She tilted her head and studied him for a moment. “I’m not a good person.” She said honestly. “I’m the girl who bailed on her best friend and then slept with the love of her life. I’m the girl that does twisted things, just to get ahead.” She said as she pointed a thumb towards his father. “Exhibit A.” She sighed and leaned into Nick, her lips just a breath away from his ear. “Take him for all he’s worth, he’s a miserable prick.” She whispered and then patted his arm before she headed out the door.
She was halfway out the door when Nick’s father hurled a decanter of scotch towards the door. She laughed in her wake, when she heard him curse and the glass shatter against the wall.
“I could strangle you for bringing that two-bit whore into this office.” Mr. Foti growled towards his son.
Nick looked at his father disbelievingly. The whole situation was mind boggling. “Ten minutes ago, it looked as if you were thanking your lucky stars I brought Erica into this office.”
“Everything she said is a lie.” He countered.
“I highly doubt that.” Nick said as he crossed his arms against his chest. “You’re the only one who has proven time and time again that you can’t be trusted. Did you really think you could blindside me into working here again?” Anger boiled in Nick’s veins as he realized the severity of the situation. Had he not walked in on his father and Erica, he would’ve brought his father down to that boardroom and they would’ve signed the deal and in the process Nick’s life would’ve been signed away too. “You think you can play God with my life.” Nick said as he clenched his fists at his sides, wanting nothing more than for his fist to collide with his father’s smug face.
“I think you’re acting rather dramatically, just like your mother always overreacting playing the victim.” He rolled his eyes and then focused on his son. “You make it sound like I’m selling your soul to the devil.”
“You almost did!” Nick shouted. “I don’t want your life. I don’t want to be bound to you by any means! I have a life.”
“Selling cars in the middle of nowhere is a life?! You’re acting ridiculous. If this is about a woman, snap the fuck out of it. There is plenty of pussy to go around.”
“Right, this coming from the man who was just fucking his son’s leftovers.” Nick shook his head in disgust. “I don’t give a damn what you think of me or my choices. I may not be rolling in the dough, but I’m happy. I live a comfortable life and I have a woman back home that I’m crazy about.” He thought about his words and they didn’t seem sufficient enough. “A woman I love.” He amended. “Riverdale may not have been enough for you. And maybe my mother and I weren’t enough to keep you there, but that was your choice, and this is mine.” He watched his father roll his eyes again as if what he had just said was the most absurd thing he had ever heard. Nick pitied his father. The man would likely live the rest of his life alone, and when he died, he’d die alone as well.
Nick turned around and silently headed out of his father’s office.
“Where are you going, boy? You have a deal to close!” Nick heard his father roar but he kept walking. He didn’t look back as he walked towards the elevators. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He stared down at it while he waited for the doors to open. He debated with himself whether or not he should call Sam. He wanted to and not because he wanted to tell her what had gone down, but because of what he had realized. He wanted her to know how much he loved her. He ran his free hand over his head and when the elevator doors opened, he slid the phone back into his pocket.
He stepped into the elevator, turning around just as the doors were closing, catching a glimpse of his father running towards the elevator. God, he thought as the doors closed, he had almost ruined everything. The worse part of it all was that he wouldn’t have known until it was too late. He loathed his father for the lengths he would go to for the all mighty dollar. He would sacrifice his own son. It shouldn’t bother him, he told himself. He shouldn’t even be surprised by his father’s tactics. He was a cruel self-absorbed man.
His mind traveled then to his mother, and how distraught she was when his father had left them. He had done her a favor, he would’ve stripped her of everything and she would’ve never been able to find herself again. He had lost his mother throughout the most important years of his life because his father was a selfish greedy bastard.
He made his way to the boardroom and silence filtered the room when he entered. His confident presence diminished and he stood before the men wounded and defeated.
One of the gentlemen pushed back in his chair and stood. “We’ve reached a decision.” He said with the slightest hint of pleasure shining through his eyes.