Page 9 of Billion Dollar Dispute

Is she fucking kidding?

I barely know her. She doesn’t know a single thing about me, other than I work in an office because I was wearing a suit. At the bar, our conversation was me asking, “What’s your name?” and her offering, “Let's get out of here.”

She was perfect for a night of distraction. A quick fuck to help relieve some stress, and then I can walk away. But now she’s giving me stage-five-clinger vibes, so I need to rush out of here quicker than normal.

“Sorry, I’m busy.” I get out of bed and grab my clothes. This time, I don’t lie. I need to see my dad about my inheritance tomorrow. I didn’t want help starting my business, but now Ihave my heart set on growing. One taste of entrepreneurship has me thirsty for more.

I pull on my pants and shirt, making quick work of my buttons. Her eyes follow my movements as she whines. “Can’t you stay for a little longer?”

I don’t look back as I head for the door, “Maybe some other time,” I say over my shoulder, not bothering to wait for her response. I need to get out of here and get some sleep. Tomorrow, I’ll get back to focusing on my future.

It’s Monday morning and I’m looking for my father. When I get to my parents’ place, Mom tells me he’s at Gram’s.

They live around the corner from her since she lives alone and is battling breast cancer. You wouldn’t know it though because she doesn’t act differently, and if you dared to show her sympathy, she’d tell you off.

Dad spends a lot of time with her, especially since Grams is his mom. He and I are close, but not as close as he is with my older brother, Evan. I often feel like I have to prove myself even more because of it. Being the youngest means my family sees me as the kid who needs to grow up.

I step into Grams’s living room, which is quiet, and spot him lounging on the sofa by himself. “Where’s Grams?” I ask, scanning the room for her familiar figure.

Dad’s head lifts from the TV show he’s watching, revealing the aging and tired lines on his face. “She went to take a nap.”

I nod and settle onto the opposite sofa. The cushions sag under the weight of me.

“What brings you here?” he asks, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studies me. I can tell he’s wondering why I’m not at the office.

I adjust the tie around my neck, the fabric suddenly feeling too tight. I loosen it with a tug to try to ease the pressure, then I pull a folder from my briefcase. “I need to talk to you about my inheritance.”

Dad shifts, leaning forward on the edge of the sofa. Setting the TV remote down, he gives me his full attention. “What about it?”

“How can I access it?”

His eyebrows pinch, and he leans back, crossing his arms. “What’s changed your mind?”

“I’m happy with where my acquisitions business is, but I want to start a new company.”

He raises an eyebrow. “What kind of company?”

“A consulting firm.” I hand him the folder, which contains a detailed business plan, market analysis, and projections.

The corners of my dad's lips move, but he holds back from grinning as he flips through the pages. The little bit of a smile means he approves.

“And why would you need the money?”

“I want to keep my current assets intact for the acquisitions to keep growing. But expanding to include a firm will need its own building and staff.”

He nods thoughtfully, his gaze steady. “I like the idea.”

“So, I can have my inheritance?”

“I’m not going to hand it over without seeing that you deserve it,” he says firmly. “Evan worked with me for years before he got his share. Oliver was the same with your mom, and Jeremy donated it to the hospital for taking care of Nova.”

I run my hand through my hair, pushing it out of my face. “What do I need to do to prove myself?”

Leaning back, Dad rubs his jaw in thought. The silence stretches, broken only by the soft hum of the TV in the background. I watch as his gaze drifts to the papers.

“I want to help you,” he finally says. “But I need to be sure you’re ready.”

“I am,” I insist, sitting forward.

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