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“Anything.” His gaze was somber.
“I want to avenge myself,” I said. “Going to the cops will only end up in a legal battle with them. They’ve humiliated me enough. I won’t let them do that to me a second time.”
Taking a deep breath, I said the thing that’d been churning in my mind over the past few days. “I want to punish them but in a different way. I want to snatch the only thing Noah cares about more than anything. Will you help me?”
Brian looked confused but gave a nod. “What do you want, honey? I’ll make him give up his car. If you want, I’ll make the twins give up their bikes.Anythingyou want.”
“I don’t want their toys.”
“Then, what?”
“I want the biggest share in your company,” I said. “It’s the only thing Noah cares about. I want control of Amhurst Co. Can you give me that?”
I stared at him, waiting for him to shut down this idea immediately. After all, Noah was his eldest son. He may like me but did heloveme enough to give up his legacy to someone he didn’t share any blood with?
“I’d let you have it but there are complications,” Brian said slowly, looking thoughtful. “We need to figure out a way to remove the obstacles in your way.”
A soft gasp escaped me as I stared at my stepfather.
Rivulets of rainwater streamed down his face as he considered my demand. I couldn’t believe we were standing before my mom’s grave talking about this, but it was happening.
“There’s a board of directors and several investors,” said Brian, meeting my surprised gaze. “I may hold the major shares but you need all of their support to become the CEO. Without that, you’ll just have shares but no control over the company.”
“I want control,” I said at once.
“You’re going to have to prove yourself, then,” said Brian in a grim tone. Moving closer, he gripped my shoulder firmly. “I’ve always believed in you, Milla. I know you can become the CEO of my company. You have the capability.”
Tears pricked my eyes. A different kind of emotion took hold of me. This man...Brian...hedidlove Mom. Hedidlove me.
“You need to prove yourself,” said Brian. “Take hold of a subsidiary company and work on improving our brand image and profit margin. Become the best manager. When the time comes, you will have my support.”
“What if I started a company of my own?” I asked, feeling as if a different part of my brain had switched on. “Give me the funds for a startup and make it part of Amhurst Co. I’ll make sure it reaches the top of its field.”
Brian gave a nod.
I threw myself at him and hugged him tightly. “You mean it?” I asked, looking up at him.
He smiled and nodded.
“How can you be so good to me?” I whispered.
“I’m your father,” he said in a serious tone. “Have you forgotten that?”
I hadn’t. The day he adopted me was etched in my mind. That same evening, Noah drenched me in rotting animal blood and humiliated me in front of an entire crowd for it.
“I didn’t think you’d take things seriously after Mom was gone,” I said in a low voice.
“I’ve taken my duty to be your father seriously since the time I started dating Eva. I’ll always be your dad, kiddo.”
I squeezed him again and stepped back. Grabbing the umbrella’s handle, I took it out of his hold.
“I’ll be your daughter,” I said, holding the umbrella over his head. “You’ll always have me.”
Brian smiled, his eyes glowing softly with pride and affection.
“So, you’ll come home with me?” he asked.
“I’m sorry, Brian,” I said, hating myself for rejecting him. “I can’t. Not yet. I’m going to California to start my own firm. Please keep everything about me a secret until I’ve become what you hope for me to become. And then, and only then, I will return. Noah wouldn’t see it coming. He’ll think he’s gotten rid of me permanently but he’ll be so wrong when he sees me again.”
