“Lola,” he says, tone shifting. “You’re smart. I’ve allowed this little identity crisis and mountain escape, but you have a future here. An empire to run. I need you back to train.”
I sigh, rubbing my temples. “I can be CEO one day. But someone else can manage things right now.”
Another lie. I’d probably sell the company. I don’t want their legacy. I want something of my own. This is exactly what I wanted to escape.
I ran so I could find a quiet life.
“Not good enough.”
“There’s more to life than making millions, Dad. Can you just get off my back? I like it here. I’m figuring things out.”
Silence stretches.
Then I hit him where it might hurt him more. “Or maybe you could just say, ‘Lola, we miss you. Come home for the weekend.’”
Silence.
Because Mom is absolutely listening somewhere nearby.
My being away from them isn’t just for myself. It’s for them too. I’m hoping they might realize they’ve fucked up with me. That they need to change and be the parents I’ve always longed for.
Present ones. Ones that don’t see me as a way to make more money. Or trying to make me the perfect future heir. They should have carried on and had a son if they wanted that. Because that isn’t me.
Dad exhales. “Shit. I’m sorry, Lo.” And this time, it sounds real. “We do miss you. I just… forget how to...”
“Turn off from work?” I offer.
He laughs awkwardly. “Yeah.”
Maybe he is learning.
The front door slams open behind me. I glance up to see Violet storming in, cheeks flushed, marching straight for the fridge and grabbing the bottle of white wine.
Oh boy.
“Dad, gotta go. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
I hang up and turn to her.
She twists the cap off and takes a long drink straight from the bottle.
Definitely bad.
“What happened?” I ask.
She slams the bottle onto the counter.
“One of my staff just quit. No notice. Nothing. Just a text saying she’s not coming back.”
My stomach sinks.
“And tomorrow is the biggest event I’ve had since taking over Uncle Ray’s company,” she continues, pacing now. “Two hundred guests. Full service. Staff assigned, menu prepped, everything booked. A damn kid’s party that seems to be like a cowboy ball for the entire town. Complete with a motherfucking cake shaped like a goat!”
She runs a hand through her hair, panic setting in. I’m trying not to laugh at the goat cake.
“And now I’m short-staffed. Angelica was my best server.”