“I refuse to be that girl anymore,” I say, nodding at my reflection.
Grabbing my new tan, suede three-quarter-length jacket, I slip it on. My eyes scan my room as I make sure I have everything I need. I won’t be coming back. All my other bags are already on Brance’s dad’s private plane.
“Well, I guess I’m off,” I yell, nearly skipping down the stairs.
“We’re in here,” Lana says.
Pushing open my dad’s study door, I’m greeted with Lana crying, holding on to my dad who is rubbing her shoulder. She pulls away and looks at me from top to bottom.
“God, you look hot!” I look down at my outfit. I’m dressed in a tight black shirt and skintight black skinny jeans with high-heeled black boots. My tan jacket and my hair are the only lightness on me.
“Well, black is my favorite color.” A pang of guilt slithers through me. Lana is going to be alone. My dad works all the time, and she is going to miss me. Cocking my head, I give her a half smile. “Don’t you dare make me cry, Lana! You promised.”
She nods, but tears leak from her eyes. She snuggles closer to my dad.
I simply stand there. Do I try to hug her with my dad’s arm around her?
Moving my Marc Jacobs bag to my other shoulder, I glance at my father. He is genuinely comforting Lana, his large hands caressing her hair while he whispers in her ear. Brushing my blond tresses back off my shoulders, I refuse to admit that his behavior is hurting me.
I clear my throat. “I guess I will see you both when you come visit.”
Lana breaks away at last and launches her tall body into mine.
“I can’t believe you’re leaving me,” she whispers.
“I have to.”
Her eyes glisten with tears as she nods. “I know.”
“Tess, can I speak with you?” My dad’s voice interrupts our moment. I almost say no, but I don’t want Lana to see that.
“Sure.” We break apart.
“I’m going to go to my room. I can’t stand goodbyes.” Her high heels click on the marble.
He sighs. “You and Lana got close. She is going to miss you.”
“What about you?” He freezes, then walks over to his desk, his hand straightening some papers.
“What about me, Tess? I hope that you have finally grown up. That I have instilled in you some common sense.”
I can’t help but feel tears. That’s all he can give me. I look down at my boots. I won’t ever allow him to see how his words hurt me.
“Why the transformation?” His question surprises me enough to answer truthfully.
“I needed to change.”
“I hate it.”
I snort. “I did it for me, not you.”
He looks out his window, almost like it pains him to look at me. “Tess…” His fists clench, then unclench. “I know I haven’t been the father you wanted and that you blame me for your breakup with Reed.”
“Well, you di—”
He holds up his hand. “Let me finish. I may not express myself the way you want. But I did what I believe is best for you. You are my child, like it or not.”
My eyes search his. Blue on blue, a flicker of something. A moment paces between us. Then it’s gone.
He coughs and straightens himself. “I can’t tell you what to do, but I do control your money. So, behave the way I expect, and you will be a very rich woman.”
I must look stunned because he pours himself a drink.
“Do you want one?” He holds up his glass.
I open my mouth and close it. Is he threatening me with my inheritance again?
“Yes.”
He pours the brown liquor into a tumbler and hands it to me. I look down at it, the smoky, spicy aroma making my nose twitch.
“Can I ask you something?”
His eyes narrow. “Sure.”
“Why did you bring me here? You and Mom have made it painfully obvious that I’m nothing but a mistake.”
The amber liquid that I find so fascinating must do the same to him because he won’t look at me. Instead he downs it and pours himself another.
The silence is unbearable. All I want is to get out of his presence and be free. He is never going to be what I need, much like I can’t be the daughter he wants. Reed’s turquoise eyes appear, his face so beautiful. His wild dark curls fall over his forehead. And he smiles at me with his delicious full lips. Slamming the drink, the bourbon burns and stings down my throat. I need to numb myself. The last thing I need to do is start thinking about Reed more than I do.
“Thanks, Daddy. I’m sure everything you did you did because you love me, right?” Picking up my bag, I start for the door.
“I liked the old you, Tess.” I stop but don’t turn around.