Page 4 of Park Avenue Princess

Chapter 1

Lynne – Six years ago

“I can’t just walk away,” I say to my friend and colleague, Addison. My voice is a mix of confusion and fatigue.

“You sure as hell can,” she says adamantly while draining what’s left of the wine in her glass. As she refills, she gestures to mine with her brows raised in question. I wave her off, her comment settling in my mind as I stare into the Rosé I’m swirling around instead of drinking.

Can I walk away from all I’ve accomplished? All I’ve worked for?

After taking a healthy sip, Addison faces me. “Lynne, you’ve hustled your ass off for that man, and for what? Not one goddamned kudos, thank you, or acknowledgment that you’ve taken his firm to the next level. I mean, DuVall Accounting has been an exceptional firm for many years, but when you joined…” She makes the sound of an explosion while her hands spring out from the sides of her head. “And your mother has never been more in her element with her hosting parties for many of the elite in the city.”

Ah, yes, my mother. The woman more concerned with appearances than emotion. The woman who could never see a fault in her husband. My father. The man I revered until I learned my hero-worship was wasted. No one could idolize my father more than himself. Well, perhaps my mother. For the past six years I did indeed work my ass off for him in his accounting firm, wanting to make him proud, thinking I wanted to continue his legacy. But being his only child—especially a female at that—earned me no favors. Not that I wanted any. I wanted to prove myself and show him I could accomplish just as much if not more than any other person in his employ.

Well that got me diddly-squat. My presence had been merely tolerated by him, and if I were to really look back on those years, my work ethic had been abused by him. He took my knowledge and gusto, used it to his advantage, and more often than not took the accolades for the results.

So what had I really worked for? What hadIreally accomplished?

Nothing for myself.

I suppose I should have known all those years ago what I was walking into. I mean, I lived by their rules even as I tried to bend them. Had I ever been happy? Had my parents? Was wealth and status their idea of happiness?

“Lynne,” Addison nudges my arm. “Isn’t it about time you focused on being happy?”

I snort out a laugh.

“What? You don’t think you’re due some happiness?”

“No, it’s not that. I mean, yes, I’d like to find some damn happiness. I was just thinking about my parent’s own version of that.” I look up at my friend. “Why is it so hard for them to love me?” I suddenly close my eyes and shake my head, realizing how pathetic that must sound. I had more than most in life and never took for granted I lacked for nothing. Except for the love and pride of my mother and father.

I feel Addison’s hand gently touch my arm. “Lynnie—”

“Forget I said that.” I chug the rest of the wine and practically slam the glass down on the table. “You’re right,” I say, looking back to Addison. “I damn well deserve some fucking happiness.”

Her eyes widen as she sputters a laugh. “Yeah you do.” Cocking her head, she gets a gleam in her eye. “So what are you going to do about it?” Taking a long drink of her wine, she continues to assess me, obviously waiting for some profound announcement.

“I’m walking away.”

Her lips twitch as she tries not to smile. “Just like that?”

I lift my chin. “Just like that.” I nod. “After I brief Dennis on my clients and projects so he can adequately reassign them.” I then shrug and chuckle as Addison joins in with her own laughter.

Okay, so I’m more conscientious than I probably should be about leaving unfinished work. Even if my father isn’t deserving of those principles, his other employees are and I don’t want them taking any of his gruff. I’ve never had a bad comment to voice about my coworkers, having enjoyed my working relationships with everyone.

“Which you can easily do through an email, therefore negating your need to return to the office.”

“How—”

“Because I know you, Lynne. You never have to look through your files to remember what projects you’re working on or what their status is. You never forget a thing because your memory is brilliantly freaky.” She shrugs. “Or freakily brilliant.” Finishing her glass of wine, she smiles and nods to my bag. “And, you practically carry your life in that satchel so there’s nothing you need to retrieve from your little corner of DuVall and Associates, CPAs, PS, BS, blah, blah, blah.”

More laughter rings out and it feels really good to let go.

“So, tell me what you’re going to do first? And it better involve only a carry-on and zero closed-toe shoes.”

I chuckle, thinking about my dream travels I’ve shared with her. I’ve seen very little beyond New York City, given I’d been completely dedicated to my studies. After graduating early from high school with those pre-requisites in my pocket, I went right into college to earn double majors in Actuarial Science and Financial Law by the age of twenty-two. Then I completed a two-year internship before joining my father’s firm.

“Well,” I draw out as my mouth curls into a grin. “I just so happened to be looking at a travel blog I’ve gotten hooked on, and turns out it’s a pretty good time of year to go to New Zealand.”

She laughs. “Nearly any place is a good place to go this time of year if it means getting out of NYC winters.”

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