Page 114 of Manhattan Tormentor

“You’ll watch how you talk to me, you entitled prick. I gave you everything and I can take it all away just as easily.”

“You could,” I agree, with a tight grin. “But the thing is, Jeremy. I don’t want anything from you. I have everything I need already. The beginning of a good career in front of me, it might not earn millions like you, but I’m good at it and I’m happy. Oh, yeah, and I’m gay now. So you see, I don’t need what you’re offering. It comes with too steep of a price, it always did.”

I see my surprise has landed as I hoped.

He’s right, I’m kind of a prick to drop my new status on him like this. Had I received a warmer fatherly reception, I would have told him about Sage in a better way. This man in front of me might have given me life and every materialistic thing a boy could want. But he’s been ice cold my whole life too.

“You’re gay now?” He repeats. Slow and frosty, as if testing the words are real.

I smile. “Yep. He’s called Sage. Sage Fierro.” Dad’s gaze narrows with recognition. “You’ve heard of them, right? Bet Noah could match you penny for penny.” I chuckle. Dad only understands dollar signs, that remark will sting.

“You are not a fucking faggot.” He rises. A tall, imposing man I would have done anything for long ago. His appearance is intimidation personified to anyone else. He controls boardrooms as proficiently as a soldier does his gun on a battlefield.

However, as I sit casually on his office chair, with my leg bent over my knee, I see him for who he really is.

He’s a bully.

And he once taught me well.

His control of me is long gone and I don’t cower from his stare.

I’d love to drop the bombshell on him that he’s about to lose his obedient wife too, but that’s for mom to spring the happy announcement on him, when she tells him about the impending divorce coming his way. Her and I have grown closer this past year, surprising really. I always knew she felt as trapped under dad’s authority as I was, but to actually hear of his cold treatment toward her came as a shock. What was a bigger shock was her repeated apologies for not standing up for me more. She confessed each time she tried to, dad took it out on me and would threaten her with sending me away. It was how he kept her quiet. Fucking asshole really has been dad of the century, give that man an award.

Now I know how bad she had it, being controlled by every penny, she had no choice but to stay with him until she could hide enough funds. I hate she thought she had to wait until I graduated though.“I was weak, Finn. I’m so sorry.”She’s told me more than once.

The man in front of me made me and mom his chess pieces. Sage and I helped her find an apartment not far from ours. She’s working on herself and together we’re working on us.

I switch my mind back to the parent who’s almost foaming at the mouth by my news.

“No fucking son of mine is gay, so whatever stunt you think you’re pulling, whatever you think this lie will bring you, it stops now, Finn. Do you fucking understand me now? Tell me you understand.”

His voice hasn’t risen in volume, but the threat is clear.

Get the fuck in line, Finn, or else.

It’s what I heard my whole life.

“Hate to break it to you, Dad, but the man in my bed this morning makes me queer.” I climb to my feet. My purpose for coming is done. I saw what I needed to see. “And before you start foaming at the mouth and spewing your hate around, let me make something clear, I don’t need your approval. You don’t even deserve to meet Sage. But hey, you’re the first to know I plan to propose to him. So, if you ever want to get to know me and your future son-in-law, you can give me a call.”

I won’t hold my breath.

When I lost Sage, and while I was trying to fix what was rotten inside me, I realized then I can only change myself. I have no control over anyone else or how they behave. I look at my dad and I see someone who is unwilling to change his thoughts and beliefs, even for his son, because he sees nothing wrong within himself.

The money and privilege he gave me always came with a price. But what’s important to me, what means the most to me now, is none of those things. It’s who is waiting for me outside. It’s the family who had front row seats of my badness and still they welcomed me into their home. It’s the family who celebrated my graduation as if I were one of their own.

I know what matters now, and it isn’t hoping that my father can love his son.

“I always knew you were a fucking disgrace,” he states as I start for the door. “You never could do anything right, Finn. You were destined to take over for me, you could have had every-fucking-thing if you weren’t a lazy, entitled little shit.”

His words can’t touch me now.

I turn and smile. “That’s where you’re wrong. I already have everything. Take care of yourself, Jeremy.”

Hope you fucking rot.

I don’t say this last part out loud, but I want to. I’m still a work in progress, I never said I was a decent man. Sage will be proud.

“You’re cut off, do you hear? You won’t get another cent from me! Get the fuck back here, Finn, I’m not done with you!” He yells, but I’m already halfway down the hallway.

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