped her fingers again.
“Well, we can try ordering them anyway.” The thought was amusing. I could picture the waiter’s expression as we made a ridiculous demand. He would regret waiting on our table.
She picked up the menu and scanned the selections. “What’s the most fattening, greasy thing on here?”
I picked up my own. “The lasagna looks deadly on the waistband.”
“Then that’s what I’m getting.” She threw her menu down. “It’s my birthday so I get to be a pig today.”
“So classy,” I teased.
“Like you aren’t going to order lasagna too.” She gave me a pointed look then sipped her Mai Tai.
Actually, I was. “You know me too well.”
“I’m like your boyfriend. I just don’t put out.”
“Unfortunately,” I said with a chuckle.
“Pay for my dinner and I’ll consider it.” She winked at me.
“Flowers, show tickets, and dinner…man, you’re difficult to get into bed.”
“Now you know why I’m single.”
The waiter came to our table and took our order.
“Two of the greasiest slices of lasagna please.” Harper handed the menus to him.
His lips upturned in a smile. “I’ll make sure the cooks prepare it to your specification.”
“You can just pour grease on top if it’s not enough,” I said. “We’ll still love it.”
He chuckled. “You got it, ladies. Any special occasion?”
“It’s my best friend’s birthday,” I said. “And she looks more beautiful than ever before.”
Harper flipped her hair over one shoulder with an expression that clearly said, “Oh stop.”
“In that case, the next round is on me,” he said. “Happy Birthday.”
“Wow…thank you,” Harper said.
The waiter walked away, and Harper leaned forward to stare at his ass like it held the secrets to the universe. “He’s got a nice behind.”
I laughed. “Go for it.”
She shrugged. “I’m just going to go home and be depressed anyway. May as well have a man to distract me.”
“Wait, hold on.” I raised my hand. “I buy you all these pretty things and I don’t get anything? But he buys you a drink and you’re going to put out?”
“Hey.” She pointed at me. “When you get an ass like that, we’ll talk.”
A deep chuckle escaped my throat. “You’re right. I can’t compete with that.”
“Not that you aren’t immensely attractive,” she said. “If I were a guy, I’d do you.”
I flipped my hair over one shoulder just as she had done and gave her the same expression. “Oh stop.”
She slapped the table with her hand as she laughed. Then she took another drink. “So, how was your day? I feel like all we’re talking about is me.”
“It’s your birthday. We’re supposed to talk about you.”
“True,” she said. “But I’m boring. So how was your day?”
Absolutely and completely horrendous. “Fine.” I downed my water so I had something to do.
“Just fine?” she asked. “Normally when I ask you a question, you won’t shut up.”
The drawback to having a best friend was how well they knew you. Harper could read me better than I could read myself. This was dangerous because I didn’t want to ruin her birthday with my bullshit. I could wait until tomorrow to drop my problems on her shoulders. “Well, I got a new plant for my office. It really lightens up the place.” I kept a straight face and pretended to be nor
mal.
Her eyes narrowed in suspicion.
Goddammit. “For lunch, I ate a salad. I don’t know what I was thinking. I hate salads for a reason, and the leafy lettuce and low-fat dressing was disgusting. I should have gotten a burger instead. What was I thinking?”
Harper still wasn’t buying it. “Aspen, what happened?”
Why did she have to know me so damn well? “It’s fine, really. I just had a long day.”
She leaned closer over the table and examined my face like I was a painting on display. “Have you been crying?”
“No!”
“Aspen, you better tell me right now or I’m going to drag it out of you.”
“It can wait until tomorrow.”
She rolled her eyes. “Aspen, I don’t care about my birthday and you know that. The only reason I celebrate it is because you force me to. If I had it my way, I’d be drinking in my apartment alone until midnight.” She got that fiery look in her eyes like she wanted to rip me apart. “Now spill it, chicka.”
“Honestly, it can wait,” I said. “We’re having a good time.”
She gave me a pissed look, the one she gave before she threw a tantrum. “Don’t make me cause a scene. I’ll do it.”
I sighed and rolled my eyes at the same time. “Fine.”
She leaned forward and prepared to listen to my story.
I told her everything, from bumping into that witch Isabella to the argument I had with my father. I released the air from my lungs when I was finished.
“Ohmygod!” Harper slammed her fists on the table. “Talk about a day from hell.”
“Hell is an understatement.”
“You should have broken that pretty nose of hers.”
I was more of a lover than a fighter. “Not worth my time. I don’t think it would make me feel better either.”
“What does he see in her? She’s a total skank.”
She mentioned he said I was terrible in bed. I admit I wasn’t the adventurous type. John was my first so I didn’t have much experience. I was shocked he would hold that against me. It really hurt my feelings, even though it shouldn’t, so I kept it from Harper. I was embarrassed because I knew John was right. “Well, you like what you like, right?”