Page 2 of The Daddy’s Girl

No.

So Matis is retiring too? He’ll just be…gone?

He won’t even come around anymore?

“Fuck this,” my brother grunts. My sentiments exactly.

I’ve known you all since you were born. Your parents created a legacy, and you were raised together like a family. You came to Paris with a dream, and you’ve all worked so hard at L’Amour. But what I see now are six adults who have lost their way. You’ve grown apart, and each of you has lost something you can never replace. I know how that feels.

Tears start to slowly spring to my eyes as Jack reads, but it’s not his voice I hear. It’s my dad’s. My well-intentioned, wholehearted, compassionate dad. He has a vision for us, and it’s not to be self-centered and shortsighted.

I see your potential. Each of you brings something special to the table. If you really worked together, you could make a club even better than what your parents created.

There is nothing more powerful than family. The six of you are a family, whether you see it or not. There are three of you missing from this letter—Liam, Austin, and Scarlett. They are choosing another path for their lives, but this offer extends to them, should they choose it. And I hope they do.

Elizabeth huffs while I discreetly wipe a rogue tear away. Jack continues reading.

That is why I am passing the club down to all six of you. You can do what you want with it. Change the name. Make it yours.

As Jack continues reading, I start to daze, staring off unfocused at the other end of the bar. Deep down, I know everyone at this table is going through a lot, but I believe in my dad’s vision. As devastated as I am to lose out on the opportunity to work more closely with the one guy I should not have a crush on, I do sort of love the idea that my dad is presenting.

We could all be a family again.

I’m begging you to give it a shot. Find your family and make this your home.

Sincerely,

Ronan Kade

The group is silent for a moment as this news settles in. My brother is panicking next to me, his knee bouncing and his anxiety spiking. I place a hand on his arm to try and calm him.

“There has to be some catch,” Jack says.

Elizabeth stands. “Well, that settles it. Looks like none of us are getting the club after all.”

I let out a gasp and stand up after her. “Now, wait a minute. Are we not going to consider it, at least?”

“Consider what?” my brother snaps. “The six of us are more likely to sprout wings and fly to Neverland than work together and create something that could actually succeed.”

My lip trembles as I blink away more tears. It breaks my heart to think of my father’s dream crumbling without anyone giving it a chance.

“Maybe Dad is right,” I argue, wringing my hands in front of me. “Maybe we could own it together. It could work.”

“What a waste of time,” Julian whispers, and I want to slug him so hard, but I know he’s going through a lot of his own stuff right now. Julian worries, a lot. And right now, he’s probably worrying about how he’ll get along with Jack St. Claire. It’s not his fault.

As everyone gets up with plans to leave, I feel it all slipping through my fingers. It’s Jack who cracks first.

“One year,” he says. “One year. I mean...what do we have to lose?”

Hope starts to grow as I chew on the inside of my cheek, watching him and the others for signs that they might go along with it. If anyone could rally this group together, it’s him.

“What’s the point?” Phoenix asks.

I open my mouth to reply, but Jack beats me to it.

“The point is…Ronan is right. We could make something great. We all bring something different to the table. Amelia has the design and marketing skills, and West can run the bar. Nix has the business brains. Elizabeth…Elizabeth has danced in shows all over Paris. She can head the entertainment.”

As my brother steps up to Jack and the two face off, I start to feel those tendrils of hope inside me grow. This could actually work.