Taxing Tea Time
I was all excited and hung-over today because I was going to see my father for Sunday Tea.
I have a weak spot for it. It reminds me of when my father used to take us all to the beautiful Palm Court at the London Ritz, where we filled our stomachs to our heart's delight with all the biscuits, sandwiches and cookies. After that we would go to Hyde Park and play. It just brings back such nice memories.
I met him at The Ritz London, went to the gorgeous Palm Court as it was custom and there he was, smiling, his azure eyes glistening from the second he saw me. Ever so handsome with his tweed jacket, the golden tie I had gotten him for Father’s day and that strong scent of both whisky and wood that appeased me. I love my daddy. He's always made me feel so lovely, as if he only had eyes for me. And he is so gallant and charming.
He stood up from his chair to give me a kiss on each cheek while saying my name in that low, crisp voice of his. I practically squealed with delight even if it would've been highly inappropriate considering my setting. I hardly see him, which seems to be a recurring theme with the men in my life.
He inquired about my life, my work, my brother and my sister (laughing when I involuntarily grimaced) and finally about my relationship.
Apparently, my father can be added to the list of people that don't believe I have a real relationship with Nathan. He thinks it's fleeting and strictly passionate, which made me frown. He hardly sees me, ergo he has no right to emit any kind of judgment over my love life or even my life in general.
"I am sure he is a delightful young man, Veronique and I will not ask you to make the same mistake your brother made in marrying so fast. I do commend you on keeping this relationship private. You are one of the few members of our family that hasn't completely lost their head in all that frivolousness."
I couldn't help but stare at him as if he were insane. He was saying that to me? To Miss Veronique Reinard? Um, the Queen of fashion? The Personal Assistant to Ms. Melinda Vlies, Chief Editor of the most prestigious and famous of all fashion magazines? The QUEEN of all that is FRIVOLOUS according to popular opinion?!
"...Right" was all that I could muster. I knew better than to snap at my father.
"The reason I invited you here was so we could discuss your future."
I put down my cup of tea, my mouth contorting into a frown. I already didn't like where this conversation was going. He sipped from his own cup.
"My future? Father, what--"
"I want you to be the head of Château Laforest."
My jaw dropped unceremoniously. First off, you don't hand over the control of a WINERY to a bloody alcohol-lover! Though I couldn't just tell him that. Besides, the entire idea was just... madness.
"Father, no. You can't be serious." I said, laughing lightly.
"Why not?"
Reason I just said. That and the business would go bankrupt in less than a month. I’d drink everything.
"Father, I..." I attempted to clear my head "That is Rink's birthright. He is your first-born and your only son. You can’t put me in charge."
"Rink denied his birthright the second he chose racing over the family business. And made it even more final when he married that girl in Las Vegas."
I saw the anger in his eyes, the outrage that threatened to overpower him. However, in true gentleman-like fashion, he took a deep breath and fixed his stare in my perplexed face, his fury drowning within him.
"But what about--" I tried to ask about my other sister, Rink’s twin.
"Do not get me started on Lorienne."
I remained silent. I couldn't believe it. It seemed surreal.
"Father. I have a life, a small yet significant life plan. I-"
"You are not destined to do small things."
"Why me!?" I cried out finally. I felt like a little girl, being shoved into a car to go to a trip I did not want to go. Exasperation was taking over me; the excitement that I started with was quickly dispersing.
"Veronique, you are the only responsible one out of our family. You have a strong head on those shoulders. Besides, why did you think your mother forced you to take Business Administration as a double major?"
I could not believe what he was saying. They had tricked me? Together? That wasn’t the correct thing to focus on.
"Father, you promised you wouldn't pressure me into doing things I didn't like!"
"It's time to grow Veronique. You are not a little girl anymore. You have responsibilities, things you need to look after. You won't be alone, I'll walk you through this entire thing-"
"No! Father no! This isn't fair to me, and it isn't fair to Rink! You have to talk to him! I know you’re mad at him but if you just attempted to put some sense into him-"
"Stop talking about Rink!" he slammed his closed fist unto the table. My eyes widened.
He took a deep breath and composed myself.
“Veronique, I didn’t come here to discuss this with you. I came to inform you and so you can give your two weeks notice at that silly job of yours.”
I felt my soul was sucked out of me and I was staring at myself from above, part of a bizarre experience. I had never seen my father this way. Nor had he ever emitted such mean-spirited opinions about what I did. Obviously, he had been hiding these things from me.
“No. No. No.” I said, shaking my head “I refuse. I am not going to be the Head of the Château! And I will not let you bully me into accepting it!”
My head was spinning, I felt so insulted and infuriated with him. How dare he do this to me. He knew how much I hated saying ‘no’ to him... how truly frightening it was.
“Veronique Elise, I am not about ready to give my company to some greedy idiot just because my children haven’t decided to make up their bloody minds in addition to being too selfish and conceited to wake up and realize that THIS is IMPORTANT.”
I bit my lip. I wanted to cry. He never spoke to me this way.
“Father, don’t raise your voice to me.” I pleaded.
“I raise my voice to whomever I so desire. You are nothing but an ingrate! Everything you are wear, the car you drive, the apartment you live in, the very food you eat, those endless shopping sprees are all possible because of the money we produce. Because of that company you show so little interest in. I ought to disinherit you for your arrogance.”
“...”
I felt so blindsided by his words, his aggressive mannerism... I couldn’t think properly. I just wanted to get as far away from him as I could. I couldn’t breathe. I focused on the ripples inside my Earl Grey tea and thought about Nathan, in Lake Cuomo and that he was waiting for me.
“Besides, you wouldn’t destroy Rink’s happiness by forcing him to work for me, would you?” he said lightly, taking a sip from his tea.
I looked at him, my chin up high in an attempt to keep the tears at bay.
“So my happiness isn’t as important as Rink’s?”
“Don’t be a child, Veronique. You know that’s not true.”
He finished his tea and dabbed his lips with his napkin. He stood up and bent to kiss my cheek. I moved my face away. He shook his head.
“Don’t do this to me.” He said, I could feel his stare on me. I didn’t care.
I picked up my purse and didn’t look at him.
“Thank you for the tea, Father.”
Then I left as quickly as I could. My mind was amiss. I wanted to get to as far as I could. I walked aimlessly, dialing numbers in my phone. Ashley... Caterina... Nathan... I hung up before they could answer. Anger, indignation, rage.
I took a taxi and headed to the airport. I needed to leave and level my head. This wasn’t so big. This wasn’t so big.
Right?
I have a weak spot for it. It reminds me of when my father used to take us all to the beautiful Palm Court at the London Ritz, where we filled our stomachs to our heart's delight with all the biscuits, sandwiches and cookies. After that we would go to Hyde Park and play. It just brings back such nice memories.
I met him at The Ritz London, went to the gorgeous Palm Court as it was custom and there he was, smiling, his azure eyes glistening from the second he saw me. Ever so handsome with his tweed jacket, the golden tie I had gotten him for Father’s day and that strong scent of both whisky and wood that appeased me. I love my daddy. He's always made me feel so lovely, as if he only had eyes for me. And he is so gallant and charming.
He stood up from his chair to give me a kiss on each cheek while saying my name in that low, crisp voice of his. I practically squealed with delight even if it would've been highly inappropriate considering my setting. I hardly see him, which seems to be a recurring theme with the men in my life.
He inquired about my life, my work, my brother and my sister (laughing when I involuntarily grimaced) and finally about my relationship.
Apparently, my father can be added to the list of people that don't believe I have a real relationship with Nathan. He thinks it's fleeting and strictly passionate, which made me frown. He hardly sees me, ergo he has no right to emit any kind of judgment over my love life or even my life in general.
"I am sure he is a delightful young man, Veronique and I will not ask you to make the same mistake your brother made in marrying so fast. I do commend you on keeping this relationship private. You are one of the few members of our family that hasn't completely lost their head in all that frivolousness."
I couldn't help but stare at him as if he were insane. He was saying that to me? To Miss Veronique Reinard? Um, the Queen of fashion? The Personal Assistant to Ms. Melinda Vlies, Chief Editor of the most prestigious and famous of all fashion magazines? The QUEEN of all that is FRIVOLOUS according to popular opinion?!
"...Right" was all that I could muster. I knew better than to snap at my father.
"The reason I invited you here was so we could discuss your future."
I put down my cup of tea, my mouth contorting into a frown. I already didn't like where this conversation was going. He sipped from his own cup.
"My future? Father, what--"
"I want you to be the head of Château Laforest."
My jaw dropped unceremoniously. First off, you don't hand over the control of a WINERY to a bloody alcohol-lover! Though I couldn't just tell him that. Besides, the entire idea was just... madness.
"Father, no. You can't be serious." I said, laughing lightly.
"Why not?"
Reason I just said. That and the business would go bankrupt in less than a month. I’d drink everything.
"Father, I..." I attempted to clear my head "That is Rink's birthright. He is your first-born and your only son. You can’t put me in charge."
"Rink denied his birthright the second he chose racing over the family business. And made it even more final when he married that girl in Las Vegas."
I saw the anger in his eyes, the outrage that threatened to overpower him. However, in true gentleman-like fashion, he took a deep breath and fixed his stare in my perplexed face, his fury drowning within him.
"But what about--" I tried to ask about my other sister, Rink’s twin.
"Do not get me started on Lorienne."
I remained silent. I couldn't believe it. It seemed surreal.
"Father. I have a life, a small yet significant life plan. I-"
"You are not destined to do small things."
"Why me!?" I cried out finally. I felt like a little girl, being shoved into a car to go to a trip I did not want to go. Exasperation was taking over me; the excitement that I started with was quickly dispersing.
"Veronique, you are the only responsible one out of our family. You have a strong head on those shoulders. Besides, why did you think your mother forced you to take Business Administration as a double major?"
I could not believe what he was saying. They had tricked me? Together? That wasn’t the correct thing to focus on.
"Father, you promised you wouldn't pressure me into doing things I didn't like!"
"It's time to grow Veronique. You are not a little girl anymore. You have responsibilities, things you need to look after. You won't be alone, I'll walk you through this entire thing-"
"No! Father no! This isn't fair to me, and it isn't fair to Rink! You have to talk to him! I know you’re mad at him but if you just attempted to put some sense into him-"
"Stop talking about Rink!" he slammed his closed fist unto the table. My eyes widened.
He took a deep breath and composed myself.
“Veronique, I didn’t come here to discuss this with you. I came to inform you and so you can give your two weeks notice at that silly job of yours.”
I felt my soul was sucked out of me and I was staring at myself from above, part of a bizarre experience. I had never seen my father this way. Nor had he ever emitted such mean-spirited opinions about what I did. Obviously, he had been hiding these things from me.
“No. No. No.” I said, shaking my head “I refuse. I am not going to be the Head of the Château! And I will not let you bully me into accepting it!”
My head was spinning, I felt so insulted and infuriated with him. How dare he do this to me. He knew how much I hated saying ‘no’ to him... how truly frightening it was.
“Veronique Elise, I am not about ready to give my company to some greedy idiot just because my children haven’t decided to make up their bloody minds in addition to being too selfish and conceited to wake up and realize that THIS is IMPORTANT.”
I bit my lip. I wanted to cry. He never spoke to me this way.
“Father, don’t raise your voice to me.” I pleaded.
“I raise my voice to whomever I so desire. You are nothing but an ingrate! Everything you are wear, the car you drive, the apartment you live in, the very food you eat, those endless shopping sprees are all possible because of the money we produce. Because of that company you show so little interest in. I ought to disinherit you for your arrogance.”
“...”
I felt so blindsided by his words, his aggressive mannerism... I couldn’t think properly. I just wanted to get as far away from him as I could. I couldn’t breathe. I focused on the ripples inside my Earl Grey tea and thought about Nathan, in Lake Cuomo and that he was waiting for me.
“Besides, you wouldn’t destroy Rink’s happiness by forcing him to work for me, would you?” he said lightly, taking a sip from his tea.
I looked at him, my chin up high in an attempt to keep the tears at bay.
“So my happiness isn’t as important as Rink’s?”
“Don’t be a child, Veronique. You know that’s not true.”
He finished his tea and dabbed his lips with his napkin. He stood up and bent to kiss my cheek. I moved my face away. He shook his head.
“Don’t do this to me.” He said, I could feel his stare on me. I didn’t care.
I picked up my purse and didn’t look at him.
“Thank you for the tea, Father.”
Then I left as quickly as I could. My mind was amiss. I wanted to get to as far as I could. I walked aimlessly, dialing numbers in my phone. Ashley... Caterina... Nathan... I hung up before they could answer. Anger, indignation, rage.
I took a taxi and headed to the airport. I needed to leave and level my head. This wasn’t so big. This wasn’t so big.
Right?
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