Possessive Baby Daddy

“Won’t have any books to go over,” he says.

“Start a new company, and you’ll have plenty of books. Or just start investing some of your money for fun. Dad, with this kind of cash, your options will be limitless.”

He watches me for a long moment. In his expression, I think I see the father I used to know, before the drinking and the drugs and the world ground him down into what he’s become. I want to think my father is still in there, the man I grew up idolizing and loving.

I certainly haven’t seen that man in a long time.

“You found investors,” he says. “You went and you met with people in the industry.”

“I did,” I say. “Some of them weren’t keen, but the ones that signed on are excited. Their names are in the terms sheet, if you want to see who I’ll be working with. They’ll be the board and I’ll be the head of the company.”

“You’ll answer to them then.”

“Not entirely. We’ll structure it so that I have slightly more power than they do, but they’ll be able to adjust as they see fit. I think it’ll be a good thing, actually. I’ll have a little structure to work within.”

He nods and closes his eyes. “I wish you hadn’t done this.”

“Why?” I ask, surprised. “Dad, it’s so much money. You can retire and be happy.”

“I don’t want to retire.” He opens his eyes. “When did I get so old?”

“You’re not old. You’re just… you’re at that age, you know?”

He grunts and shakes his head. For the first time, I see him for what he is now: an old man afraid of his age, afraid of becoming irrelevant. No wonder he doesn’t want to sell this company. This is the last vestige of his youth he has left.

“I’m embarrassed,” he says. “If I’m honest with you. I’m embarrassed that my daughter went behind my back to find investors in my company. Do you know how that makes me look?”

“Dad—”

“No, Klara. You listen to me.” He leans forward. “I’m not selling you the company. I’m not selling Shaun the company, either. I’m tired of this whole game now. I’m sick of the way you two have been fighting over this company like I’m some corpse already.”

“That’s not what we’re doing,” I say softly.

“Oh, yes, it is. You’ve been trying to force me out from the start.”

“Dad, you know it’s time. You’re drunk and high half the time. The only reason this place is still open is because of me. Divas was my project and without me, it’ll fall apart. If you want this company to keep going, you need to step aside and let someone competent and sober run the place.”

He shakes his head. “No,” he says.

“What’s wrong with you?” I stand up, getting angry. I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t help it. “I’m giving you everything you could possibly want. Most fathers would just hand the company down.”

“When they’re ready, maybe,” he says. “But I’m not ready.”

“You’re a drunk, Dad. You’re an alcoholic and you have a drug problem. You’re embarrassing. I hate going into meetings with you because all you do is drink and tell awful jokes. There’s a reason I take meetings behind your back and don’t tell you about them. You’re embarrassing.”

He stares at me for a long moment. I can’t believe I just said all that out loud. I’ve been thinking and feeling all that for a very long time, but actually saying it to my father… it breaks my heart. God, it really hurts. I feel like a horrible person.

“I’m sorry that I’m embarrassing,” he says. “I’m sorry that I won’t conform to this fucked-up, prudish way of living you think I should embrace. I’m not going to be the man you want me to be, daughter. And I’m not going to sell you this company.”

I shake my head, disgusted. “Then I’m through. I’m walking out and leaving Truth Hurts. I’ll take those investors and I’ll start my own company.”

“I own Divas,” he says. “Good luck building something without them.”

I shake my head. “Without me, Divas is going to implode in six months. Do you really think you have it in you to run this place without me? Be serious, Dad. If you let me go, you’re finished.”

“We’ll find out then.”

I stare at him for a long moment. I hate myself, I hate that it’s come to this, but this is the last straw. We both know it.

I said what I had to say. It hurt and it was awful, but I spoke the words and now it’s done. He can hate me if he wants, and he probably will. But I’m through. I can’t keep trying to bail him out. I can’t keep trying to cover for him. I can’t keep running this company for him.