Page 69 of Shy Girl
Reluctantly, I nodded.
“Below me is a contract not unlike that I gave to your mother. It details what you cannot say. To make the explanation simple, there would be nothing you can say about my name, my business, or any relationship with anyone in my life. In other words, I do not exist to you.”
My throat thickened. With every word that he said, his voice became more firm. There was an odd, melodic sort of rhythm to his words as he slid away from Father of the Bride and into Oil Tycoon. Reality crystallized with every passing second.
This man wasn't my father and never would be. Not in all the ways that actually mattered.
Although thirsty for his attention and interest in me—even the morsels he'd tossed my way with humanizing questions—I'd exposed myself to a new world of pain. Just entertaining his presence set me back. He'd been kind at first. One could even call him interested. But his interest wasn't in me, our shared genes, or our history. His interest was in self-preservation.
Cruel,I thought as he spoke quickly and succinctly of the terms of a contract that prevented me from ever returning to any property that he might own, or speaking to any media or news outlet in terms that threw any suspicion on him, his business, or his family. He'd pretended to be a friend, had maybe even held some level of curiosity for me. But now he'd become an intense businessman focused only on the outcome.
He's not my father,I thought.
Cotton filled my mouth when I asked, “And w-w-what if I d-d-don't sign?”
He smiled a little, and I thought I saw a snake in it. “That is an option, but not one I'd recommend.”
“W-why?”
“Your admission here makes it abundantly clear that your mother broke the NDA. Perhaps unconsciously or passively, but itisbroken. The repercussions are astronomical to her.” He gestured to the papers. “Built within this agreement is an assurance that your mother will receive no consequences for breaking our NDA, provided she continues to keep it. Since she allegedly doesn't know that you have seen it, then we will continue keeping her under the same illusion as before. Provided you agree with the final terms, let us get this signed.”
He reached into his jacket and pulled out a pen.
My chest filled with a cold breath as I stared at the metallic sheen of the pen that found itself into my fingers. Disbelief followed my shock, which seemed to just be catching up with me.
What had I been thinking?
To come to this island in pursuit of a biological father that clearly wanted nothing to do with me. Only ghosts and broken dreams and lonely nights waited down the road of my parentage, and maybe I knew that when I started this journey. But I'd chased it anyway, because at least in the pain there were answers. The questions could be silenced, and all the other questions that had arisen could be dismissed as mere ghosts now.
The pen hovered over the paper as my mind continued to spin.
“W-what is the f-f-final c-condition?”
“You leave now.”
My head jerked up. “Now?”
He punctuated his response with another nod. “Now. I have a private plane that's waiting for you. It will take you back to your life in Pineville where you can resume with the monetary compensation outlined in these pages.”
My eyes grew. “B-but the wedd-ding. J-j-jayson.”
“Jayson.” He sighed. “Yes, Jayson.”
The silence hung there for a moment while I sorted through what he asked of me. It was more than just leaving him to his secrets. It was leaving Jayson here without explanation. Without oneever. The contract meant I couldn't tell him the sordid history that lay at my back, and he wouldn't be able to trust me ever again.
“I-I can't leave h-him without t-telling him g-g-goodbye and explaining,” I protested. “Th-that's not f-fair.”
“You're sure he's worth your mother's well being?”
“Y-yes,” I said without hesitation.
He scoffed.
“Y-you would f-f-force me into that ch-choice?”
His gaze returned to mine, and I almost thought I saw sorrow for a moment. “For the sake of everything I love and own,” he said quietly, “yes.”
My heart ached as if a cold hand had seized it. Maybe in different circumstances, I could have grown fond of Anthony. Could have enjoyed the idea of him living out such a privileged life with his wife and his daughter and the grandchildren she'd undoubtedly give him. But his superiority, selfishness, and utter disregard for his own choices made it impossible for me to respect him.
