Page 65 of Fake It For Glory

MERIDA

The extravagance of the past few days had been nothing short of spectacular, but I knew I had responsibilities waiting for me back in the real world. I spent the day working on a bunch of columns for the publication. I was actually ahead. I was hoping it would be enough to appease my father. He’d been pissed I took the week off. He was so used to me just doing whatever he said.

I couldn’t tell him I was in Dubai. He would never understand. I sent the last article for my column and breathed a sigh of relief. It was done. That should keep my dad at bay. It wasn’t like he and I interacted a lot while we were at work. Half the time, he didn’t even know I was there. It was only when I made my presence known that I actually got his attention, and even then it was very brief.

After sending the article, I quickly finished dressing for the yacht show. I was wearing one of the dresses Hattie picked out for me with this event in mind. It was a pretty lavender dress that flowed around me. It was flattering and made me feel pretty. I pulled my hair up and put on the earrings Hattie had also picked out.

My phone buzzed with a text notification just as I was about to walk out the door. It was from my father, and his message was anything but friendly.

“You’re making me look bad,” his text read, filled with a hint of frustration. “No other employee would get away with this kind of behavior.”

I sighed, my fingers quickly dancing across the screen as I typed out a reply. “I sent you the columns, Dad. I’m still working, just not from the office.”

His response was swift, the words curt and unforgiving. “I can only give you so many chances, Merida.”

I stared at the message for a moment, feeling a pang of guilt and frustration. My father had always been a formidable figure in my life, and the pressure to live up to his expectations weighed heavily on my shoulders. But this Dubai trip had been an opportunity I couldn’t resist. The Jensen Loxley story was going to be huge, especially when it was revealed I was the one he gushed about in the interview.

I took a deep breath, composing my thoughts before typing my reply. “Dad, I promise I’m working on something important. Please trust me on this.”

There was a knock on the door. “Shit,” I murmured.

I quickly opened it for Jensen. “I’m almost ready,” I told him with a quick kiss. “Just a second.”

I walked into the bathroom and waited for my father to reply. His response was slow in coming, and I felt a growing sense of anxiety. I knew my father’s patience was running thin, and I couldn’t afford to let him down. Finally, his message arrived.

“You’d better be at your desk by Monday.”

The weight of his words settled over me. I let out a heavy sigh. It was a stern warning, a reminder that my choices had consequences. But I couldn’t help feeling a glimmer of determination. This trip to Dubai was basically work. I was learning a lot. If my father would just give me a little leeway, I could show him what I was doing.

I popped my head out of the bathroom. “Jensen, I need to make a quick call. Can I meet you in the lobby?”

He nodded, concern flickering in his eyes. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes, fine,” I said, nodding. “Just work stuff.”

“Of course. Take your time.”

He left the room, giving me a chance to call my dad. This was something that needed to be said and not texted. My heart was pounding in my chest as I dialed my father’s number. He picked up after a few rings, and I wasted no time getting to the point.

“Dad,” I began, my voice steady but tinged with a hint of anxiety. “I’m working on a story, a big one. I can’t give you all the details just yet, but I promise it’s going to be incredible. When it’s done, you’ll want to publish it.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and I could sense my father’s skepticism. He was a man who valued results and practicality above all else. “What kind of story, Merida?” he finally asked, his tone cautious.

I hesitated, not ready to reveal all the intricacies of my plan just yet. “It’s… well, it’s big. It’s something everyone is going to want to read. It’s a big story, Dad. Huge. But I need a few more weeks to pull it together, to make it truly groundbreaking.”

“I’m sorry, Merida, but I can’t do that. People are noticing, and I can’t keep extending favors. You know I love you, and I respect your talent as a journalist, but it’s time for you to spread your wings in the real world, not just coast on the connections we have.”

I was stunned, unable to process the words that had just come out of my father’s mouth. He wasn’t exactly supportive, but this was genuine. “What does that mean?” I asked.

“I’m sorry, but you’re fired.”

Tears welled up in my eyes as the reality of the situation hit me like a sledgehammer. I knew I wasn’t the most valuable player on the team, but I didn’t think he would fire me. I was keeping up with my work. It wasn’t like it was earth-shattering information I was putting out. I couldn’t find the words to respond, my voice choked with emotion.

“Dad,” I finally managed to whisper. “I don’t know what to say.”

There was a heavy silence on the line before he spoke again, his voice tinged with sadness. “I hope you understand, Merida. It’s time for you to forge your own path. You’re not happy here. You think there’s more to give? Fine, but it won’t be here. I love you, and I believe in you, but sometimes tough love is necessary.”

The call ended, leaving me standing there, my phone clutched in my trembling hand. My career, my sense of self, had been built on shaky ground, and now I had to confront the reality that I was on my own, with no safety net to catch me. My dad was the only one that would give me a job and now he just yanked it from me.