Chapter 46: Chapter 46

Zach POV.

Today was the inauguration, and as I walked around, waiting for my family to get ready, the house I had grown up in felt almost foreign to me. I'd always been couped up in my room half the time for fear of running into my dad or mom, so some of the rooms in the mansion felt like a maze to me.

I took a turn down to father's office, it was a more familiar territory since I'd been called there a lot after I did something wrong. It was also the same place I had told him to let me be with Vega, that I loved her and that I was not going to leave her. Well, we all knew how that turned out. I got to his door, going to push it open but pausing when I heard his raised voice.

"Don't ever call me Ray, we've talked about this five years ago and my answer is still the same as it was before… don't be ridiculous, why will I do such a thing, I'm an honest businessman… Well if you know all that then you should stop pushing for this. I co-own that property with Franco Vandenberg, you're never going to get your hand on it… don't play with fire boy, you touch my family and I'll have your head as a souvenir" he said, his voice so cold I felt goosebumps trail my arms. He ended the call, then roared as he smashed something against the floor.

I debated going in or not, but choose to at the last moment. Father whirled to face the door as I pushed it open.

"Oh, it's just you," he said, rubbing the sweat off his brows then he glanced at the broken flower vase on the floor.

"Should I get the maid to clean that up"?

"Don't worry about it son, let's just go before you miss your speech at the inauguration ceremony" he said with a smile.

"Are you alright Dad, I heard you shouting on the phone"?

"Forget about it," he said sharply. "Don't worry about me, I can handle my business, now you handle yours and keep making more billions. I want you to know that I'm proud of you son, you turned out better than I could have imagined" he complimented but it didn't soothe the ache that seemed to get more intense ever since my last conversation with Noah.

"Thanks, Dad," I said with a tight smile.

"I heard Vega Romeo owns that company, the girl is a surprise you know, I never thought she'd amount to anything but she did, so if you ever think of courting her again, you have my support. Her image will be good for the family".

Her image would be good for the family, what the hell did he mean by that, hadn't he accepted her in the past even after knowing her parent didn't have anything? I stared at my father. "But you accepted her when she had been nothing".

He gave me a look, that screamed his surprise that I'd even think like that. "Don't act naive son, I was never going to allow you to get serious with a lowlife nobody, and also, I knew you weren't really serious about her, but since she made you want to do better, I guess I figured I could allow you play around with her".

"I wasn't playing around with her, and she was not a lowlife nobody" I snapped, hating him even more than I did before. "I truly loved Vega.".

He stared at me, then placed his hand on my shoulder. "Even If you did, you broke up with her in the end didn't you, so I was still partly right. Look, let's not have this argument. It's your big day today and you finally agreed to show your achievements to the world, with the family by your side, so let's just get through that, and forget all about the past".

Of course, everything was so easy for him since he wasn't the one who had to go through all the heartache.

I pushed his hands off my shoulder. "I don't know why I try so hard to make you proud when you don't make an effort to understand me or even show some empathy"

Father sighed, turning away from me. "You're being dramatic again".

It was always this way with him, when I tried to talk to him, he termed it as me being theatrical. "That's what you always say to avoid having a conversation with me. I'm not being dramatic, I'm just telling you about my feelings".

He whirled to face me, his face a grim mask. "I have feelings too son, but I had to bury them deep into the ground just to give this family a good life, I had to work hard just to make our name a thing of awe on everyone's lips, so forgive me if I don't have the time to listen to you whine".

I scoffed. "Of course, you must think that would make me feel bad that I whine, but you've said worse before, so that is pretty tame in comparison. You say you don't have time to hear me out but you create time to listen to everyone's feelings, except for mine right".

"Because you're not worth the effort! For the love of God, let's not do this today, or you'll be late for the inauguration ceremony and let me tell you first impression matters, and I don't want any negative image to be attached to the Dante's name" he said, stepping around me to leave the office.

I felt tears sting my eyes. "It's always been about the family's image for you. I'm not worth your effort? Even after I did everything the way you've always wanted" I asked because I had to know if I was ever going to be enough for him. I needed to know if he was ever going to love me as his son.

"I respect you now. You've tried very hard son and for that, I'm proud of you. I know you'll accomplish greater things. Just keep working harder, and stay focused on your goal".

I took a deep breath as the first tears slipped down my cheek even though I tried hard to blink them back. He must see me as some weakling now, but I didn't care. I was done with it all. "I guess I'm still not enough then if that's your advice".

"You're being sentimental again, you have to keep working if you want to maintain your wealth, or you could lose it just in a blink of an eye."

I wiped the tears off my face, then turned to face him. "I'll keep that in mind," I said and he nodded, quickly patted my shoulder, and left me in his office.

I stood in his office for the longest time, then followed after him, and as I stood at the top of the stairs and watched father smile and compliment Noah on his outfit while he adjusted his tie, then kissed Chloe on the cheek, his eyes twinkling, I couldn't help but feel more alone.

I walked down the stairs and they all turned to face me. I plastered a smile on my face until I got to them.

Chloe frowned, her gaze roaming all over me. "Are you sure you want to wear that color son, I don't think it suits you. You should wear a black suit, just like Noah here. He looks amazing doesn't he".

It was a battle to keep my smile in place. "You're right mom, but it's a bit too late to change into another suit right now."

"Of course, you're right. It's just that I don't want you to look bad at the party, and right now you do".

Noah cut in before I could. "Mom, the ride is here, can we just go so we don't miss the whole ceremony".

"Oh right, we should. Congratulations, Son" she said, patting my shoulder lightly and I smiled.

"Thank you, Mom," I said, then glanced at Dad who gave me a quick nod. "I'll be taking my car, so I'll be right behind you," I said because riding with them in a confined space was guaranteed to make me lose my nerve. They seemed almost relieved as soon as the words came out of my mouth.

"Good idea, son but drive carefully ok, don't get into an accident," Chloe said, then gave me a side hug as she pulled Noah away.

Father turned to me. "I'm proud of you son, keep winning".

"I will," I said, and he walked toward the Lamborghini, entered and I watched as the car drove off.

I took a deep breath, my fingers dragging through my hair before I could stop myself. The stylist would be pissed if he saw the state of what he'd called the perfect hairstyles to bring out my eyes, he'd also suggested the dark green suit. Maybe I should have gone with black.

"It's always been this way, so why am I still surprised" I muttered to myself as I entered the car, turned on the ignition, and drove out of the garage. The conversation I'd listened to at the door of my father's office came crashing back into my head. Was father involved in a shady business since he'd made such a heinous threat without sounding hesitant, almost as if he was used to it, and who was Ray? Another conversation I'd walked into in the past came rushing back. It was when he had introduced me to a guy he said was his business partner. It was Ray Carlo Rossi, and I hadn't felt at ease with him at the time especially after noticing the tattoo on his hand. It had been a tattoo associated with the mob organization.

I frowned, was father involved in shady businesses and if he was, what did that mean for us, for the whole family?