Ophelia was in her dad’s living room, she came because he called and said he had something important to tell her and she had never heard her dad sound like that before but anyway, a lot of things had changed since her mom came. She and her mom had been in contact and every time her dad tried to contact her she cut off all possible links.
“You always talk about tardiness, and yet you are the one who kept me waiting today; you do realize that I am late to work, don’t you?” Ophelia asked, standing up as her father came into the room.
“You must be grown now seeing that you are talking to me like that,” Carter said as he sat down on one of the sofas.
“I have always been bold; you are the one who tried to silence me as much as you could..”
“I tried to silence you? I gave you a voice yet you are still going to paint me as the bad guy?” he asked shocked at her accusations. He might have ruined his marriage and home but he always tried his best to do the right thing for her. She may have lost the chance to grow up in a loving home but at least she grew up not lacking anything.
“I do not have the energy or time to get into this with you now, so can you just tell me the reason you called me out here and I will be on my way?” she said, sitting back down.
“I am planning to retire,” he said.
“What?” she looked at his face and could tell that he was not asking for her opinion or asking her to permit him; he had made up his mind and even done all that was needed as well. “You are retiring? I thought you loved your job; why are you taking such a drastic and ridiculous move?” she asked, not happy to hear it.
“I have lived my life working my butt off all my days, and now I think it is time for me to finally relax a bit,” he said.
“That is not the real reason,” she said as she understood what this was. “You are planning to go after Mom, aren’t you?”
“You sure are my daughter,” he said smugly.
“It’s so obvious what you are doing,” she murmured. “Do you think she would ever accept you back?”
“Well, I won’t know until I try,” he said, and she laughed.
“So you are retiring,” she said, and then he nodded. “What does this mean for me?” she was curious. She and Cade had been trying to build a family now, and she was ready to take at least two years off to take care of the baby when it came. Cade said he would join her as soon as she got pregnant; it was their plan at least. “Who is going to take over the company now?” she continued.
“Who else? You have to be the one,” he said.
“But…”
“You would have the entire management rights in your hands, so do with it whatever you want. I have worked quite enough, and I think it is time for me to do what I really want to do.”
“If that would make you happy, then you can do it, but you have to promise me that if Mom is not taking you in, then you must return back immediately.”
“I cannot promise you that.”
“Sure, you can; it’s so easy; all you have to say is, I promise.”
“Well, see how everything turns out,” he said instead. Carter told her how it was going to go, and then she left.
As she stepped out of the house, she tried to call Cade to tell him what happened. It was good news that he was going to be appointed chairman as well, and she wanted to be the first to tell him because she knew how fast her father could work with things like that. When he did not get her calls, he guessed that he must be in a meeting and decided to go over to see him instead of waiting.
She arrived at Cade’s office, and in the last two months, he resumed as the chairman and got himself acquainted with the staff. She was truly happy as to how they had come this far and with all, they faced on the way.
“Mr. Vale is in a meeting,” Sue announced when she got to the front of his office.
“It’s okay, I will wait for him,” she said, strolling in. Sue followed her in.
“What can I get you, ma’am? Maybe water or coffee?” she asked.
“I am fine, Sue; thanks for asking.” She sat on the couch, her hand feeling it out. “I feel a bit dizzy, so I am going to lay down here for a bit,” she added, taking off her shoes and resting her head on the headrest of the couch. She was supposed to be at work, but the urge to come and tell Cade what happened was overwhelming.
“Okay, ma’am,” Sue said, leaving and closing the door gently behind her. She came back a few minutes later with a tray filled with snacks and bottled water before leaving the room finally.
“Welcome, sir,” Sue said, getting up when Cade came into view. Cade threw a nod at her and stopped; since she stood up, she must have something to say to him.
“Shoot,” he said, and she understood.
“Your wife is in there,” she whispered as if she did not want others to hear it.
“She is?” His expression changed from a man who was serious with his business to an a puppy-like expression. “Why didn’t you tell me this?” He turned without a word and got into the room. He walked to the sofa when he saw her figure on it and sat on the table so he could face her. He ran his hand through her hair, and she shifted in her sleep.
“Are you done with your meeting?” she murmured, opening her eyes gently.
“Yes, but this is a surprise.”
“I thought I’d surprise you,” she added, and he bent his head to kiss her lips.
“Well, your plan worked,” he said, and she tried to get into a seating position but felt her head spin. “Are you okay?” he asked when he saw the winced expression on her face.
“Of course I am,” she said, nodding at him. But pain shot through her body; she could not pinpoint what was wrong. “Ahh!” she screamed, holding her head.
“You aren’t fine, let us get to the hospital immediately,” he said, already swinging into action. She watched him get up and about as he called the driver and then helped her up. He put her shoes into a bag and then carried her bridal style.
“What are you doing?” she shrieked in his hands.
“Getting you to the hospital,” he replied. She rolled her eyes at how nonchalant he was being.
“I am sure I can still walk,” she replied.
“It’s fine I can carry you.”
“An attract the attention of the entire office.”
“Why what’s the problem? They had never seen a couple before.”