by Hamel, B. B.
He shakes his head. “No,” he says.
“What’s wrong with you?” I stand up, getting angry. I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t help it. “I’m giving you everything you could possibly want. Most fathers would just hand the company down.”
“When they’re ready, maybe,” he says. “But I’m not ready.”
“You’re a drunk, Dad. You’re an alcoholic and you have a drug problem. You’re embarrassing. I hate going into meetings with you because all you do is drink and tell awful jokes. There’s a reason I take meetings behind your back and don’t tell you about them. You’re embarrassing.”
He stares at me for a long moment. I can’t believe I just said all that out loud. I’ve been thinking and feeling all that for a very long time, but actually saying it to my father… it breaks my heart. God, it really hurts. I feel like a horrible person.
“I’m sorry that I’m embarrassing,” he says. “I’m sorry that I won’t conform to this fucked-up, prudish way of living you think I should embrace. I’m not going to be the man you want me to be, daughter. And I’m not going to sell you this company.”
I shake my head, disgusted. “Then I’m through. I’m walking out and leaving Truth Hurts. I’ll take those investors and I’ll start my own company.”
“I own Divas,” he says. “Good luck building something without them.”
I shake my head. “Without me, Divas is going to implode in six months. Do you really think you have it in you to run this place without me? Be serious, Dad. If you let me go, you’re finished.”
“We’ll find out then.”
I stare at him for a long moment. I hate myself, I hate that it’s come to this, but this is the last straw. We both know it.
I said what I had to say. It hurt and it was awful, but I spoke the words and now it’s done. He can hate me if he wants, and he probably will. But I’m through. I can’t keep trying to bail him out. I can’t keep trying to cover for him. I can’t keep running this company for him.
It’s time to move on and start something of my own.
“Good luck, Dad,” I say. “I hope you change your mind.”
“I won’t.”
I nod, turn, and leave his office.
He doesn’t say a word as I walk out into the hall.
I linger there for a moment after his door closes. I look around at the space, at the familiar building, at the familiar faces. I smile and say hello to Mark from accounting, Herb from accounts, Tina from advertising. I’ve been with this company, with these people, all of my adult life.
And now it’s time to let it go. No more games, no more contests. I’m not taking over what my father built, because I’m going to build something better.
From the ground up.
I won’t have to change the culture at Truth Hurts. Whatever I start will be mine, all mine, entirely mine. And nothing will change that.
I smile as I go clean out my office.
20
Shaun
I track down my mother’s room at a fancy private boutique hotel right in downtown and ride the elevator up. I get off at the top floor and walk past two rooms until I reach the very last in the hall. I knock once, wait a minute, and knock again.
I hear her moving inside before the lock clicks open and the door swings in. She looks at me and seems surprised. She’s wearing a sweater and sweatpants, her hair back in a casual bun, and without a bit of makeup. I can’t remember the last time I saw her in sweats.
“Shauny,” she says and a little smile crosses her lips. “You found me.”
“Wasn’t hard,” I say. “How are you feeling?”
“Fine,” she says, sighing. “Sore, but okay.”
I tilt my head. She looks tired and drawn, but she smiles at me.
“Can I come in?”
“I suppose.” She steps aside. Her room is a large suite and everything is in its place. Even recovering alone from surgery, she’d never make a mess. “This isn’t necessary.”
“I’m here for business,” I say.
“Ah.” She laughs. “And I thought you came to check up on your mother.”
I raise an eyebrow. “You’ve made it clear over the years that you don’t want us to fuss over you.”
She smiles and shuts the door. “Fair enough. Sit down.”
I take a seat on a chair. She walks over to the small kitchen and busies herself making tea.
“Tell me how it went,” I say.
“Well, it was routine,” she answers. “I’m back to my old womanly form. More or less, anyway. I won’t be wearing a ballgown anytime soon.”
“Healing?” I ask.
“Months,” she says wistfully. “But I can travel tomorrow. Once I’m home, the staff will tend to me, and I’ll check in with Dr. Chorder.”
“Good,” I say, nodding. “That’s good. And are you going to tell Dad about the cancer?”
“No.” She brings the tea over and sets it down. “I’m not going to.”
I frown as she pours the water. I don’t remember her ever making her own tea. It’s strange, seeing my mother like this. She seems so frail, so old, and yet so much like herself, but even more so. I think maybe this is what it feels like to see your mother as an actual person, and not just as your mother.
“Let’s talk about why you’re here.”
“It’s about Klara.”
“Ah.” She smiles at me. “I had a feeling. Did you know that she told me about the baby?”
I take a sharp breath. “She did?”
“She did.” Mother laughs at my expression. “Don’t be so terrified, darling. It’s okay.”
“How is that okay?”
“I don’t care if you conceived out of wedlock. I’m just happy you found someone.”
I shake my head, trying to get my thoughts together. “Her father knows too, but I don’t think she knows that yet.”
“You should tell her. Or not, I don’t know their relationship.”
“It’s complicated.”
“Ah. Well. We know something about that, don’t we?”
I shrug. “I’m happy you’re okay with this, Mother.”
“It’s not so much about how I feel about it, darling. It’s more about how you feel, isn’t it?”
I laugh. “Since when was that true? The only thing that matters is the Lofthouse name.”
“That’s true. But I have every confidence you’ll do the right thing. I suspect you’ve already tried.”
“She wouldn’t marry me.”
“No. But she will. I think that girl loves you.”
“I love her too, Mother.”
She smiles and reaches out. She puts her hand on my knee, startling me. “Good boy. I know you do.”
“Uh,” I say.
She pulls her hand back and sighs. “Now, let’s talk business before I get overly sentimental,” she says. “It’s very unbecoming, you know.”
“Right.” I clear my throat. I’ve never seen her so open before in my life. I wonder if the cancer scared her more than she’s willing to admit. “Klara needs help.”
“How?”
“Her father won’t sell. She put together a good group of investors, raised plenty of money, but he still won’t budge.”
“And what should we do about that?”
“I want to join her investors. Add our money to her money, effectively doubling our offer.”
Mother sighs. “Is it a good investment?”
“Yes,” I say. “Even at this increased price, it’s a good investment.”
She nods and frowns at me. “What do you need from me?”
“Approval,” I say. “To use house money.”
“Ah.” She nods once. “Then do it. I like her, and if you think this is what you have to do, then I will support it.”
I smile. I didn’t expect it to be this easy. And yet…
“Are you agreeing to this because you want me to marry her, or because you trust my business sense?”
“Does
it matter?”
“Yes.”
She purses her lips. “Do you know how boring it is to sit in a room and recuperate?” she asks.
I hesitate. “Not really.”
“It’s very boring. I had a lot of time on my hands, so I made some calls. Apparently, most people in this town despise her father.”
“He’s a loathsome man.”
She smiles. “Yes, he is.” She sips her tea and smiles again. “But I spoke to a lot of people about that company. They all agree that her new show, what’s it called?”
“Divas in Space. It’s going to be a franchise.”
“Yes, that’s right. Divas, everyone says that’s going to be worth a lot of money. I’m told it’s immensely popular.”
“So this is about business then.”
“Yes, and about your happiness. But you know me, Shaun. If this was truly a bad investment, I’d never allow it, no matter how much joy it would bring you.”
I smile at her. For some reason, that comforted me. I was starting to think this whole cancer scare had changed her.
Glad to see that wasn’t the case.
“Okay then. I’ll go to her with my offer. We’ll make it happen.”
“But one string.” She leans back and crosses her legs. She stares at me over her cup then lowers it into her lap. “That man cannot be involved.”
“Aldo?”
“Yes,” she says. “I will not put my name on a property that he is even somewhat involved in. He must be bought out entirely and scrubbed from the records. That man is a plague, pure and simple, and he must be burned through and through.”
I tense, head tilted. “I don’t know if he’ll go for that, even with more money.”
“Make it happen,” she says.
“Mother—”
“No more games, Shaun. No more going back and forth. I’m leaving in the morning for the manor and this will all be in your hands. No more running back to me for help.”
“That’s not what I’m doing,” I say, getting angry.
“I know it’s not. But even so. Cut him out, Shaun, and make him leave. That’s your only recourse if you want the family’s money in this.”
I stare at her for a long moment. I had hoped I could allow Aldo to stay on as some sort of assistant or associate producer, or just a consultant. I figured that would allow him to stay involved and active, so he’d be more likely to give it up, like I gambled with my first offer. But this time, he’ll also be filthy rich.
But clearly that won’t be the case. “I’ll make it happen.” I stand and she smiles at me.
“Good,” she says. “I know you will.”
I walk to the door. I’m annoyed, but getting my way, so I can’t be too angry.
“And Shauny,” she says as I put my hand on the doorknob.
“Yes?”
“Marry that girl, dear. It’s unseemly to allow her to have a baby without a husband.”
“You’re very old-fashioned, Mother. Single moms are the fashion these days.”
She gives me a flat look. “Not funny. Take care of her.”
I nod once. “I will.”
“Good.”
I leave the room without another word.
* * *
I find Klara in her apartment, going through the box of things she took from her desk. “How are you?” I ask.
“Angry. Bored. Annoyed.” She shrugs. “But happy, I guess. I’m making a new start.”
I hesitate. I like that she’s excited about the prospect of starting over, and I don’t want to spoil that by bringing up one more offer for her father. But I know this is the best way to go, for her and for him.
“I just saw my mother,” I say.
She raises an eyebrow at me. “Really? How was she? I thought you said she refused to tell you where she was staying.”
“I made some calls and hunted her down. She seemed more herself. But we talked about you.”
“Yeah?”
“She wants me to marry you.”
Klara laughs then stops when she sees that I’m not kidding. “Shaun, we talked about this.”
“I know.” I stare at her then sit down on the couch, our legs touching. “Listen to me. I want to marry you, and the offer stands. When you’re ready, you can give yourself to me. But in the meantime, I’ll be whatever you want me to be.”
She bites her lip. “Do you really mean that?”
“I mean it, Klara. I’m not going anywhere.”
She nods. “I believe you. I didn’t at first, but I do now.”
“Good.” I reach out and take her hair, pulling her to me. I kiss her slow, tasting her, and pull back. “And now we have one more chance.”
“Chance at what?”
I stand and pace across the room. “I spoke with my mother about our problem.”
“About Truth Hurts?”
“Yes, and—”
“I’m done with that,” she says, shaking her head. “Really, Shaun. I’m done with it.”
“Listen to me,” I say softly. “We’re going to double your offer to your father.”
She blinks then stares. “What?”
“We’re going to double it.”
“That’s…. That’s too much.”
“I know.” I grin at her and tilt my head. “But you’re going to be worth it. If you run Divas and make it take off the way we both know you can, this is going to be worth it. Between your investors and my money, we can make your father an offer he can’t refuse.”
“No,” she says, laughing. “No way, Shaun. He won’t go for it. This isn’t about money.”
“It will be. But there’s one thing. He has to leave LA.” I stare at her. I know my mother only wants Aldo away from the company… but I want him out of our lives completely. She’ll never be able to move on with her father breathing down her neck.
“Then he won’t do it.”
“Klara—”
“No, listen to me. He won’t leave LA and he won’t leave the company. He doesn’t care about the money, he only cares about his stupid pride. He’s willing to run our relationship into the ground over it. I’ve tried being nice, but he’s a drunk and a bastard. It’s over.”
I shake my head. “Go to him. Make the offer.”
“No,” she says.
“Please.” I walk over and kneel down in front of her. I take her hands and stare into her eyes. “If you do this and he turns it down, I swear to you, I’ll use all the money I have in my trust to build you a new company. But if we can get Divas… we can do something real. Just the way you planned.”
She bites her lip, staring at me. “Why are you doing this?” she asks.
“Because I love you.”
She leans back, surprise on her face. “You… what?”
“I love you, Klara. And I want you to have the world. Or at least this company.”
She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. “Okay,” she says.
“Okay?”
“But only because you said you love me. Otherwise, I’d be throwing you out of here.”
I laugh and kiss her. I hold her tight and smile to myself. I know this is hard for her, I know it feels impossible, but this is the last straw. It’s this or nothing.
And I get what I want, especially when it’s for the woman I love.
21
Klara
We show up at my father’s house the next morning at eight. I knock for over a minute before he finally answers, his eyes red and bleary. He’s wearing a coffee-stained kimono and he groans as we push our way inside.
“You two,” he says. “Can’t you two leave me alone?”
“Morning, Dad,” I say.
“What, you’re being nice to me now? I thought I was just a drunk and an asshole.”
“You are,” I say. “But you’re about to be very, very rich.”
I walk into the kitchen and start making coffee. Shaun sits down at the table and glances down at the floor. “You’ve got blood stains on you
r floor,” he says.
“Yeah, I do,” Dad answers. “Got a problem with that?”
Shaun frowns at him then shakes his head. “Nope.”
Dad looks at me. “I’m sick of this, Klara. Really, just let it go. I’m not selling, not for any price. Just get over it and move on, please, and leave me alone.”
“Dad, I’m making coffee. When I’m done, you’ll drink a cup. And then I’ll show you my offer.”
“Klara—”
“Shut up, Aldo, and sit down. Hear your daughter out. Be a halfway decent human for once in your pathetic life.”
Dad looks at Shaun, stares at him for a long moment, but then sits down and doesn’t speak until the coffee is done. I place a cup down in front of him with cream and sugar, just the way he likes it. He takes a sip, closes his eyes, and drinks some more.
“Okay,” he says. “Make your offer. But I’m not selling, not for anything.”
“I’m offering double,” I say, sitting down.
He frowns. “Double… what?”
“Double the last offer. Double everything. Do you know how much that would be? It would come out to—”
“I know how much double would be,” he says, staring at me. “Are you joking?”
“It’s her investor money plus mine,” Shaun says. “I’m matching them. So double.”
He laughs. “That would make me rich.”
“One of the richest men in LA,” I say, nodding.
“Not even Divas is worth that kind of money.”
“I disagree,” I say and shrug. “But you might be right. It’s a gamble, that’s for sure.”
“Klara, this can’t be serious.” Dad looks at Shaun. “Is this serious?”
“We have a contract, Aldo. We skipped a term sheet. Sign the contract, take the money, and be a rich man.”
“I’d be worth…” He sucks in a breath. “Why are you doing this?”
“I want the company,” I say, staring him in the eye. “And I’ll do anything to get it.”
He returns my gaze for a long moment before laughing. He throws back his head and cracks up, unable to control it. The laughter spills over and I glance at Shaun. He just shakes his head, annoyed.