Page 72 of Late Nights

“Dad,” I began, hoping that reminding both of us that he was my dad and not my employer would help us talk things out. “I’m sorry I dropped out of the last semester of my MBA program at Stanford. I realize it was a rash decision and that the smarter route would have been to have either told you earlier I wasn’t interested in that career path, or to have finished the program and then told you I didn’t want to be a venture capitalist. I know it’s hard for you to understand that I don’t want to join the family business and that I want to have a career doing hair and owning my own salon, especially since I never expressed those interests to you before.” I sat up straighter. “But I’d really like to have your support. I don’t want our relationship to be strained. I think we both could have handled things differently five weeks ago, and I’m hoping we can move past this.”

There. I’d said it. Almost word-for-word as I had practiced over the last several nights while I’d lain in bed unable to sleep.

“Oh, Demi.” His shoulders drooped. “There are no words for how much I regret how I acted five weeks ago. I never should have gotten so angry. I was just so surprised. I didn’t understand where any of it was coming from. And then hearing that you didn’t want to join me at Vanderhall Capital was a blow I hadn’t been prepared for.” He leaned forward on his desk. “Not that any of that excuses my behavior. I’m sorry you felt like you couldn’t come to me and tell me how you feel.” He rubbed both of his temples. “Both of my children have felt like they couldn’t come to me when they were struggling.” He looked back at me, his eyes watery. “For that, I am truly sorry.”

I reached out across his desk and took his hand. “Thanks, Dad.” I squeezed his hand gently.

He stood, keeping hold of my hand as he pulled me around to join him, bringing me into a hug. “I love you, Demi. I’m proud of you for working hard to fulfill your dream. And I want you to know that I support you one hundred percent.” He pulled back, holding me by the shoulders and looking me in the eyes. “If you need anything, all you have to do is ask.”

I nodded, feeling my eyes start to water as well. I blinked back the tears, not wanting to cry. I had one more thing I needed to ask him, although the prospect of it wasn’t appealing.

“Okay, well there is one thing,” I admitted.

“What is it?”

“Would it be okay if I moved back in with you and mom for a month? I think by then I’ll have enough money to get my own place,” I asked sheepishly.

“Of course,” he said, almost like he was happy about the idea. “Are things not working out living at West’s?”

“Uh, well.” I headed back to the chair I’d been sitting in earlier. “West has kind of moved in with Halle so that I can have his room, which has left just me and Cannon, and well, I think I’m cramping his lifestyle.”

That wasn’t exactly the truth, but it was the closest thing I could think of to explain the situation I was in. There was no way I was telling my dad I couldn’t keep living with Cannon because I was pretty sure I was in love with him and he had no interest in being in a relationship with me. Gosh, just thinking about it was rough, let alone saying it out loud.

His gaze was skeptical, but he didn’t remark on what I’d said. “You’re welcome here anytime. I promise to never kick you out again.”

A swell of relief overcame me. The much-needed space from Cannon was now within my reach. I wouldn’t have to live constantly trying to make sure I didn’t show my feelings for him.

“Thank you so much,” I said. “I won’t be able to move all my stuff back for a few days because of classes and work.”

“There’s no timeline, just whenever it works for you,” he said with a smile.

I stood up to go back and join the rest of the group for dessert, when my dad’s voice stopped me in the doorway.

“Oh, and make sure you have a dress for the work party on Friday night.”

My brows creased. A dress for the work party? I wasn’t planning on going since I wouldn’t be joining the company any longer, but maybe he just wanted his family there. My dad loved keeping up with appearances, and I shouldn’t have been surprised he wanted to show off his “perfect little family.” Instead of asking him why he wanted me there and risking ruining the great moment we’d just had, I kept my mouth shut. In the grand scheme of things, going to a party for my dad wasn’t a big deal. I’d been to so many during my life, what was one more?

“Uh, okay,” I said slowly, and then left his office, still finding it odd he wanted me to attend the company party.

23

Cannon

We stepped out onto the terrace, and I breathed in the crisp air, grateful to get a breather from the discussion involving my love life.

I hadn’t planned on saying anything. I’d known Victor was going to ask about my dating life, he did every family dinner. And now that West had found a woman, Victor had been even more interested in who I was dating. Usually I gave a generic answer, claiming I was still on the hunt, when in reality I never was.

But when he’d asked me tonight, I’d found myself not wanting to give him the same tired answer. I’d wanted to tell him there was someone whom I was interested in, whom I wanted to date for real. I hadn’t been ready to tell him it was his daughter, but talking to him about a girl in general and facing my fears about being good enough for Demi was something I had been too scared to do before. Knowing that he saw me in such a positive light was both amazing and unbelievable. Now the only question was if he would still feel that same way when he knew I had been talking about his daughter.

“Cannon,” my grandfather said, bringing me out of my thoughts. “Let’s sit.”

We walked over to the patio furniture, taking a seat that looked out at the beautiful yard, with lights around the pool and shrubbery.

“First off,” he started. “I don’t like it when you keep things from me.”

His serious expression had me worried. What was he talking about?

“And secondly, I don’t like how you think you could actually keep something from me.” He gave me another pointed look. “I may be old but I’m not blind. And I know you better than you think.”

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