Chapter 91 - Daddy Dominant's Good Girl

Ellis had his car brought to the school and we left Ken around lunchtime. Most of the other parents had left and the teachers wanted the students back in class.

I twisted my hands in my lap and kept my eyes down, thinking of the wish that Ken had made.

“I’m sorry, Ellis. I know that Ken told me about the open day at school. With everything else going on, I just forgot,” I muttered.

“You don’t have to apologize, Olivia. I want to be here as a father for Ken. I’m happy to do these things. Besides, there is nothing more important to me than you and Ken,” he said. He reached over and patted my hand with his before pulling away quickly.

“But…”

Ellis shook his head. “If you feel you must make it up to me, you can do me a favor.”

I glanced at him suspiciously and narrowed my eyes. “Okay.”

“I’m starving. Come to lunch with me?” He smirked and glanced sideways at me. His question was phrased more as an order.

“Of course, that is a favor I can manage,” I said, flashing him a quick grin.

Ellis nodded and turned a corner, heading into the city. I looked out the window as we drove, recognizing several places I used to go to. He rolled up in front of the Red Sea.

I sighed and shook my head. I had fond memories at this restaurant with Ellis.

“Does my choice of restaurant displease you?” he asked, cutting the engine.

“No, this is fine,” I assured.

Inside the restaurant, Ellis’s friend Jesse immediately spotted us and greeted us at the door.

“Ellis Peterson, it has been a while,” he said with a big, sweeping grin.

“I’ve been busy, enjoying cuisine around the world,” Ellis said, smirking.

“And you’ve chosen to return here? Why, I am flattered.” Jesse winked and the two men shook hands.

He turned to me, arching an eyebrow and then glancing back at Ellis quickly.

“Miss Olivia Richardson. I never thought you’d darken my doorstep again,” Jesse purred, smirking at me.

“It isn’t like I died,” I said, crossing my arms.

“Vanished into thin air is more like it,” Jesse teased.

I rolled my eyes. “Well, I am back now. Are you going to hold that against me forever?”

Jess shrugged. “No, I suppose not. I can see the sparks haven’t dulled between you two.”

Jesse motioned for us to follow him and he brought us to a booth in a secluded corner of the nice restaurant. As usual Red Sea was packed with high-end fine diners. Conversation, along with clinking glasses, echoed around us.

“Now, I don’t want to see any tears, have anyone run out of the restaurant in a tisy, or hear anything about needing a PI to track someone down, do you understand?” Jesse asked, chuckling as he motioned to the booth.

I sighed and slid in, picking up one of the menus.

“We will behave ourselves,” Ellis assured, touching Jesse on the shoulder.

I arched an eyebrow at him. “Oh, I know I’ll behave myself. You’re the one that never seems to be able to,” I pointed out.

Ellis grinned at Jesse. “Well, I can’t argue with that, can I?”

“Gotta love a man who can misbehave,” Jesse told me. “We both know you do.”

I opened my mouth to argue as Ellis and Jesse shared a light laugh. Before I could speak, Ellis changed the subject.

“Jesse, might we have a word in private?” he asked. He flashed me a quick smile.

My heart pattered in my chest. I was grateful that Ellis changed the subject. I figured he’d picked up on my discomfort and took control. He was good at that.

“Yes, follow me into the kitchens. I’ll send a server out to get you something to drink, Miss Olivia,” Jesse waved at me and he and Ellis disappeared into the kitchen.

Sighing, I picked up the menu and glanced over the options. It had been updated since the last time I was there. My favorite dish had been removed but there were several mouth watering options in its place.

“Olivia?” a masculine, somewhat familiar, caught my attention.

I looked up from the menu and gaped. “Paul?” I asked. I stood up and moved to greet him. “Is that really you?”

“I know it has been a long time. I’ve changed but you’re just as radiant as ever,” Paul said. He took my hands in his.

“I never thought you’d stay in town once you graduated,” I said, squeezing his hands lightly. It was nice to see a familiar face, even if our one and only date hadn’t gone so well.

“Honestly, I wasn’t planning to. It kind of just worked out that way. I still come here now and then. It is a really great restaurant. Thank you for introducing me to it.” He smiled brightly, that same, charming, boyish smile that had first drawn me in.

“So, I haven’t heard anything about you in a while. What have you been up to?” Paul asked.

I bit my lower lip and pulled my hands from his. I rocked back on my heels. “Oh, you know, this and that. I’ve been playing piano overseas, actually.”

“Wow! That is amazing. I always knew you’d do something great with your life,” he said animatedly.

I blushed a little and smiled shyly. Then I saw a familiar gleam in Paul’s eyes.

“Are you… well, are you seeing anyone?” he asked, his eyes shifting nervously.

I laughed a little, the sound strained and tight.

A heavy arm came around my shoulders and I stiffened.

“Excuse me, sir. I believe we met once before under similar circumstances. Though, I haven’t heard my wife mention you since that fateful night. What was your name again?”

Ellis’s deep voice sent a shudder through my bones. I winced a little and looked at Paul. He’d gone white as a sheet and he swallowed loudly.

“Y-you’re married?” he asked me, his body rigid.

I glanced at Ellis, who wore a confident, smug smirk. It was like he was daring me to object in public after he’d made a strong statement.

I looked back at Paul and shook my head.

“Well, we’re just about there, aren’t we?” Ellis asked.

As frustrating as it was for Ellis to take over my conversations and assert his control with falsehoods, I didn’t want to deal with turning Paul down again. So, I didn’t argue with what Ellis said. I’d have plenty of time to deal with him once Paul was gone.

“Wow. I mean… wow. That is big news. I wish you both the best and a very happy marriage.” Paul nodded to me, a strained smile on his face that didn’t meet his eyes.

He sighed and his shoulders hunched as he turned slowly and walked away.

As soon as he was out of earshot, I rounded on Ellis. “Why did you do that? We are not even a couple, let alone engaged or getting married!”

“We’re still a family. I am Ken’s father. I can’t help it if other people see the sparks between us and jump to their own conclusions,” Ellis said, shrugging casually.

He slid into the booth and picked up his menu but I wasn’t done talking to him yet. I sat across from him and grabbed the top of the menu, pulling it flat on the table top and looking into Ellis’s eyes.

“That is still very different than being husband and wife. Besides, if you didn’t use terms like “wife” and “marriage,” maybe people wouldn’t jump to those conclusions,” I pointed out.

Ellis sighed and fixed me with a pointed look. “Don’t be so sure. The first few comments out of Jesse’s mouth implied we were still a couple.”

“But we’re not a couple,” I said, the major point that he seemed to be forgetting.

He smiled at me fondly and shrugged. I didn’t know why he wasn’t giving me more of an argument.

“You’re right, we aren’t a couple. But we are family,” he said again. He gave me his oh so charming grin and picked up the menu again. “So, tell me, what are you thinking of for lunch?”

I sighed and chuckled. He was being so smooth and pleasant that his charm was contagious. I picked up my menu and glanced at it.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

My phone went off in my pocket. I answered quickly when I saw it was my mom.

“Mom, how are you doing?” I asked. I hadn’t had a chance to really talk to her about everything that had been going on with Bethany.

“Olivia, your father has taken a turn for the worse,” my mom said, sniffling and sobbing into the line.

“I thought he was getting better,” I said, my heart rate picking up. I put a hand on my chest to soothe the galloping beast.

“That’s what the doctors said. He seems to have taken a sharp decline. They say he doesn’t have long. Can you meet me here?” she asked.

“I’ll be right there.” I hung up and looked at Ellis. “I have to get to the hospital. My dad is… well, my mom thinks he doesn’t have a lot of time left.”

Ellis drew his brows together. “That’s unusual, given his recent improvement,” he commented.

Already, we were on our feet and heading to the car.

“I won’t know until we get there.”

I stared out the passenger window, chewing on my nails as Ellis drove to the hospital. He didn’t say anything but the few times I glanced at him, his face was hard and serious.

My mom was waiting outside the OR. She had fresh tears on her face, her hands trembled as she clenched and unclenched her fists. I ran right into her arms.

“Mom, what is going on?” I asked.

“I- I was here visiting and he… h-he… the monitors went o-off. Th-they said he d-didn’t have a p-pulse,” she sobbed on my shoulder.

“Where is Dad now?” I asked.

“I-in the o-operating room. Th-they are trying to…” she trailed off with a sob and clung to me.

“They are trying to resuscitate him,” Ellis finished.

My mother nodded.

“Did the doctors tell you anything about what had happened?” I asked.

“Th-they d-don’t know any-anything,” my mom sobbed. She sighed heavily, leaning all her weight on me. She felt frail in my arms, like caring for my father had caused her to waste away.

“I’ll make a few calls. The best doctors in the country will be here in a few hours to take care of him,” Ellis offered.

I mouthed a ‘thank you’ to him as he stepped away with his phone out.

Gently, I coaxed my mom to a nearby waiting area and got her settled into a seat. She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue.

“Mom, they’ll get him back, they have to,” I whispered. I wasn’t sure if I was trying to convince her or myself. I still hadn’t forgiven my father completely. He couldn’t go without me forgiving him!

“Oh, you don’t have to worry about Daddy anymore,” Bethany’s sharp voice came from behind us. Her shrill laughter filled the waiting area.

Ice trickled down my spine as her heels clicked on the linoleum and she walked around the chairs so we could see her. My mother’s arms tightened around me.

“Daddy’s dying wish was to sign everything the Richardsons owned over to me. I’m the only heir and you, Olivia, aren't needed or wanted here anymore,” she sneered.