Page 41 of The Heiress

Chapter 21

Daisy

The place I grew up looks like something out of a glossy home interiors magazine, one of those spreads with the caption quiet luxury written in cursive across an aerial drone shot. It’s calm, elegant, and sterile – much like the family that raised me.

Lorde stands at my side as we approach the front doors. Her hand is in mine, her thumb brushing slow, soothing arcs into my knuckles like she’s either preparing me for war or proposing an impromptu interpretive dance. Knowing her, it could be both.

“I’ve had root canals with better ambiance,” she says. “InHollywood.”

I don’t get a chance to say more. The door swings open, and there’s my mother, every inch the perfect woman in tailored navy slacks and a pearl-button blouse. Her expression softens when she sees me. Then it hardens when she sees Lorde.

“Daisy.” She opens her arms and pulls me in for a quick embrace like she wants to prove she still loves me, but only in brief bursts. “Your father’s in the sitting room. Come.”

We follow her into the house. Lorde’s hand slips from mine, but not before she squeezes it one last time. I swear she mouths swan dive before letting go.

Daddy is seated in his favorite, large chair in the sitting room. His blazer is draped over the arm, and his sleeves are rolled to the elbow. That means this is serious, but not catastrophic. We have a chance. After all, just yesterday, he was hugging Lorde and claiming he would see her as the other child he never had. So, what is it, Daddy? Regrets already?

“Daisy,” he says with a nod. Then to Lorde, “Ms. Sheen.”

“Mr. DeMonte.” Lorde maintains her coolness.

We sit. I perch on the edge of the leather sofa like I’m still ten and my feet can’t reach the carpet without help. Lorde, by contrast, lounges like she owns the place. One leg crosses the other. Her arm slings along the backrest behind me.“Sure. This will all be mine one day,”she broadcasts to the room. My parents definitely notice.

Daddy leans forward. “We’ve hit a… complication with the Antonettis. You know. Cristiano’s family.” He’s already grimacing to bring that man back up. “Do you remember that big deal your daddy signed? With the Italian luxury conglomerate that will bring a ‘new era’ to the department store?” He’s quoting some of the marketing materials I’ve seen throughout his office and in the downtown bus stop ads. “That was with the Antonettis. So happened that their son Cristiano was available to marry and your mother…”

I interrupt him. “That deal went through last month.” Even I knew that, even though I’m largely kept out of business stuff.

“It was supposed to,” he replies. “But the Antonettis have expressed concerns. Not with the deal itself, but with our family image. They don’t want their name associated with controversy.”

“And by controversy, you mean…?”

Mama answers, “They’ve asked if the rumors are true. That you turned down their son’s proposal. That you’re… involved with a woman.”

Lorde doesn’t flinch – only gives my mother a look that could melt glaciers. “I’m sitting right here, you know.”

Daddy exhales. “We’re not here to start a fight. But they’re threatening to pull out. This isn’t only about your relationship, Daisy. It’s about the future of the DeMonte name.”

Something doesn’t sit right in my stomach. It’s been ages since I’ve had heartburn, but there it is. I need an antacid.

My mother jumps in, her voice gentler. “Darling, we love you. We adore you. But this family’s future rests on more than one love story. What you have with Lorde… it’s sweet, but it’s new. You’ve only known each other a few months.”

“We’re in love.” I hate how defensive I sound.

“Love doesn’t always last,” Daddy says. “But a broken partnership with a billion-dollar luxury house? That damage will last. And if the media gets wind of it—”

Lorde finally cuts in. “You think your daughter’s happiness is less important than handbags?”

“Watch your tone.”

“I’ll lower my tone when you stop treating her like she’s the problem.”

“Lorde,” I warn, but she’s already wound up.

She sits forward, elbows on her knees, looking directly at my father. “Do you know what my life was like before I met your daughter? I was aimless and without purpose. For God’s sake, we met on a double date with ourfriends,and I laughed ather falling! Daisy is the first thing in my life that’s felt like it mattered, and you think I’m some PR disaster?”

“You are a public figure,” Daddy coolly says. “Your image is part of the problem.”

“So, what, you want me to disappear?” she snaps. “Let her go so you can get your overpriced linens into the store?”

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