Page 128 of Sacrifice (Corrupt Empire 2)

Getting to my feet, I knew I had other things to do. I hadn’t come here to rehash the past. I’d come to find out what conditions my father had put into my trust fund. I wasn’t sure why I felt so strongly about it, but I did. There was a reason Frazier kept pushing me towards Tristan.

I turned and walked out of the kitchen. I passed the bedroom I’d grown up in. There was no point me going in there. It would only make this harder. Those memories weren’t worth reliving.

Reaching my dad’s office, I paused outside the closed door. The dark wood was so familiar. The number of times I’d run in and out of here as a kid, pestering him for one thing or another. The closed door meant he was busy and didn’t want to be disturbed. Except he wasn’t alive any longer.

I grabbed the handle, turned it and pushed open the door. The faint smell of whisky and cigars hit me immediately as I stepped in. The sight of his desk with his chair tucked neatly behind crippled me. Wave after wave of nostalgia and sorrow hit me. Crushing me under its weight.

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“Daddy!”

I ran into the room as fast as my little legs could carry me. He was sitting at his desk, but he pushed his chair back and opened his arms. I launched myself into his lap, savouring the bear hug he gave me.

“Morning Angel, did you sleep well?”

“Yes, Mummy said we’re having pancakes this morning.”

“She did? Well, aren’t we in for a treat?”

I nodded. He ruffled my hair.

“You’re getting so big now. Soon you’ll be as tall as Mummy.”

I grinned, wriggling in his grasp.

“Will I be as beautiful as Mummy?”

“Between you and me, I think you’ll be the most beautiful girl in the whole wide world.”

He looked over my shoulder, smiling.

“Careful, Mitch, you’ll have her thinking she can take on the world if you start talking like that,” my mum’s voice came from behind us.

I turned around, sitting in my dad’s lap properly.

“She will. My little girl is going to do great things. Just no boys, you hear me?”

“Boys are gross.”

He ruffled my hair.

“You’ll change your mind about that one day.”

I shook my head.

“No way. Boys are stupid.”

“Even James?”

I put my finger on my chin.

“James is okay.”

“I thought you didn’t like any boys.”

“James is my friend.”

Mum came further into the room.

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