Chapter 86: Was I Too Hard On Him?
Chapter 86: Was I Too Hard On Him?
Once the laughter died down, Todd looked at Crystal from across the room and forced himself to smile. “I understand where you’re coming from,” he admitted, “and you have every right to hate me. But this is business. Please tell me what you want, and if it is something that I can do, I will do it. But, as you already know, I am at your mercy.”
“Anything I want?” Crystal asked.
Todd: “If it is possible.”
Crystal: “I want my mother back. Is that possible?”
“Crystal,” Todd whined. “You know I can’t bring your mother back, but couldn’t you help me- for her sake…?”
“For her sake!” Crystal scoffed. “My mother wouldn’t give a shit about what would happen to the Henry Group, and she would be disgusted if she knew how you’d stolen my inheritance from me! My Grandfather’s will is clear. You do not have the right to the stocks he left me!”
Todd: “What’s done is done. Can’t we leave the past in the past? It’s meaningless to talk about irrevocable things. Crystal, I know I owe your mother and you a lot, but you could give me a chance to make it up to you!”
Crystal looked at her Father. He looked a lot older than he had the last time she’d seen him, and he wasn’t nearly as cocksure. She finally shook her head. Nothing he did now could ever make up for what he’d done.
Suddenly, Todd fell to his knees in front of Crystal and Nathan.
“Dad! What are you doing?” Joyce cried.
Carlos hurriedly stood up and tried to lift Todd, but he was pushed away.
Todd looked up at Crystal and said, “Crystal, if you don’t forgive Daddy, Daddy will not stand up. I will remain here like this until you forgive me.”
Joyce: “Crystal Smith, Daddy is kneeling before you. Are you satisfied? Aren’t you afraid of going to hell for this?”
Crystal smirked at her half-sister. “He can remain on his knees until hell freezes over,” she scoffed. “Besides, penitence looks on him!” Crystal patted her Father on the head as if he were a dog. Then she stood up and walked towards the stairs. Behind her, Joyce began to curse, but Crystal paid her no mind. She went up to her room and closed the door behind her.
It was not in her to forgive their old man.
Once Crystal was in her room, she sat on the windowsill with her chin against her knees and grinned. It felt good to have power over her family finally. Now, no one could bully her, and if she wanted something, she could take it, and no one could stop her!
Crystal felt tired, so she laid in bed, and she quickly fell asleep. As she slept, she dreamt that Nathan had climbed into bed with her, and when she woke up, he was beside her. He had been watching her and lightly running his fingers up and down her arm.
Crystal was startled when she saw Nathan, and he apologized and began to get up, but she said, “No. Stay. Please. I am afraid to be alone,” She didn’t know why, but she was suddenly afraid to be alone. Something about her Father’s submission made her uneasy. Was I too hard on him? - she asked herself.
After a few minutes, Crystal fell back asleep in Nathan’s arms, and this time she dreamt of her mother. Her mother had jumped from the room, and her remains had been a bloody mess. And when she next awoke, she was drenched in sweat.
After such a terrible dream, Crystal was glad to have Nathan beside her. She wrapped her arm around him and held him tight. Nathan hugged her back, and she strained her neck so that she could kiss him, first on the mouth and then on the cheek, neck, earlobe, collarbone, and chest. There was sexual energy between them that was undeniable, but this exchange had nothing to do with desire and everything to do with giving and receiving comfort. She just wanted to feel comfortable, and the heat coming from Nathan make her feel a bit better. Nathan groaned, and his lower body was starting to react.
“Crystal, stop, I’m afraid if we continue doing this thing, I might lose control,”
She loosened her arms around his neck and snuggled herself under his armpit.
***
In the Hospital - Eric Bush was the worst kind of patient. He’d trashed his room. There was hospital equipment, medicine, and pillows everywhere, and Antony had reached the end of his rope with him. In his opinion, Eric was acting like a spoiled brat. He’d driven away every nurse assigned to work with him, and nobody dared enter his room.
Antony sat on the sofa with his legs on the coffee table. He watched Eric with a concerned expression on his face. Eric had a cervical dislocation and was in traction, but Antony worried that he might have brain damage. I’ll have to bring it up with the doctor - thought Eric.
Eric turned to Antony. “Who’s the new headmaster at Olman University?” he asked.
Antony frowned. “That’s a random question, but I’ll look it up for you.” He pulled out his phone, and after a quick Google search, said, “His name is Owen Lane. It looks like he used to work out of Saint University, but he was recently transferred. Why do you ask?”
Eric: “I want you to contact him and arrange for me to audit Crystal’s classes.”
Antony: “Give me a break. Don’t you think you’re too old to be an auditor?”
Eric: “Up yours! I’m still young, okay? Besides, I look like I’m eighteen or nineteen.”
Antony laughed. “Sure, sure, buddy!”
Eric: “That’s enough! You work for me, so do what I say! I don’t need your shit!”
Antony: “Fine. I’ll do it. But there’s something you need to know: Nathan Davis is her substitute teacher... Can you manage to sit in on one of his classes without causing a scene?”
