Lisa's P.O. V.
Last week's news was still prominently on my mind. I knew it would be. I kept trying to decide what it was that I wanted to do. Short of having a uterus transplant, which I don't think is a thing, I can't carry my own child without endangering the two of us. I'm leaning towards surrogacy because I'd still like to see a little Davis running around. I want Izzy to have a sibling that is blood related to her. Not that adoption would make them any less our family.
Today, however, my mind was not on how I would have a child. No, today my only thoughts were about how satisfying it would be to see Dad hauled off to jail. Today is the day Davis helps me trap him in his office and talk to him one on one. Well, Two on one, as Davis won't be leaving my side.
The man has been even more insatiable since he proposed, and I said yes. It's like it opened up this whole other side of him, one I can't get enough of either. I loved every second of it. He's also gotten more protective, and I find it quite endearing.
"Alright, my warrior. Are you ready?" he asked me as I stared at the tall building my father had built.
I know it was no small feat for him to build this company. It took years, many years, of hard work and dedication for him to get this business to be so successful, yet I brought it down in a week. Airing Dad's illegal activities, along with his dirty laundry, had this business in the gutter. I know he's taking losses right now, but I don't feel bad for him, not in the least. His loss is bringing me such joy, only amplified by the fact that I caused it.
I did this to him.
"More than ready," I said, because for once there was not a shred of fear in me knowing I was going to his office.
"Let's go speak your truth, then." He winked at me, giving my hand a squeeze before getting down from the car.
I felt taller than before as I strolled up to the building with Davis. For once, I did not bow my head down as I made my way to the elevator. We earned glances from everyone in the lobby, but I didn't let it affect me. There's no way their opinions matter to me anymore. I know they're probably wondering what's going on? Why am I visiting the devil himself?
The ding of the elevator doors had my heart pounding. I wasn't scared, but I was nervous. My mind was trying hard to formulate the right words to speak. I wanted to make sure
that Dad knew he had fucked up. He fucked up long ago, many times over, but today I wanted to tell him so myself.
I marched with deep determination towards his office. His front desk was empty since Mandy quit, and not a soul wanted to take her place. Dad was left to do the work of his own secretary. The situation was quite comical to me as Dad hated doing grunt work now that he was CEO.
I pushed his door open so hard that it slammed against the wall. For the first time ever, I saw Dad physically jump out of his chair. He was scared, but it wasn't of me. I think he knows what's coming. The smile on my face only let him know how amusing I found the whole thing.
"What are you doing here, Lisa? You've caused enough problems with the Darnell contract. We're lucky that video got out, or they would have taken half the company." Dad narrowed his eyes at me, obviously aware I leaked the video. "You need to leave. Your presence is no longer welcomed here."
For once his words did not hurt me. Whatever need for his approval I once sought was long gone.
"I have something to say and you're going to sit there and you're going to listen," I said, using the sternist tone I had. "I stand before you today as a woman who has been broken and beaten down by your abuse for far too long. For years, I have lived in fear of your anger and your fists, never knowing when or how you would hurt me or Lucas. But today, I am here to tell you that I will no longer be your victim. I will no longer allow you to control me with your violence and your manipulations. You may have thought that you could break me, that you could make me cower in fear and submit. But you were wrong. I am stronger than you ever gave me credit for. I have survived your abuse, and I have come out the other side with a fire in my heart and a determination to never let anyone treat me that way again." Dad was oddly sitting quietly as he looked at me with a stoic face. Not a single emotion crossed his features as I spoke.
"I want you to know that your abuse has not just hurt me, but it has hurt our entire family. You have torn us apart with your anger and your violence, and it is time for that to stop. It is time for you to take responsibility for your actions, for all the terrible shit you've done. I want you to know that I am done with you. I am done with your abuse, your manipulation, and your cruelty. I am a strong, capable woman, and I will not let you or anyone else bring me down. I am taking back my power, and I am standing up for myself. So, Dad, I hope you hear me loud and clear. I am done with you. It's time for me to move on and to live my life on my own terms. And I hope that someday, you will realize how badly you fucked up and it eats away at you. None of us will forgive you, nor will we help you. You're alone dad, completely and utterly alone."
I felt satisfied as I let the last words slip from my lips. Dad seemed unaffected, but I hoped that it was just a mask he had placed. Maybe under that exterior I had hurt him in a way. That was too presumptuous of a thought as Dad got up slowly, indifference written on his face.
He strode his way towards us without a care, like I hadn't just delivered the speech of my life. There was no emotion, no intimidations, nothing, just a man that caused me years of misery headed my way. Perhaps he was testing my resolve, thinking he could intimidate me with his slow walk. I kept my head high, showing him I did not fear him any longer.
"I am pretty sure I told you to leave," he said, holding his office door open for me to leave.
It was like a slap in the face. I am not sure what I was expecting when I said what I needed to, but it certainly wasn't for him to have no reaction at all. Maybe I wanted him to cry, or perhaps even be mad. Somehow, his indifference hurt more than anything.
No, fuck him.
I was mad now, so I made my way right towards him, snatching the door from his grip and slamming it shut.
"Sit down! I'm not done with you!" I yelled in his face, surprising even myself.
I'm going to make him react if it is the last thing I do. He needs to show me something, remorse, regret, hate. Give me something. I am worth that much.
"What do you want from me, Lisa?" he asked, sounding so exhausted it deflated me instantly. "Do you want an apology? Well then, I'm sorry. I am sorry I am a shit dad that let money get in the way. The way I was raised made me want for everything. I had nothing growing up, going hungry almost every day. I wanted to make sure that my children never suffered that fate. Things escalated quickly once the business started doing well. To put it in simple terms, I got greedy. I let all of this cloud my judgment, and now I see it was for nothing. There's nothing left for me. You don't think I know what a terrible father I am?"
I took a step back as if his words had physically pushed me. There's no way I am hearing this right. Is he actually admitting his mistakes?
"I lost myself, then your mother, later Lucas, and now you. I'm losing the business. It is going down fast, and it's what I deserve. You need to leave, Lisa, before you're caught up in any of this."
Was he being serious? Is he actually concerned? I stared at him, hoping by some miracle that I could read his true intentions. The only thing keeping me steady was Davis' hand in my own. There's no way for me to tell if the words he spoke were true, but God, did I want them to be. I am really wishing and hoping that his feelings are genuine.
"She won't be. They know she had nothing to do with your idiocies. I made sure of it," Davis interjected, because I had suddenly lost my voice again.
I wasn't sure what to say now, what to do. Whatever anger I had about his indifference was washed away with the need for his apology to be true. It took me a few seconds, but I managed to compose myself, shaking the shock off. I took a step towards him again.
"Are you actually sorry? Or do you think that's just what I want to hear? Are you even capable of feeling remorse in that cold heart of yours?"
"I deserve that and more. I know that, Lisa. There's no changing what I've done, and there's no changing the way you see me. I can tell you it's the truth, but you will always doubt it, hopefully my actions will speak louder than my words."
Before I could ask him what he meant by that, there was a heavy pound on the door. Derek opened it, without being told to come in, with two cops behind him. His eyes landed on me, and then at Davis who gave him a small nod. Derek made his way to my dad, telling him what he was under arrest for and reading him his rights. Dad didn't say a word, not arguing or putting up a fight. I don't understand what's happening anymore. This whole 180 has me spun on my axis and I can't seem to get straight again.
I need to talk to Lucas.