HEAT |OMEGAVERSE| ⚣ ✔️

Closing in

ALEX'S POV

Today's the day.

The day I'll find out if my father's ready to give up on his not-so-golden child or keep me tethered to his bullshit plans and intentions.

I'd be lying if I said I'm not sweating beneath this suit as I walk toward his office. And I'd be an even bigger liar if I said I'm feeling confident he's about to say anything remotely positive.

After a few knocks on his polished door, his voice rumbles from within, giving me the okay to go inside.

"Dad, hope you're well this morning," I say formally, taking a seat across from him at his sleek, black desk.

"Son, it's been a week or two. How are you? What prompted you to ask for a meeting?"

Straight to the point, as always. And at this point I'm more than I'm ready for it. I've done enough of tiptoeing around and walking on eggshells. Today, we're cutting out all the in between.

"I'm moving, Dad. And it won't be within this state," I say bluntly.

His expression shifts twice—first shock, then a deepening frown.

"Where?" is all he manages.

"Honestly? I don't know yet," I respond.

He arches a silver brow, looking at me like I'm speaking a foreign language. "How can you be so sure you're moving when you don't even know where to?"

"Because staying in the city has been hell, and I'm done. I should've made this decision a long time ago."

For once, he looks off-balance, like he's unable to calculate his next move.

"Is this because of him?" he finally asks, and I raise an eyebrow, thrown by his directness.

"And why would you think that?" My tone's sharper than I intended, but maybe that's fitting.

My father's eyes narrow, but instead of the familiar irritation, there's something else lurking there. "Because, Alex," he starts slowly, his tone much more calm and collected than I expected, "whether or not you appreciate it, I'm still your father. I'm not here to argue with you about every choice you make... but I need to know where you're planning to go with all of this. Not just for yourself."

Not here to argue with me about every choice I've made? This bastard has shat on every damn choice I made since I picked which college I wanted to go to.

Dad continues, and his gaze sharpens like he's certain he'll get a rise out of me, "For Jasper. For that child you're bringing into this family. I'd think they deserve some stability. Don't you?"

I feel his words settle over me, heavier than I anticipated. It's almost unsettling, hearing him speak this way, like the sharp edge he usually uses on me has dulled. What angle is he trying to get at here?

I lean back, folding my arms as I study him carefully, resisting the urge to scoff. "Stability?" I echo, forcing a neutral tone. "Funny, you didn't seem too concerned with 'stability' before now. It's only when there's a grandchild involved that suddenly you're interested in what's best for Jasper and me."

My father's expression hardens slightly, but he doesn't interrupt.

"I don't need a damn lecture on stability—I've made my choice, and I'm handling things the best I can. We have decided this because it's what's best for us—not because you think it's finally time to play the long-forgotten-family man."

I see a flash of something in his eyes, maybe irritation, maybe something else. For a second, he almost looks... tired.

"Alex, I know we haven't always...seen eye to eye," he begins, his voice steady, yet also weak around the edges. "But whatever you think of my timing, I do want to be part of your life—and the life of my grandchild for whatever remains of my time here."