Page 2 of Not A Chance

“Here is what is going to happen next. You will resign from your current ‘position’ at that second-rate advertising company. I know the CEO of the highest-valued sports and media company in North America from my Yale days. He is going to do me the favor of taking you on board as a communication team assistant. With you working for the Tempests, unlike your current agency, it will at least spare your mother and I the humiliation of having our only child working at a firm with no chance at advancement. You’re going to get a trial period to prove that you can be useful to this family in some capacity. He’s going to ensure I’m kept apprised of your performance. There will be no allowance for simply taking up space in a multibillion-dollar enterprise.” He raised an eyebrow, his expression daring me to argue.

I sucked in a painful breath, choking on the shock that he was about to upend my entire life that I’d built in the last few years.

“Wait, wait. I’m trying to catch up here. What do you meanquitmy job? I can’t just quit.” I couldn’t stop my hand from pressing against my stomach, trying to relieve the sudden ache that formed.

“You can and you will. Unless you want me to put the full weight of the legal resources I have at my disposal to challenge your grandmother’s will. I know you used the money she left you at eighteen for school but have otherwise left the remaining token amount untouched. I have the ability to drag this out for years. Do you think you can win if I take you to court?”

Had he somehow found out about my plans to start a nonprofit for children in Amado? I hadn’t even started any of the formalized paperwork! I’d only gotten some initial legal advice so far.

Fear pushed through the thick blanket of emotional numbness that had settled over me.

As much as I liked to think that he would be more afraid for the reputation of the family, there was a part of me that believed he would actually do this. He could probably get the courts to seal the proceedings and figure out how to come out on top somehow.

I hadn’t played this game with them for many years to walk away with nothing. I wanted to make a real change with this money. I was eleven months away from properly getting started.

It physically pained me to admit he’d won this round. The consolation prize would be that I could be free of their control this time next year.

Just do this one last thing. Then you’ll be free.

“Fine. I understand. Where am I going?” I managed to force out the words between my lips, despite how my jaw wanted to lock around my clenched molars.

I hunched back in my chair with my arms crossed, waiting to hear my father’s plan that would put my life on hold for however long he demanded.

TORONTO

It wasn’t enough to send me across the country. They’d put an international border between us. Not to mention sending me more than 2,600 miles from the home that I’d made for myself in Amado, CA.

I stepped out of Union Station with my too-heavy bags and into the muggy late-September day.

Beads of sweat dotted my forehead with the change in humidity from inside the city’s main transit hub. I wondered where this so-called Canadian “fall” weather had escaped to.

I’d been here only once before as a child, not that I remembered anything of the city other than the smell of the sewers outside the subway. My nose wrinkled as I became aware of the scents surrounding me.

Yep, that still smelled the same.

My parents had come to see the premiere of a movie at the Toronto International Film Festival. I couldn’t recall the name of the famousactor they were wooing to work with one of their firms at the time. I’d spent the few days we were here in a suite in the Royal York with a nanny, reading at the windowsill, watching groups of people as they smiled and laughed on their way to the Rogers Centre for some sort of sports event.

I hadn’t even gotten to see the CN Tower while it was the tallest building in the world. I supposed I would have a whole year to see it now.

Pulling up Maps, I tried to orient myself as to the direction of my hotel. My father had pulled some strings to get me a furnished apartment in one of the buildings Layne Holdings owned in the Financial District, but it wouldn’t be ready for a few more days.

I wished I knew someone who could check it for listening devices. I wouldn’t put it past my father to stoop to a new low and bug my apartment so that he could have someone listen to my comings and goings at all times. He was ruthless when it came to getting what he wanted.

Though that idea made me shiver despite the heat, I chastised myself for considering it.

The reality was Father’s concern went as far as my effect on the family’s reputation and had nothing to do with me personally.

I rubbed my sternum at the thought. The keening pain of being unlovable had long dulled to a ghost-limb-type ache after resigning myself to the truth that I was a simple pawn, not a daughter, for my parents to move around at their will.

Since I had a relocation budget, I’d splurged on a hotel within walking distance of the south end of Bay St. I hadn’t thought about walking distance dragging two large suitcases along uneven sidewalks, however. Contemplating a cab while sweat dampened the back of my shirt didn’t seem like something worth bothering withat this moment. I wanted out of this unexpected heat and into a shower as soon as possible.

After pulling my hair into a hasty ponytail that would normally have me cringing, I headed eastward, still fueled by frustration at how I’d ended up here.

The twelve-minute walk gave me time to ruminate on all my decisions leading up to this point. I grimaced at the thought of leaving Abbie and Emery behind after so many years in each other’s pockets. I’d waited a week before telling them I had to leave for this new job. I’d spent seven days thinking over every option and ultimately discarded any idea of trying to work out a compromise with my parents, knowing from experience they wouldn’t budge.

A glance at the lock screen on my phone had a selfie of the three of us squished together around the table at our final girls’ night before I left Amado.

We were sitting in a café after work. Emery had come from the university after her office hours to meet us around the corner from Appeal, where Abbie and I worked together.

---