Filthy Beast(125)

“Go right in,” Peter says as we reach my father’s study. I don’t look at him as he walks past me and disappears back into the apartment.

Gavin takes my hand again. “You okay?” he whispers. “What did he say?”

“Nothing,” I answer. “Let’s get this over with.”

Gavin frowns but doesn’t argue. I open the doors and we step into my father’s office.

Hans Tillman looks up as we enter. He’s sitting behind his desk just like last time. We walk straight in and sit down in the chairs in front of his desk like it’s some business meeting. He arches his fingers in front of him and looks at me.

“I’m glad you came,” he says.

“I had no other choice.”

He smiles a bit. “You always have a choice, Sadie.”

“Well, here I am. Let’s talk.”

“I don’t feel like dragging this out anymore, so I’m going to get right to the point.” Father looks at Gavin and smiles a bit. “You’re hurting right now. I know that. You’re angry with me and my family, and your business isn’t doing so hot. Am I right?”

Gavin hesitates then nods. “You’re right.”

“You probably want to fight this,” father says.

“I do,” Gavin confirms.

“Here’s what I’ll offer. If Sadie accepts a complete and utter separation from the Tillman family, including changing her surname to something else, then I will back off your businesses and leave the two of you alone. Provided you never enter into our lives again.”

Gavin stares at my father then looks at me. “I’d turn him down right now if I were you,” he says. “But it’s your choice.”

I stare at my father, at the lines on his face, at the wrinkles forming. He looks older than he did a month ago, somehow frailer. I don’t know why but I suddenly see him as the man he’s always been, a mean and spiteful man, but not as my father. That façade is gone now, and he’s just Hans Tillman.

That makes what I say next easy.

“Okay.”

Both men look at me. Gavin seems sad, but not surprised, while my father seems genuinely shocked.

“Okay?” he asks. “You agree to all of my terms?”

“Yes,” I say. “I want to leave this family. I don’t want your money. If I fought, it would just be out of spite, but I’m done with that. I don’t want to be like you anymore. So I’ll sign any documents you want and I’ll change my name, as long as you leave us alone just as we’ll leave you alone.”

Hans Tillman stares at me for a second then nods slowly. He doesn’t smile and he doesn’t seem triumphant. In fact, he just seems tired.

“Very well,” he says. “It’ll all be in writing. I’ll have my lawyers send over the paperwork as soon as possible.”

“Good,” I say. “Are we done here?”

He hesitates before nodding. “We’re done here.”

“Have a good life, Hans,” I say, standing. He watches me, but doesn’t answer.

Gavin takes my hand and we leave the office without another word. I manage to make it out into the elevator before I start crying.

“It’s okay,” Gavin whispers. “It’s okay. It’s over now.” He pulls me in close and holds me as we sink back down toward the street.

“I just want you to know, I’m not crying about what happened back there,” I say as we finally reach the lobby. I get myself together as we walk across the marble floor. “I’m really not.”

“Why are you crying, then?” he asks me, holding my hand as we step out into the warm city afternoon.

“I’m sad for the person that I used to be,” I say. “I’m sad for that naïve girl. But I’m really, really happy that this is what happened. I’m happy it’s with you.”

He smiles at me and kisses me softly. “Come on, I want to show you something.”

I follow him as we walk down the sidewalk. “Where are we going?” I ask.

“Don’t worry. We’re almost there.”

We pass by familiar shops, restaurants, and churches. This was my neighborhood once, although it’s not anymore. I’ll miss parts of it and won’t miss other parts, but it’ll always be important to me.

We walk a few blocks and ahead I can see the park rising up in the middle of all the concrete. He strides up to the streetlight that I used to stand under when he’d come pick me up after I snuck out. I join him there, smiling a little bit.

“This is familiar,” I say.

“It wasn’t so long ago that you stood there, waiting for me,” he says. “You risked a lot for that.”