Page 102 of A Very Merry Mistake

If I could pay to have every post removed, I would. But it will stay on the internet forever. It’s a lost cause.

Since Dale opened his big mouth about Merryville, I decided to release a kiss of death on his career. He was immediately terminated for harassment. My father has made it clear that I’m off-limits to anyone who works for Manchester Holdings and has fired people for less.

Some believe the rules don’t apply to them, but time has proven no one is above my father’s iron fist or his lock-tight contracts. The NDA he was made to sign keeps Dale from speaking to the media, because my father will ruin him financially for breach. No one in their right mind will throw themselves into a legal battle with the company unless they want to lose everything they own and never want to work in the industry again. Most can’t afford it, anyway.

But Dale will never be a worry of mine ever again. That’s a promise. Between Jake’s threats and my father’s, I’m sure he’s fled the country with his wifey. Good riddance.

As I lounge on my couch and flip through channels without stopping on one, my sister calls. I’m tempted to ignore it, but considering she’s in the city right now, and only four blocks away, I don’t. The last thing I need is for her to enter and see all the candy wrappers and empty ice cream containers on the floor and table. I did learn drowning myself in sugar doesn’t ease the pain. Nothing does. It only reminds me of being with Jake.

As soon as I answer the phone, I realize how chipper she is by the sound of her voice. “Want to meet me for lunch? I’ve got some things I need to tell you.”

“No, thanks,” I say, holding my finger down on the channel button on the remote.

“Oh God, are you zombie scrolling?”

“Nah.” It would’ve been believable if the volume was not up so loud.

“I’ll be over in ten minutes. This can’t wait.”

Click.

She doesn’t allow me to refuse her company, though it wouldn’t have mattered. She can and will get past security, and she knows the code to my door. There is a one-hundred-percent chance Emma will barge in within ten minutes. Because I’m curious, I set a timer on my phone.

I look around at the mess, and while I should speed-clean, I can’t be bothered. It won’t stay like this forever, and right now, I don’t have the energy to do anything but stay in my feels.

I’m physically and mentally broken, thanks to heartache and the elephant that’s been sitting on my chest since I left Texas. My anxiety has been through the roof, and when I get like this, it’s better if I’m left alone. Nothing seems to make it subside other than my meds, but even those stopped working. I’ve got an appointment with my doctor tomorrow, because it’s not okay to feel this way, even if it’s of my own volition.

At eight minutes and fifty-five seconds, my door opens and closes. I hear footsteps, then Emma leans over the couch and meets my eyes.

“Claire Caitlin Manchester. You’re a goddamn mess. Look at this place. Look at you,” she admonishes.

I point the remote at her and press mute. “Too bad it doesn’t work on you.”

“Don’t you have someone who comes in and cleans your place several times a week?” she asks, glancing around.

“I told them I’d call when I was ready and explained I was going through it.”

She shakes her head. “When is the last time you showered?”

I shrug. “Don’t remember. Don’t care. I have no one to impress. So it doesn’t matter.”

“I’d suggest you get your ass up. Father told me he’s flying to Merryville to purchase that land in January.”

I sit up and look at her. “When did this happen?”

“An hour ago.”

“Shit,” I seethe, my heart pounding hard.

“You need to snap out of this stupor.”

I smooth my messy hair back on my head. “This can’t be happening.”

“Claire, you know how he gets when his mind is made up,” she says.

My father is upset with me for sleeping with Dale, and I was told I’ve ruined my reputation—his words, not mine. It’s two steps forward and three steps back for me and him. Our relationship is complicated at best and damaged beyond belief at worst. The truth lies somewhere in the middle. And I think he’s going to Texas because he knows I don’t have the courage to go through with the deal. I’m a weakling, just as he always implied.

No, I still have compassion and can remove the needs of the business from my thoughts when necessary. My father believes everything is black and white. You’re a winner or a loser. You’re rich or poor. You have what it takes to run Manchester Holdings or you don’t.

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