Page 20 of The Bodyguard

“What do you want Savannah? If you’re just ringing to rave about this silly film you’re in, then forget it. We’re not watching it.” His words puncture my heart painfully. “Not when you can’t even help your own family.”

Candy is not my family.

Fucking hell.

I drop my face and fight back my tears. Does he not care that his words hurt me?

The answer is no.

“It’s top of the box office, Dad. It’s not some silly film.” I say quietly, feeling like the vulnerable thirteen-year-old girl who was told she was making a fool of herself for all this acting and clowning around.

“Yeah, and most of those people are following the Kardashians. What can I tell you?”

How dare he?

Whatever you think of reality stars, he’s yet again trying to belittle my achievements and hurt me with that comment.

Every single time.

Why did I call him?

Why did I yet again put myself in a position so he could rip me off my pedestal? A pedestal I fucking earned with hard work and talent.

Fuck him.

“Well, some people think I did a good job, Dad. I’ve been nominated for a Golden Globe. That’s what I rang to tell you. Maybe I’m not useless after all.” I yell, then punch the screen unsatisfactorily with my finger, hanging up on him.

I slam the phone on the counter.

“Fucking bastard.” I cry as tears fall down my face.

I hate him.

I hate him.

I hate him.

“He is.”

I glance up and gasp when I see Ryder leaning on the doorframe.

“Oh god,” I say, wiping my face. “I’m sorry you heard that.”

“Some people are threatened by others’ achievements,” Ryder says. “Anyway, don’t apologize. He’s not the first narcissist I’ve overheard.”

I blink.

“You think he’s a narcissist?”

“I’m not a shrink, but yeah I do. They’re usually threatened by their overachieving kids.” Ryder shrugs. “Unless he lacks complete confidence in himself.”

“The opposite. He thinks he’s better than everyone else,” I tell him.

“Definitely a narc,” he says, pushing away from the doorway. “And congratulations on the nomination. It’s a big deal.”

God, I hate crying over my father. I’ve done it way too many times in my life and no matter how old I am or what I achieve, he still seems to find a way to hurt me.

“Thanks.” I smile and wipe my eyes again. “Ryder, I want to apologize for this morning.”

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