Bennett and I have been steady for a few weeks now. Things are good and I'm thoroughly enjoying my time with him. My life finally feels like everything is coming together.
"Madi we're leaving. Are you coming to see your mother off?" My dad asks. Mum's leaving for New York, something to do with a book signing she's trying to get. For the next week it'll be just me and dad. I'm not sure how we'll go with this. Things have been getting hectic at work now that everyone knows Grey Enterprises is buy Pembroke Marketing. I'm still not happy with him about it but there's not much I can do
"Yes dad I'm coming." I grab my phone from the bedside table and head downstairs. Dad always gets weird when mum's going away, I don't understand why. I mean yeah we're pretty famous and we have some creepy people come up to us but that's why we have security. Mum said that dad's loosened up on security since she first met him. I don't know what she means by that though, I have people following me constantly. I'm not allowed to drive myself anywhere and whenever we're at events there's always at least one security detail with me at all times. Even when Bennett is there dad still insists that someone is with me, like Bennett's going to let anyone get to me he knows dad would have him for breakfast. Bennett's almost worse than dad is with my safety. He's always watching me making sure I'm safe and comfortable. Sometimes it's sweet but most of the time it's just annoying, like really I'm an adult I can take care of myself.
"Madison I expect you to be home every night at a reasonable time whilst your mothers away. If you're not home by nine you will be receiving a phone call." This is what I meant by weird. I had a curfew when I was growing up and I thought it was reasonable but that was supposed to end when I turned eighteen, Theo's did.
"Dad need I remind you that I will be twenty one in two months time. I don't need a curfew." I can hear the attitude in my comment but I don't really care, he needs to get over this.
"I don't care how old you are young lady. Whilst you live under my roof you will obey my rules. You may stay and Bennett's but I expect to be told before nine o'clock if you are doing so." I don't bother to reply, there's no point in arguing with him. This will be the longest week of my life.
We get to the airport and Taylor drives around towards the Steele Publishing's jet. Both my parents have their own company jet, mum's doesn't get used often, only when she goes away by herself. We'd always go in the GEH jet if we were going on family trips. It's bigger than mums is, the Steele jet has only one bedroom, two individual seats and a love seat. Dad's jet has two bedrooms, one for mum and dad and another room with two bunk beds, it also has four individual seats as well as two love seats. Taylor pulls up next to the stairs leading up to the jet. We get out and gather at the bottom of the stairs. Mum turns to me first and give me a hug and a kiss reminding me to behave for dad. She then turns to dad and I turn away, I love my parents and how much they are still in love but sometimes its just gross. Dad comes over to me at the car and we wave mum off before getting in. The ride back to Escala is quiet, well I don't say anything at least. Dad's phone rang before we had even left the airport. It was Ros and then Andrea and then Welch then Andrea called again and she put him through to Ros. I listened to his conversation the whole way back looking out the window. It wasn't very interesting, but the words Pembroke Marketing caught my attention a few times. Once we got home dad headed to his study and I went to the library to find something to read. Halfway through The Maze Runner I hear dad calling me. I head out towards the great room.
"I was in the library, what's up?" Knowing dad he'll probably just be heading to the office, even though it's a Sunday.
"You hungry sweetheart?" His soft tone surprises me, I'd been daddy's little princess until I turned sixteen. Then boys came into the picture and me and dad grew further apart. We were usually polite to each other but we never really did stuff together anymore.
"Um yeah kinda, I was going to ask Mrs. Jones to make me a sandwich. Did you want to go out?" I missed spending time with my dad, he'd always understood me. Even when I didn't want him too.
"I was thinking we could head to the pier for some lunch. That sound alright with you?" I loved the pier, it was my favorite place as a kid, especially when he took us on The Grace.
"Yeah that sounds like a good idea." I smile at him and he smiles back. We head towards the elevator and dad presses the button for the garage. We head down and he walks towards his car, not the family SUV. He walks around to the passenger side and opens the door waiting for me to get in then gets in his side. He starts the engine and My Baby comes through the speakers. This was my favorite Cold Chisel song. I start to hum to it and dad turns it up louder, when the first lyrics come through he starts to sing.
" I know this little girl she's quite a picture. I do my very best, oh boy, to keep her. She's got what it takes to warm my soul." I can just hear his voice over the radio. Dad knows this is my favorite. I remember dancing with him to it at his 40th Birthday. I wait for it go get to the chorus before I join him.
"I know I got, my baby, my baby, my baby, yeah." I look towards him in the drivers seat. He's tapping away on the steering wheel and for once it feels like nothings changed between us. I turn to look at the window and continue to sing along with him.
We get to the pier and dad pulls into a spot. We get out and head towards a little cafe, walking side by side. The waiter shows us to a table and dad orders so sparkling water. I look own at the menu to see what they have. It's quite warm so I don't feel like eating anything too big.
"How about the oysters Madi?" Dad asks with a smirk on his face. I'm allergic to seafood, and my whole family loves it. I remember the first time I ever ate it. I was three and we were out on The Grace with Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Elliot, Aunt Kate and Ava. The men had been fishing that day and we'd cooked what they caught. I was three bites in and started to feel a bit sick. Dad thinking I'd just gotten a bit sea sick took me up on deck to get some fresh air. I started having trouble breathing and next thing I knew I was throwing up all over dad. I spent the rest of the day in his arms, that was where I went when I was sick. He always made me feel better. Being that I was on the boat mum and dad didn't really think to put two and two together. It wasn't till I'd tried an oyster about a year later and wound up in hospital that we knew. I smiled back at dad, it was a joke now between us when we went out. Someone would ask if I was ordering the seafood special, or they'd suggest the lobster and we'd all laugh.
"Yeah sure, then we can spend the rest of the day a the hospital. That sounds like fun hey, maybe grandma will visit." This sentence was dripping with sarcasm and it made dad laugh. I loved it when he was like this, family Christian not bossy, controlling CEO Christian.
"What are you thinking though? Spaghetti and meatballs?" He said this with a smile, but I didn't really feel like pasta. It was to big and I knew if I ordered it I wouldn't finish it all and then dad wouldn't be happy.
"No, I'm actually thinking the chefs salad, it's to hot for pasta. What about you?"
"I was thinking steak, the t-bone sounds good." I liked when we could have normal conversations like this, it made me forget about life for a bit. I nod at dad and the waiter comes over to take our orders. He brings over bread sticks too.
"So how is your presentation coming along?" His question surprised me. My parents never asked about how my schooling was going, they'd never needed to. I'd never gotten lower than an A through my whole schooling, they knew if things were bad I'd come to them so they pretty much just left me alone.
"It's good, I'm really enjoying my degree. I knew that marketing was what I wanted but over the last 2 years I've realized how much I actually did want it." I decide to be honest with him, he's at least trying.
"That's good." Is that seriously all he has to say? We sit quietly for a few minutes and then our meals arrive. We start eating before dad speaks up. "Madison I want you to know how proud we are of you. Bennett told me what Caroline Williamson said to you at the gala, that must have hurt you." He was sincere saying this. I knew him and mum were proud, they didn't have to tell me, but it was nice hearing it.
"Thanks dad, that means a lot to me. But just so you know I've been hearing stuff like that my whole life, I don't let it affect me anymore. I know that who you and mum are play a big part in where I end up but I figure at the end of the day if I wasn't good at what I did people wouldn't keep me around. I'm willing to work hard and I don't need the Grey name to get me where I want to go. In saying that being able to walk into a room and have people stare does sometimes give me a bit of confidence. It's nice to know that if I want to be I could be feared. I don't want that though and I don't care what Caroline Williamson or anyone else for that matter has to say about me. She doesn't know me and she never will. I don't want people like her in my life because they're to quick to judge." I'm surprised that he lets me say all of this without interrupting.
"The Grey name will always get you what you want baby girl but it's nice to know that you're not relying on it." For some reason I think that this sentence means more than he's letting on.
We finish our meals and take a walk along the pier before heading back to the car. Whilst we're driving home dads phone rings over the radio, he answer it and Theo's voice comes through the speakers.
"Hey dad, I'm at Escala. Where is everyone?" He's so clueless it's almost adorable. I giggle at him and dad smiles at me.
"Me and your sister are coming back from the pier, your mother's gone to New York for the week."
"You're with Madison?" He sounds surprised to hear this, I know where he's coming from. It's weird to think that dad and I spent nearly a whole day together without killing each other. I loved my father but we were so much alike and we just clashed. It was fine whilst I was younger because I'd let him have the control but once I got my own opinion things went downhill.
"Yes we'll be home soon, are you going to wait for us?"
"Yeah I'll hang around here till you get back. See you soon." With that he hung up. Dad looked over to me.
"I seriously worry about him sometimes. I told him only yesterday that your mother way going away." I laugh at this, Theo was amazing at what he did but he was seriously forgetful. Not like mum was though, mum forgot stuff because she had so much going on. Theo forgot stuff because he didn't pay attention to anything.
"Dad, he'll have forgotten where she is by the time we get back." We both laugh at my comment.
When we get back Theo and dad head into the study and I head upstairs. I decide I'm going to go for a run. It's still light out and I need to clear my head before I start working on my presentation. It's cool out so I put on shorts with a hoodie. I tell Taylor where I'm going because I don't want to disturb dad. Once I'm outside the building I put my headphones in and pick an upbeat song to listen to. I decide on Uptown Funk and head off, I run for at least thirty minutes before it starts to get dark. I decide I better head back before dad starts to worry, I'm currently on his good side and I'd quite like to keep it that way. I keep up a light jog on the way back home, my breathing starts to get a bit short to run properly. I notice the building coming up so I slow down to a fast walk. I've got to get home and find my inhaler. I've had asthma since I was a kid, Theodore and I both do. I haven't had an attack for a couple of years though. I make it into the building and head into the elevator. Once inside I hit the code for our floor and lean against the wall desperately trying to get in control of my breathing. It's getting worse and I know that I'm going to need my inhaler for it to get any better. The elevator finally dings and I rush out hoping to get upstairs before anyone see's me. As I walk into the great room dad and Theo are walking in from the kitchen, they take one look at me and know exactly whats happening.
Dad rushes to me whilst Theo heads for the kitchen. Mum always keeps a spare inhaler in the cupboard just in case. Dad scoops me up and carries me to the couch, Theo's at my side in an instant pushing the inhaler to my mouth. I take a few breaths but I'm too panicked.
"Deep breaths baby girl your're alright. Breath for me Madison." I can hear dad trying to calm me down but my breaths are getting shallower and my chest tighter. I start to go dizzy.
"Dad... I can't... I'm going dizzy..." I struggle to get the words out. Why is this happening to me? Dad pulls me onto his lap and starts to rub my back to soothe me. I concentrate on breathing and trying to relax. I get my breathing under control and sit with dad for a bit.
