Page 24 of Billionaire's Baby Mistake

“I do,” he growls aggressively. “Itismy formula, so I can do whatever the fuck I want with it. I want to sell it to Nomadic Medical. Then when the stocks of International Pharma Co. fall dramatically, which they will because Marty will release this before Alex … however far along they are. Nomadic Medical is much bigger, much better, and with much quicker systems.”

He sits back in his seat, smirking as I pace the room in distress. It’s as if he can’t see my emotions… either that or he doesn’t care.

“Then when International Pharma Co is worth nothing, I will buy it, fire everyone, and Van and I will rebuild it from the ground up…in to the profit machine that I always wanted it to be. Hell, Zaya, you’ve done a good job here. You can come along too if you want?”

Does he hear himself? Does he want a pharmaceutical company for profit? He wants to make money out of the chronically ill, the sick, and the dying… how messed up is that? If he had this attitude before, I’m starting to see why Peter wanted him out. For the first time in my entire life, I can see through his façade. I’m starting to realize that maybe Dad isn’t a hero after all and being forced out of the business was the right decision. And I inflicted my revenge, I supported the wrong side. Oh my God, I will be sick.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I insist, hoping that with one last ditch effort, I might be able to do some good and change everything around. “Wouldn’t it be better to do something positive with the formula? Or…if you have to sell it, then do that, but don’t bother with International Pharma Co. You might not like the Bryson family, but good people work there - decent people with families and lives…”

“They chose to work for the devil, and they have to live with that decision,” he interrupts sharply.

“And what are you on about,” Van interjects, smiling. “They’re all assholes, the lot of them. The scientists are stuck up pricks, the receptionists think they rule the fucking world, the accountants are boring as shit, Nina stalks about the place like she’s some sort of fucking goddess, someone much more special than she is…” Oh, okay, maybe moneyisn’tthe only motivator. Maybe Van has picked up some grudges along the way, too. “Fuck the lot of them, they don’t deserve anything.”

I can’t reason with a man like that, and I have no desire to do so. He’s an idiot, and Dad has control anyway, so I shake my head and turn to face the man who is supposed to have loved me my entire life. “Look, Dad, I will help you with this. Just create the drug yourself and make your own money. Leave everyone else out of it.” I’m growing desperate and know that I will stay if needs me, just to ensure that no more damage is done to Alex or International Pharma Co.

“The deal is done,” Dad insists and shakes his head at me. “I’ve spoken to Nomadic and it’s already sorted out. There isn’t anything you can do now to change the plan, and you shouldn’t want to. This is what you’ve worked for your whole life. Your bit is done now; you can relax and enjoy this part.”

He stands up and walks slowly toward me, before resting his hand on my arm and looking lovingly at my face, but I shake him off quickly.

“No, Dad, that isn’t good enough. I didn’t think you even had a plan when I first started this fiasco. I naively assumed that it was all me. I would infiltrate International Pharma Co., and get your formula back, then I would help you to make something better of your life - to finally make you happy. Now I can see that you had a game plan all along and I was just a piece of the puzzle.”

“It isn’t like that…” he tries to explain, but I have no intention of allowing him to get a word in edgeways.

“You need to make a decision to go along with the plan and do things in the right way, or I’m done.” I purse my lips, trembling all over, willing him to see that I’m right. “I will leave here, move away, and you will never see me again.”

“Don’t be so fucking ridiculous,” he mocks. “What is this? Because of your little love affair with Alex? Oh, don’t you worry, Van has kept me fully up to date. I thought you wouldn’t fall for him; at least that’s what you told me. I thought you were mentally stronger than that…better than your emotions. You’re as fucking weak as your mother…”

“Don’t youeverspeak about Mom like that!” I yell, everything boiling over now. “How dare you?”

“What the fuck do you care?” he laughs nastily. “You didn’t ever know her.” He doesn’t tell me that’s because I killed her, but the implication is clear. “You might look like me, and once I thought you were a lot like me, but now all I can see is her face. She was weak, a slave to her feelings, nothing like…”Jenny… of course, it’s always been, Jenny.“Look, I’ve already made the deal, I cannot back out now…”

“So, you choose money over your daughter?” When he doesn’t respond, I finally allow the tear to fall down my cheeks. “Really? Are you serious?” But still, he says nothing, so I turn and walk away without giving him a second glance. The tears are streaming now. I’m on the verge of sobs, and I don’t want him to see them. “What if I tell you that Iamin love with Alex, huh?” I fold my arms defiantly across my chest. “What then?”

“Well, he doesn’t love you, so you’re the idiot who got her heart broken.”

I don’t believe him anymore. I don’t buy anything he says. He doesn’t evenknowAlex, so why would he have that opinion? No, I am the one in the right here.

“He does love me. He proposed and we’re engaged.” I don’t know why I said that. Alex is far from my fiancé, but if I can make Dad understand that he doesn’t know everything, then maybe he will shut up and listen. He’s hearing me because his cheeks are burning red.

“We’re getting married, Dad. I’m going to be a Bryson too, so if you destroy International Pharma Co. like this, then it’s my future you will be taking down as well.”

“You wouldn’t dare.” His hands are balled into fists by his side. “You wouldn’t do that to me.”

“Maybe everything isn’t about you, Dad. Maybe for once in my life, I want to do something for me. I love Alex, and I want to marry him. You need to accept that and cease all this. I thought you wanted to do good and make the world a better place. But this isn’t something I can get behind. Working with Marty Gogh and Nomadic Medical is a step too far.”

“Getout!” he screams, louder than I have ever heard him yell before. “Get out and never come back. If you marry that asshole, you are no my daughter. You’re dead to me.”

“Dead to you?” I cock a knowing eyebrow. “So itismoney then.”

I storm out, making sure to slam the door behind me, gulping in as much air as I can manage while emotion overcomes me. I walk slowly away from Dad’s home, feeling emptier than ever before. It was okay when I was feeling bold and yelling, but now… now I’m lost. I don’t have anything. I was forced to make a snap judgment and chose poorly. I chose the man who’s always been in my life, the one I thought I knew, and now I have to live with the consequences.

This is all my fault; even if I didn’t start it, I made it happen. It’s up to me to fix it, but I don’t know how. There isn’t anyone left on this whole planet that gets me and is on my side. How can I stop the deal with Nomadic from going through before it’s too late? There’s only one person who would know what to do, but I can’t imagine that he ever wants to talk to me again… Why would Alex even want to look at me? Without any other option, I make the call.

“Hello, Nomadic Medical, how may I help you?” My heart pounds and I feel sick. I don’t know what to do with myself, but I’m going to at least try. If I ever want to make this up to Alex, this is the one place where I can start.

“Hello, my name is… well, that isn’t important. I want to talk to someone… your boss, about the deal made with David Connelly.”

“A deal? David Connelly?” she sounds a little confused, which has me baffled. I assume Nomadic would be over the moon about sticking it to International Pharma Co. and that they would all be talking about it. “Um… no, there’s no deal.”

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