Chapter 3:The Confrontation
Grace scowled in disarray.
"What do you mean, Father? You know I need to keep searching for work, right?"
Mr. Ethan inclined back in his chair and recently took a profound breath while talking. "Do you keep Lucas Consulting Firm in mind?"
"Father," Grace said suddenly, breaking the tense quiet, "do not indeed say that name in my nearness."
Mr. Ethan flickered, shocked by the quality of her voice. She concurred. "What about the name?" he inquired, feeling uneasy that he now knew what she implied.
"Lucas Consulting Firm," Grace spat, her confrontation turned nauseating. "Father, I forgot to tell you I was searching for work with this company during the final week. See how pompously this company's CEO talked to me like I was useless. She collapsed her arms and inclined back in her chair, and her disappointments started to pour out. "This man is obscene and self-important, Father. He made me feel like I was squandering his time. I cleared out feeling humiliated."
Mr. Ethan's heart sank. He knew precisely what Grace was talking about—he had experienced Lucas's cold demeanour, and he knew the man wasn't essentially known for warmth or thoughtfulness. But that wasn't the worst part. Most exceedingly bad, he had fundamentally concurred to hand his girl specifically into the hands of the exceptional man she loathed.
Grace murmured profoundly, disturbed by the memory. "What great news about the company did you need to tell me, besides?" she inquired, her tone delicate and inquisitive.
Mr. Ethan's stomach reeled. There was no better way to break the news to Grace, not after what she had fairly told him. Still, he had no choice. He'd made the bargain, and there was no turning back. He constrained a grin and cleared his throat.
"Well, the same CEO you called discourteous is the same one who's advertising you a job as his secretary."
Grace gazed at him for a minute, her mouth marginally open in stun. At that point, she burst out giggling.
"You're not serious, Father!" she cried in disbelief. How did you do that? What did you say to him?" This man is also pompous about letting somebody like me be his secretary."
Mr. Ethan giggled anxiously, feeling his heart beating.
"Well," he said, attempting to keep a light tone, "let's just say I was fortunate."
Grace's eyes were wide with fervour, her prior bothering entirely overlooked.
"Wow, I'm so cheerful, Father!" she cried, hopping out of her seat and running over to hug her father. This job is often my dream job. I can't thank you sufficiently, Father." I honestly can't.
Mr. Ethan returned the embrace, but the grin didn't reach his eyes. He knew what this work implied—what he had concurred to secure for her—and inside, he felt awful. But presently, he let himself be immersed in the happiness that she had at long last had what she was searching for.
"So," Grace pulled away from the embrace and grinned at her father, "When can I begin working, Father?"
"But one more thing, my princess," Mr Ethan said, his voice reluctant as he looked into his daughter's eyes, bracing himself for her response. "He is asking you to be his spouse, as well."
The words stunned Grace, and she hopped in her chair and hardened. She couldn't accept what she was hearing.
"If it's not too much trouble, let me know you're joking, Father," she said aloud, each word bound with doubt and outrage.
"A spouse? How is that indeed conceivable?" "Father, have you overlooked I have a boyfriend? What are you talking about?"
Mr. Ethan couldn't look his daughter in the eye and moved awkwardly in his position. He had anticipated her being disturbed, but her response made him realise how severely he'd put them both.
"Calm down, my baby girl," he argued tenderly, coming to her, but Grace backed absent, eyes bursting.
"Do not tell me to calm down, Father!" Grace snapped, her heart beating. "Are you genuine right now?" Are you indeed tuning in to yourself, Father?
Mr. Ethan held up his hands to taste her outrage on the off chance. He knew there was no simple way to clarify or mollify the cruel reality of what he had concurred to. But he had to undertake.
"Let me clarify," Mr. Ethan started, his voice strained. "My business is on the verge of collapse, Grace. I attempted everything I could think of to create a close meet, but nothing worked. I had no choice but to ask Lucas for an offer of assistance. He concurred to loan me the cash I required, but in return… he inquired for something from me."
Grace narrowed her eyes and fixed her chest as she tuned in to her father's words.
"So you thought that the 'something' he needed may well be me?" she inquired, her voice trembling with outrage. "You sold me out to spare your business?"
Mr. Ethan recoiled at her words, but he couldn't deny the truth of her words.
"You're the one I can think of, Grace. He said he required a secretary, and I told him almost you. I thought--"
Grace hindered him, raising her voice once more. "So you sold me out to a fellow you do not know to spare yourself a few obligations?" Dad, can you indeed listen to yourself? Her head shook in outrage and disarray.
"I won't do that. I cannot wed such a presumptuous man because of a fair sense of your business; I can't."
Mr. Ethan's confrontation turned pale. He had anticipated resistance, but a wave of lost hope washed over him when he listened to his daughter's harsh dismissal. He had staked his future, business, and everything else in this venture. He required Beauty to understand how genuine her situation was.
"Grace, if you don't mind," he said, standing up in a calm but unyielding voice, "I've been attempting to meet your needs ever since your mother kicked the bucket, and you know how difficult it's been." The obligations were mounting, and I had no choice but to do what I did.
Grace looked at him—the man who raised her cared for her and yielded himself to her. "So, what's off-base with Jason?" Grace inquired, her voice lower but still bothered. Her considerations turned to the boyfriend she adored and needed to spend her life with. What should I say to him?"