"Miss Morgan."
The woman around her thirties stood up from behind her desk when she stormed inside her father's office.
"I need to speak to my father, Miss Jameson," she said in a cold tone. The drive from the restaurant with Tiffany and Susan was so painfully awkward that instead of having Tiffany take her back home, she just asked her to drop her downtown with the excuse that she had to talk to her father.
"Miss Morgan," she nervously glanced over her shoulder, checking the glass door of the inner office of her boss, "your father clearly instructed me he wouldn't like to be disturbed."
"As much as I like to do that, Miss Jameson, I can't, because I must talk to my father right at this instance."
Miss Jameson looked at the tightly shut inner door of her boss then met the eyes of her boss's daughter, thinking of the consequences of her actions. She heaved a deep sigh and gave her a smile.
"This way, Miss Morgan." She walked Lilly to the door, knocked twice, and called before her employer could hurl angry words at her. "Sir, your daughter is here. She said it's a matter of utmost importance."
She didn't wait for Mr. Morgan to reply, she pushed the glass door open and nodded Lilly to enter. Mr. Morgan was having a terrible day and he had been breaking things inside his office, screaming on the phone which was understandable with what was happening in the company.
She had been working for Mr. Morgan for a decent period of time. She has been the assistant secretary of Mister Morgan's secretary for the past three years and it was the first time that she witnessed her employer lose his cool. However, she let his daughter enter the inner office of Mr. Morgan, breaking his order because it's common knowledge that he adored his daughter.
Lilly furrowed her brows with how her father's secretary was acting jumpy. And she got to answer her curiosity the moment she stepped inside her father's office and saw broken glasses on the floor, and saw her father's harassed and dejected expression. He gave her a shaky smile when their eyes met.
"Hi, Daddy," she said in a small voice, discreetly scanning the room, checking how bad the situation was.
"Lilly, darling." He forced a smile from his lips and stood up from his chair to welcome his only child. "How was your lunch with your friends?"
Lilly swallowed the lump that was lodged at the back of her throat before answering her father. "Dad, why is Mr. Grayson's secretary was the one who came to pay our bill?"
She regretted asking the question the moment her father's eyes turned misty and his chin trembled.
"Lilly, darling, you listen to your father." He took her hands into his shaking hands. "I don't want to burden you with the business this early but…sweetheart, daddy's business is in a lam," He let go of Lilly's hands and turned around to hide the pain in his face.
"Was it that bad?" Her voice cracked. All her life, she only saw her father as someone as big as life. He is her pillar and strength and seeing him like a broken man is hurting her heart.
"Lilly, I am sorry for asking you this…but," he turned around and looked at Lilly. His eyes were red and begging. "Marry Matthew Grayson." He raised his hand in the air as if pledging. "Daddy promised to take care of the business and get the company back to its glory. You don't have to stay married to him for all your life…maybe three years tops." He broke down and cried. Dropping himself to the floor with his face buried in his palms.
Lilly panicked and kneeled in front of her father. She cradled his head in her shoulder, patted his back as he tried to control his tears.
"I'll marry Matthew, Dad," she whispered, tears in her eyes. She is still young and if she's going to be married to Matthew for three years or so, she still has the rest of her life to live her life. Right now, she had to sacrifice herself for the family business, for her father, and also because she had no idea if she could live a life that wasn't the one that she was accustomed to.
After a few minutes of silently crying on his daughter's shoulder. He lifted his face, his eyes dried with tears. "I have terrible news for you, my child." He stood up from the floor, pulling Lilly up and leading her to the receiving area of his office. When Lilly sat down on the couch, he sat on the edge of the coffee table and delivered his terrible news to his visibly shaken daughter.
"Just like what happened today, I can no longer provide you with the life I—" He averted his daughter's eyes by lowering his gaze. "You have to go to Matthew to get your allowance."
"Dad!" Her voice raised up in shock. Seeing an unfamiliar man taking care of her bill was already so shameful but going to her future husband whom she hasn't properly met to ask for money was just too much.
Her father smiled apologetically at her. Guilt and shame were written all over his face. "You don't have to go, baby," he said in a small voice, "but all of your credit cards won't be working anymore."
Her hand flew to cover her mouth as she gasped in shock. Disbelief was brimming in her eyes. "How about Pete? Is his employment terminated?" She asked in a panic. She had no idea how to take public transportation. Pete has been working as her driver since she was five years old. Chauffeuring her to and fro school to all the after-school and social activities a five-year-old does.
"I can't…I don't have the heart to terminate his employment. I know how important Pete is to you. Life is going to be rocky and uncertain from here on and the coming years…" He looked at her face and wiped the tears that escaped her eyes. "Lilly, you have to be strong."