Chapter 3 - THERE IS A CATCH

SIENNA

His words hammered into me like a relentless storm, resonating through the chambers of my mind.

I just stood there, speechless and overwhelmed, taking a step back to afford him the space he seemed to need to cross the threshold.

“Broke? Seriously, give me the version of what ‘broke’ means,” I demanded, my tone sharp and insistent.

Struggling to put his thoughts into words, he shook his head slowly and took several deep breaths to gather his judgments.

In one breath, he dropped the bombshell.

“My company’s tapped out. We’re flat broke.’”

The realization hit me like a ton of bricks.

“No more money?” I repeated, feeling my throat constrict and my mouth go dry. How could this be happening? My father, who used to swim in cash like Scrooge McDuck, was now claiming to be broke. What made him think I’d buy into this?

Unexpectedly, laughter bubbled up from within me, and I collapsed into my work chair, unable to contain it. My father’s confused expression only made me laugh harder. “Sienna, I’m dead serious,” he insisted, his tone pleading. “I wouldn’t joke about this, especially with your sister’s life hanging in the balance. We’re completely strapped for cash.”

The shock hit me like a freight train, leaving me numb and unable to process what I was hearing.

“Wow, you couldn’t keep the company’s finances in check? Is it the company’s fault or yours?”

“Both…” he said, his voice barely a whisper.

“How could you let this happen? How could you squander all our money?” I yelled, my frustration boiling over. He didn’t deserve an ounce of my sympathy. My mom and sister were counting on him, and he let them down.

“I made some poor business moves that backfired. We ended up losing way more money than we could handle,” he explained, his voice tinged with regret.

“We? Don’t drag us all into the same mess you’ve created! What exactly did you do?” I snapped, my frustration mounting with each passing moment.

“I poured a ton of money into this new project, thinking it would be a goldmine. But, it tanked big time. We... I ended up losing a lot of cash,” he confessed with a heavy sigh.

“Why didn’t you talk to anyone before diving into such a risky investment? Did you even consider the consequences? But of course, you’re a lone wolf, aren’t you? A selfish bastard who only thinks about himself!” I screamed so loudly that heads turned from people passing by my studio.

I was so on edge around this man claiming to be my father that I could barely keep my composure.

No matter how much I tried to grasp his words, they seemed like a jumbled mess, leaving me more confused than ever. While his financial woes didn’t particularly interest me, I couldn’t help but feel relieved to see him succeed in some way.

This spared my sister from any unpleasantness or hardships. Now, with everything he owned gone, and my sister’s health deteriorating rapidly, and she had her days numbered. His financial crisis was so dire that he couldn’t even afford her medication.

God, I was boiling with rage!

“What was the business that drove you to bankruptcy?” I finally asked him.

“My business was already struggling, so I considered seeking assistance from another company to help me steer it back on track, but unfortunately, it didn’t pan out,” he explained.

Once again, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter, but this time, it was tinged with a hint of nervousness.

“Are you out of your mind?” I snapped at him. “What on earth possessed you to behave like this? My God...”

If it weren’t for my sister, I’d probably have kicked him out without a second thought.

Being in the same room as him was unbearable. The man before me was a far cry from the one I once knew. He was never one to make rash decisions. He’d always meticulously researched and weighed every option before making a move.

He’d plunged headfirst into this thing without a second thought, and now he sat on my couch in my workspace, broke and seeking help.

“So, any chance you could lend a hand to your old man?” he asked, his voice sounding desperate.

His careless attitude and indifference troubled me deeply. Nevertheless, I couldn’t shake off my curiosity.

“What’s the figure we’re looking at?” I inquired, but he remained silent. I was so pissed off at seeing him like this. “Alright, I see. You’re playing the silent game. You boast about having a whole damn army of team leaders. Couldn’t one of them have talked some sense into you before you went ahead with this idiotic move?”

“Five million,” he stated bluntly.

My remark seemed to have struck a chord. He slowly raised his gaze to meet mine, wearing an expression I hadn’t seen in ages. At that moment, I realized how much I had missed seeing him like that.

“My whole life revolves around this company, Sienna, and it’s everything to me. I truly believe I can turn things around. I just need to secure the funds to make it happen. So I’m exploring some business opportunities to get there, but...”

His attention drifted, lost in his own thoughts. “We arranged for your sister’s chemotherapy to begin as soon as we got the news. Time is of the essence, and every moment is precious. However, the expense is simply too much for me to bear. All my bills are coming due, and a few months ago, I had to sell my car to sum up some extra cash.”

But his last statement only fueled my laughter even more.

“It’s not a joke, Sienna,” he said in a serious tone.

“You’re saying it’s not a joke. But remember how you always said time was money? You never spared a second for us, your own family. And now, suddenly, you’re clinging to every moment, begging me for help?”

Even then, it felt like something out of a surreal nightmare. Only a fool would believe that his plan could actually succeed.

And then I realized, painfully but clearly. “I see it now! Your ridiculous pride is the only thing preventing you from saving Alicia,” I quipped with a bitter laugh.

If he wanted to ruin his own life with his unrealistic dreams, that was his choice. But I wouldn’t stand by and let him drag my little sister down with him, against her will.

“I have to disagree with you, Sienna. I think you’ve misunderstood,” he countered.

“Oh yeah? Then why don’t you try to explain it properly, like you actually mean it? I challenge you to prove me wrong. And while we’re at it, I demand that you bring my sister and mother here. If you can do that, I’ll happily disappear from your life for good. You have full control over your money and business decisions. Just bring them here, and I’ll take care of everything else,” I challenged him, my voice tinged with determination.

Even though I spoke plainly, I couldn’t come up with an alternative. I was resolute in my decision not to leave Alicia in the care of a man who was solely preoccupied with saving his sinking empire from financial disaster.

“No, Sienna, you’ve got it wrong,” my father insisted, rising from the couch. He paced around the studio with an air of confidence, as if he were in his own home. His regained self-assurance only fueled my anger further in the midst of the situation.

“Did I? Please, be honest about this. You’re in no position to support yourself, let alone your own biases. I refuse to let my mother or sister suffer anymore,” I countered, my tone firm and unwavering.

“I’m telling you, she’ll get the best care at Memorial Oncology Hospital. Your help is all I need,” he kept saying, driving me crazy at his insistence. But I couldn’t help doubting whether he could really save the company. He just didn’t seem equipped for it.

“Stop dreaming, buddy, and quit endangering my sister’s life! I won’t let you do that, no matter what! I don’t really care about your life choices or what you do with it. That’s your problem to deal with. But I have a duty to my mom and sis, and I’m asking you to bring them here so they can see me. Put your ego aside and think about what’s best for them,” I demanded firmly.

I couldn’t hold it together anymore, so I told him to get out of my studio and out of my life for good.

“Sienna, listen up. This isn’t just about pride, alright? It’s about finding a way to sort things out. I know your sister’s health is a top priority for you, and it is for me, too. But honestly, I’ve got a gut feeling that my plan will work out. I’m dead certain about it. Having someone who’s all in on my vision is a game-changer. I need his support and cash to make it happen,” he explained, sounding earnest.

His words were all over the place, making no sense at all. It felt like he was trying to pull a fast one on someone, but who exactly? With not a penny to his name, he couldn’t even buy a loaf of bread if he wanted to. And I found myself in a similar boat. Sure, Alicia’s treatment could cost a pretty penny, but that wasn’t even the main issue here. With her by my side, I’ve always weathered the storms. But this time, it was different. It was a matter of life and death, and it was hitting hard.

I never expected my dad to be so pumped up about it. His excitement caught me off guard, but in a good way. What if this wasn’t just some scheme or trickery? Maybe, just maybe, there was some truth to it. To be fair, my sister deserved to hear him out and make up her own mind about it all.

“What investor are you talking about? And if he does exist, like you claim, who is he?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.

My heart was up in my throat from how fast it was beating.

“I’m talking about Aiden Roberts,” my father blurted out, as if he saw him as our saving grace.

My breath caught in my throat, and suddenly, it felt like the air refused to enter my lungs. Aiden Roberts? The very mention of his name sent shivers down my spine. The same Aiden Roberts who accused me of theft, resulting in hours spent locked up? Fear surged through me at the mere thought of him. What could he possibly want now?

“You’ve got to be kidding me! Or are you actually serious?” I asked, dumbfounded.

“I’ve never been more serious in my life. Roberts is our only shot at getting the funds we need. And you can’t refuse. Your sister’s life hangs in the balance, and it all depends on Roberts investing in our company,” he insisted, his tone grave and determined.

His audacity completely took me off guard. He had the nerve to barge into my workplace, disrupting my efforts to restore something of immense significance to a family, only to come to me with complaints about his financial woes and suggest turning to that lowlife Aiden Roberts as our savior. It was utterly unthinkable. It couldn’t be real. This had to be some kind of sick joke.

“What’s in it for him?” I demanded, suspicion tainting my tone.

My father seemed oblivious to the possible consequences down the line, a fact that irked me to no end. It frustrated me he thought he could rescue the company without having to owe anything to that despicable Roberts. Getting involved with that billionaire was definitely not a smart move.

“Why do you think he has something to gain from it? Apart from raising our company,” he retorted, but the tone of his voice betrayed his true feelings.

He was trying to hide Roberts’ true face, but it wasn’t working. Everyone knew who Aiden Roberts was, and I felt it first hand.

“Because these people always have something to gain from stupid believers like us!”

“It sounds like you really despise him...”

“None of your damn business. What does he want?” I asked firmly.

“YOU, Sienna! He wants you!”