Page 92 of Unwrapping Romance

“How’s my granddaughter?”

“She’s fine. She’s in preschool today.”

“I see my offices haven’t been decorated for Christmas. Do you really think that’s fair to all the employees who love the holiday season?”

“I’m new here, and it’s not my call.”

I saw Jack walking down the hall. When he saw his father standing at my desk, he stopped momentarily.

“Dad, what are you doing here?”

“We need to talk, son. Sierra, make sure we aren’t disturbed.”

Chapter Thirty-Two

Jack

“I’m very busy,” I said, sitting behind my desk.

“I know you are. I was reviewing the quarterly reports, and I’m very pleased with your work. Listen, Jack. I gave a lot of thought to what you said the other night.”

“Dad, I don’t want to?—”

“I don’t give a shit. You’re going to sit there and listen to me.” He pointed his finger at me. “I was a shit father, I know that. I never should have left you at the boarding school over the holidays. After your mother passed, I was in a bad place. I had a company to run and thought boarding school would be the best place for you.”

“Well, you thought wrong. Because when you sent me there, I lost two parents. Do you know what it was like not spending the holidays with the only parent I had left? To be left at that damn school during Christmas with two others whose parents didn’t give a shit about them either? Do you even understand the trauma I experienced? Not only losing my mother but losing my father and my home? The emotional trauma? You have no idea, Dad. No fucking idea at all.”

“Actually, I do, son. A friend of mine here is a psychologist, and I spoke to him over the weekend. He explained to me the psychological scarring of what I’d done. And I’m sorry. I’m sorry I ever sent you to that damn boarding school. I understand why you hate the holidays and have never been in a relationship. I’m the cause of that damage, and I take full responsibility.”

“Good for you, Dad. Now, I have work to do.”

“Jack, I want to make amends and need your forgiveness. Gabriela is distraught over this.”

I laughed. “Is that the reason? Because Gabriela found out the truth about you?”

“No! You’re my son, and I love you!”

“I certainly wasn’t your son growing up in that boarding school.”

“You’ve always been my son, boy. I want you to listen to me. I know you love that woman out there and your daughter. I saw it in your eyes when we were at your house. Don’t fuck it up because of me. If you don’t want me in your life, fine. I’ll stay out of it. But I do want to be in my granddaughter’s life. Don’t take that away from me. Please, Jack.”

“How does it feel to want, Dad? I wanted you in my life since Mom died, and you never were. This is your karma. Your karma!” I shouted. “Now, get out of my office.”

“Have you forgotten that this is my office? This is my company, and I’m on the board. I can make your life a living hell if I wanted to.”

“Then your future wife will really see the monster you truly are.”

He stood from his chair and stared at me. “I’m not giving up, son.” He walked out of my office.

Tears formed in my eyes as I leaned back in my chair. Glancing over at my computer, I watched my daughter sitting ina circle with the other children, listening to the story her teacher was telling.

“Jack?” Sierra walked in.

“Not now, Sierra,” I shouted.

“Okay.” She went to leave my office, and I stopped her.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to shout at you.”

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