CHAPTER EIGHT
We still hadn't talked about what would happen once we got back to California. I was scared to. I didn't want the vacation to end, but alas, we had to go back to reality. As we were packing for the flight home, Nico handed me something. An envelope.
“What's this?” I asked.
“Open it,” he said with a grin.
Inside was a deed. At first it made no sense whatsoever, but then it hit me. “This is the address for the diner,” I said. “And it's in my name, not my dad's.”
“That's because I bought it, as promised,” he said. “But decided instead to gift it to you – not your father. It's yours to do with as you wish.”
My knees grew weak and I sat down on the bed, staring at the piece of paper in my hand – the paper that would change my life forever. It meant that my father couldn't lose it anymore. The diner was paid off in full and in my name. My name. It meant I was no longer working for my dad, he was going to be working for me, if I let him.
“There's more,” he said.
“More? What else could there possibly be?” I thought, my eyes filling up with tears. “This is – this is more than I could have ever wished for. It's too much, Nico.”
But I pulled out the other paper. On it was another deed. I looked at it and didn't understand what I was seeing.
“What's this?”
“Your new home, Sophia,” he said. “Paid in full. My gift to you.”
“No. You shouldn't have,” I said. “I can't take this.”
“Why not?” he asked. “I think my girlfriend should have a nice place to call home, don't you think?”
“Your girlfriend?” I nearly choked.
“Of course,” he said, kissing me. “Unless, of course, you don't want to be my girlfriend. I guess I should have asked before assuming, so if –”
“Yes, yes, of course,” I said. “I want to be with you. So, does this mean, once we get back to California, it's not the end?”
“The end?” he laughed. “Of course not. I hope it's only the beginning. The beginning of something wonderful for both of us. I've never felt this happy, Sophia. Not since Madeline. You made this possible. And even if the vacation has to end, I'd like for us to continue.”
I never, in a million years, would have imagined this life for me. Not only did I have a sexy, rich boyfriend who spoiled me rotten – I now owned the diner. It was mine to do with as I wished. I had a home to call my own, which meant, no more living with my father, and I had freedom.
For the first time in my life, I was free, and truly happy.
The End
Daddy’s Girl
CHAPTER ONE - VIOLET
Breathe, Violet. Breathe, I told myself as I waited outside Sebastian Townsend's office. I tried to convince myself that it was no big deal, that I'd been to his office countless times before. But this time was different and I knew it. This time, I wasn't here on a social call with my father. No, this time I was interviewing for a job – a job I needed very badly.
When Sebastian had initially offered me the opportunity to interview, I worried it was out of pity or even out of some sense of obligation to my father, and I balked. But now, well, things had changed and I couldn't afford to be picky.
Far from being the hot commodity I thought I'd be, this was the only interview I'd had in weeks.
My stomach lurched and his office door opened, and Sebastian – or rather, Mr. Townsend as I probably should call him if I were to work for him – stepped out. And I stared up at him like I always did – with the wide-eyed wonder of a little girl with a major crush.
Because the fact of the matter was, potential boss or not, he was drop-dead gorgeous – even if he was my father's age.
“Violet, how nice to see you again,” he said, his smile going all the way to his blue eyes.
Even though I knew – or at least, based on what my father had told me – Sebastian could be absolutely brutal when it came to business and tended to take no prisoners, he always had such a genuine kindness and gentleness about him. It was one of the reasons I admired him as much as I did.