The "Last Chance" List (On Hold, For Now)

Chapter Seven - The Help and The Errand

I walked into the kitchen and asked Barbara, our chef, to make me some eggs and toast. After ten minutes of waiting, I sat down at the table and thought about what I should do today. Surprisingly nothing was planned and for once I had nothing to do. It was odd. Normally if I had free time I would text Brynn and we'd make plans but she's busy unpacking; something she didn't do when she got home last night. I'd visit Grandma but she told me last night before leaving that she and Eady had made plans for brunch. As I ate my breakfast, I decided that I'll go to father's workplace after all, just for a visit. I finished my eggs and toast, brought it to the kitchen, grabbed my purse and headed out the door.

My father's company was one of the biggest company's in Toronto. After he turned 25, he started out small. Rented out an office space and slowly the company got bigger and bigger. The inheritance money he got from Grandpa is what really made it boom. When father got his first business award as a top growing company, half of his speech was for Grandpa. He died when Olivia was the baby, so neither Nathan nor I got to meet him. Father always told us that he would've loved us.

I said goodbye to our driver, Jonathon, and shut the door to the car. The company was a brown brick, standing tall; almost hovering over the other buildings like a giant. I walked up the steps, into the bustlingly foyer and onto the elevator. I reached the second top of the building, with the last being a storage area, and walked into what seemed like a mess and a half. Employees were scrambling around like chickens with their heads cut off and I stared wide eyed at them, wondering what in the world was going on and questioning ever coming. What if I came at a wrong time and the last thing Father needs is to be bugged by me? But as I thought that, my father walked out of his office. He looked exhausted but as soon as he saw me, he smiled wide.

"Elise, darling" He walked over to me, "I thought I told you that you didn't have to come in today"

"I know, but I didn't have much to do at home so I thought I'd stop in for a visit" I took a deep breath, "But I can leave, it seems..."

"Hectic?" He chuckled,

"Yes, that" I smiled up at him

"It is, but I always have time for my daughter" He gestured to his office, "Come on"

When we entered his office, he shut the door and I took a seat in front of his desk. Papers were scattered all over place and his office seemed more disorganized than usual.

"Is everything alright, father?" I asked, concern clearly dripping from my voice.

He sighed, "Yes, for now. The meeting today got pushed earlier than expected and we have been rushing to get everything prepared"

I nodded, "I could have came in and helped"

He smiled, "I know, but I also know you had a rough night last night and I wanted you to rest"

I smiled big. I don't know how he knew but last night was rough.

"Thank you father"

He waved his hand back and forth, "Nonsense, it's what a parent does"

What he said made me wonder, if it was Mother instead of Father in this situation. As if reading my mind, he said,

"I know your mother is hard on you, but everything she does is to make sure you have a bright future"

"I know father, it's just sometimes..." I trailed off.

"Sometimes you wish she wasn't so hard on you"

I nodded. I wished my mother didn't pressure me and make me feel like a disappointment just because I wasn't like Olivia. Father seemed to know that I no longer wanted to talk about it, so he changed the subject.