A Debt Owed (The Debt Duet 1)

“Not hungry,” I reply, grabbing my napkin to wipe my mouth.

“You’re only saying that because you’re offended,” he says.

“I’m not. I’m genuinely worried about you, but you won’t talk to me.”

“What’s there to talk about?” He eyes me down like a vulture. “That you moved out of the house? You constantly ignoring my calls and requests? You constantly ignoring my beautiful wife?” He leans over to touch his wife’s hand, and it makes bile rise in my throat.

“I’m not ignoring anyone. I just wanna live on my own as an adult. Is that so wrong?”

“I never said you could move out.”

“Yet I did,” I reply, shrugging. Apparently, it’s hard for my father to realize I’m a full-grown adult now.

“You’re my daughter,” he says as if he still has a say in it.

“So? You let Elijah do whatever he wants.” When I look at Elijah, he gives me this eagle-eyed look. Shaking his head gently, Elijah mouths, “Don’t pull me into this.”

“Elijah is a responsible young man who can take care of business,” my father replies.

“Oh, and I can’t?” I narrow my eyes. I knew it. He doesn’t trust me. “I’ve been living on my own just fine,” I add.

“On my money.” He pounds his fist on the table, causing everyone to jolt in their seats. “It’s time you learned what responsibility is.”

“Yes,” I say. “Yes, please. I’ve been waiting for years for you to involve me in your business. Maybe then I can finally learn something.”

“Business?” He scoffs, laughing. Then he returns to his stone-cold killer face again. “No. Elijah will be the one to follow in my footsteps.”

I roll my eyes. “Of course, he is.” What a surprise. Not.

“Hey, I didn’t say he should exclude you,” Elijah butts in. “It wasn’t my idea.”

“No, it was mine,” my father says. “I need someone reliable at the wheel.”

“Why do you keep saying things just to hurt me?” I ask, tears welling up in my eyes. “Do you enjoy seeing me in pain?”

“No, Charlotte, I don’t. But you need to hear the truth, and the truth hurts,” he says. “You weren’t born to lead.”

“Who are you to decide that?” I say through gritted teeth, trying desperately to hold back my tears. I don’t wanna shed them for him. No way.

“I decide since I’m the one who’s supposed to save this business.”

My jaw drops and shock ripples through me. “Save?” I murmur. “Save the business?”

My father has never said anything about having problems with the business. How long has he been hiding this from us?

However, when I look at Elijah, who’s lowered his head while pretending to still eat his dinner, I realize I was the only one who didn’t know.

“The business is in trouble?” I ask. “And you didn’t tell me?”

“Of course not,” he replies. “Your brother and I will take care of it.”

“But that’s your whole life. Our lives. All you’ve ever worked for,” I say. Leaning over the table, I try to get him to look at me, but he just keeps cutting into his food. If he goes on any longer, I’m sure there’ll be nothing left but mush.

“I know, dammit!” The sudden outburst has him smashing his knife onto the table this time. “I’m well aware of what’s at stake.”

“Then let me help you,” I say in a last desperate attempt to connect.

“You wanna help?” he says, rubbing his napkin over his mouth and then throwing it down on his plate. “Do what I tell you to do.”

“Tell me what I need to do,” I reply, “and I’ll do it.”

“Marry a suitor of my choosing.”

My eyes widen, and my jaw almost drops to the floor. “What?” I laugh it off. He must be joking. Except I’m the only one laughing. “You’re kidding, right?”

“The only way to fix this business is if we get another investor on board, and to do that, I need a bargaining chip.”

“A bargaining chip?” I scoff. I can’t believe he’s contemplating this. “And you wanna offer me as a reward? Hold on.” I grab my glass of water and chug it down in one go. “Like what, go on a date with them?” I’m at a point where I wanna cry, laugh, and yell at the same time. It’s that ridiculous.

“As a wife.”

The glass I was holding drops to the floor and shatters on impact.

“Wha…?” I can’t even form a coherent sentence.

“You’ll be able to save the company and the legacy of the Davis name, Charlotte,” my father adds as if that will persuade me.

“No,” I say when I’ve finally come to my senses. “No, absolutely not.”

Father clears his throat. “I figured you’d say that. But I’m sure you’ll change your mind once you see the esteemed men I have in mind.”

“Are you insane?” I say, scooting back my chair. “The answer is no.”

“Charlotte—”

“You’ve lost your damn mind!” I shout, getting up from my seat. “You think I’ll marry some dude I’ve never met because you wanna save your company?”