After his goodbye
833 Words
Olivia’s POV
Three days had passed since my father died.
Three days since those four words had changed everything.
Trust my decision.
I still didn’t understand what he meant.
I sat quietly in the back seat as Mum drove us home from the funeral. The flowers, the people, the prayers, the tears. Everything kept replaying in my head.
But the worst part was knowing Dad was really gone.
I looked out the window.
“Are you okay?” Mum asked.
“No.”
She glanced at me.
I gave a small smile.
“But I’ll be fine.”
She didn’t say anything.
Neither did I.
When we got home, I went straight to my father’s study.
I opened the door slowly.
Everything was still there.
His glasses sat on the desk.
His watch was beside them.
Even the book he had been reading was still open.
I walked over and touched the desk.
For a second, I imagined him sitting there.
“Dad…”
My voice broke.
I quickly looked away.
A knock came from the door.
I turned.
Mr. Benson stood there.
“Olivia.”
I wiped my face.
“You came.”
“I wanted to give you some time after the funeral.”
I nodded.
“Thank you.”
He stepped inside.
“There are some things we need to discuss.”
I already knew what he meant.
“The agreement?”
He looked surprised.
“You know about it.”
“You told me.”
“And the marriage?”
I looked at him.
“I know about Ethan.”
He nodded slowly.
“I see.”
I sat down behind my father’s desk.
“So now tell me the part nobody has explained.”
Mr. Benson sat across from me.
“Your father and Richard Carter made an agreement twenty five years ago.”
“About the two companies.”
“Yes.”
“And my marriage to Ethan is part of that agreement.”
“Partly.”
I frowned.
“Partly?”
“The agreement was created to protect both families if either company ever faced a serious threat.”
“What threat?”
“Someone trying to gain control of either company.”
I looked down at my father’s desk.
“Is Hayes Group in danger?”
“It could be.”
“How?”
“Your father had several business problems he was dealing with before his illness. Some debts, legal claims, and disagreements with investors.”
“I know about those.”
“There is more.”
I looked up.
“What?”
“Some people believe Hayes Group is vulnerable now that your father is gone.”
My chest tightened.
“So they’re waiting for me to fail.”
“Some of them may be.”
I leaned back.
“And Ethan?”
“He is part of the protection your father arranged.”
I was quiet for a moment.
“Does he even want this?”
Mr. Benson paused.
“I can’t speak for him.”
“That sounds like a yes.”
“It sounds like you need to ask him yourself.”
I sighed.
“I’ve never even met him.”
“You will tomorrow.”
I looked at him.
“Tomorrow?”
“He asked to meet you.”
I couldn’t help laughing.
“Of course he did.”
Mr. Benson smiled faintly.
“You don’t have to agree to anything tomorrow.”
“Good.”
“You only need to hear him out.”
I looked toward the window.
The sun was beginning to set over London.
“I don’t want to marry him.”
“I understand.”
“But I don’t want to lose Hayes Group either.”
“I know.”
I looked at my father’s photograph on the desk.
“He knew I’d be trapped.”
Mr. Benson didn’t answer.
I picked up the photograph.
“Why didn’t he just tell me?”
“Because he wanted to protect you.”
“By deciding my future for me?”
“He believed he was doing what was best.”
I looked away.
That was the problem.
Even after everything, I still wanted to believe my father had a reason.
I placed the photograph back on the desk.
“When am I meeting Ethan?”
“Tomorrow afternoon.”
“Where?”
“Carter Holdings.”
I nodded.
“Fine.”
Mr. Benson stood.
“Are you sure?”
“No.”
He stopped.
I looked at him.
“But I’m going anyway.”
After he left, I remained in the study.
I opened my father’s letter again.
I read the last line.
Trust my final decision.
I touched the paper gently.
“I hope you knew what you were doing, Dad.”
Because tomorrow, I was going to meet the man he had chosen for me.
And I had a feeling Ethan Carter was going to be nothing like the man I had imagined.
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