It's between me and you

Chapter 46

"Hmm, what do you want, son?"

Mr. Ledger folded his hands into a lock, raising his eyebrows in a businesslike manner. He always did that when he discussed business matters with his subordinates and expected a detailed report from them on the work done. What was not a work deal now? As a matter of fact, Andrew was selling himself to his own father for a chance to bargain for love. He was a realist and knew that even with his connections he would not be able to solve this problem. He was not yet at that level. Perhaps, if this had happened a few years later, the necessary acquaintances and acquired prestige in certain circles would have served for good, but so far there was no way to earn it. So he had to tell his father everything straight out. The only hope was that there was a grain of humanity left in him, and if not out of great love for him, then at least out of pity for the girl, he would do a valiant deed.

" I want you to help Elena... Miss Narrell. She is going to adopt the child of her dead friends, but she is not allowed to do this, because child welfare authorities found a better family. And now, in order to increase the chances she is going to marry a man she is completely indifferent to."

The man tapped his thumbs thoughtfully against each other.

"And? It should work"

Ledger pressed his fists tensely into the tabletop, bringing his face closer to his father.

"No, it shouldn't. Because.... Because Elena is with me."

He said and even held his breath for a few long moments, enduring his father's stare. He put up an invisible defense, ready for any attacks.

" Then why Elena wouldn't marry you?" Ledger senior asked rather seriously, putting Andrew in a stupor.

"What? Where's the moralizing?"

"Do you need a lecture?"

"No, I don't. But it's what you always do"

The man smirked and leaned back in his leather armchair.

"Andrew, do you really think I didn't know about your relationship with the teacher?"

From shock Ledger did not immediately get the meaning of what was said. He looked at his fairly calm father and could not understand: how is it possible that he knew about him and Elena, and remained silent?

"Son, you have not lived at home for almost a month. Don't you think I would have made it clear to myself who you were spending time with?"

"But then why didn't you say anything?"

"What for?" The businessman, for whom work always came first, shook his hands. "Andrew, my son, for the first time in years, showed up at the college every day, stopped disappearing to dubious clubs and hanging out with some chicks"

"You've been hanging out with some chicks, too!"

"You mean Tina? Yeah. She's creative in bed, young and beautiful. I like her now. I don't know who'll be after her. You stay out of my life, I'll stay out of yours."

For the first time in so many years, Ledger suddenly saw his father as something more than a man with the same surname.

"You consider me an enemy, assuming that I impose on you and Mila, how to live. Yes, I do, and I demand that you follow certain rules. All so that one day you would come home from work, take black caviar out of the fridge, pour wine from Spain's finest cellars, and tell yourselves that you are happy to have it all. And if your Elena helps you take steps in the right direction, I would only shake her hand in gratitude."

Andrew lowered his gaze to the table and nodded briefly. His father had his own reasons and priorities, but for once they coincided with his own. It was amazing that after all these years, parent and son had come to an agreement.