Friend.
I haven’t heard that from someone other than Olivia in a long time.
Jenni tosses her bag over her shoulder and with a wave, I’m left alone at the lunch table with a phone that won’t stop buzzing.
I pull up my messages, bypassing my father's calls, and scroll to Olivia's name. Our last text was from three days ago. It was just a quick catch-up message. Nothing deeper, because we haven’t had time to actually talk for a few weeks.
I quickly send her a message.
Honey:I miss you. Things are crazy.
When it doesn’t show red immediately, I lock my phone, only for it to light up again.
Father Calling
My father’s picture stares up at me from my phone screen, watching me as though he already knows he owns me.
Fuck it.
I know what I’m going to do. There’s only one thing I can do with an opportunity like this. I have to take it, but it’s going to be on my terms.
I accept the call.
“Hunniford.” No greeting. No warmth. Just my name, stripped down as an emotional power play.
“Father,” I reply evenly, swallowing the bitterness coating the back of my throat.
“Are you finally answering to accept my offer, Hunniford? If not, I don’t know how much longer I can keep the deal on the table.”
I let out a breathy, disbelieving laugh.
“I’m not accepting your offer. I’m here to negotiate.”
Silence.
Then I hear him shifting; he’s probably surprised that his dear daughter is coming back with a request. It’s very un-Hunniford of me, but I’m trying to be a little more forthright with what I want these days.
“You're negotiating.” He sounds almost… impressed?
“I learned from the best.”
“Okay. Well, what is it you want?”
“I’ll give you three years not five,” I say. “I’ll intern throughout my time in college, including summers. Once I graduate, then I’ll decide if I want to continue.”
Another pause. Not long, but just long enough to let me know he’s processing my offer. This isn’t a conversation. It’s a chess match.
He chuckles, the sound so unexpected it momentarily throws me off guard. “Three years is hardly enough time to properly train—”
“It's enough time to see if I have anyinterestin being trained,” I counter. “I'm not committing my entire future to something I haven't even tried yet. Three years is enough time for you to do… whatever you plan on doing with Jamie, and it gets you your precious Sanderson legacy without me having to sell my soul on the spot.”
Still quiet.
I push the advantage. “In return, you still drop the lawsuit against Tiff immediately. Full custody for her, no strings attached.”
I can hear the pen tapping on the desk through the phone.
“A summer internship this year, and then one final summer after next year?” he clarifies.