"Bring us your most expensive white wine." My dad smiles at the waiter, then looks at me. "We have an important celebration."

I shift uncomfortably in my cold seat, goosebumps on my arms from the blasting air conditioner.

What's with fancy restaurants and icy temperatures? Do they want their seafood to be that fresh when they serve it? Might as well eat it out of a refrigerator.

"Nice place, huh?" Dad notes and I give him a weak nod. "So, tell me all about it!"

"Uh..." I've said this three times already. "Like I said, he's offering me 110,000 a year with a 30,000 performance bonus. Then a six month evaluation for a 30,000 increase and an added bonus on top of it. Plus being a VP, of course."

His eyes overflow with so much pride, I feel like he'll burst.

"That's my girl!" He raises his voice, careless of the people around. "You negotiated like I taught you?"

"Yup."

"Kept your poker face on the whole time?"

"Mhm."

"Told him you need everything in writing?"

"Yes, dad."

"Good girl!" He shakes his head with satisfaction, slapping his hand on the table. "I've been waiting for this day for so long!"

So have I...

He pulls out a small square box from his suit pocket and puts it between us. It's wrapped in a royal blue paper with a black ribbon around.

"What's this?"

"It's your promotion gift. I picked it myself." He points his chin at it. "Take a look."

"You didn't have to..." I take it with slow hands, not very excited to see what's inside.

"I wanted to! Especially after I... inappropriately learned how much you hated my other gifts." He raises a condescending eyebrow as if I've misbehaved. "I had to find out what my little girl would like instead."

I open it and the first thing that strikes me is the shining diamond around a necklace.

"Wow..." I can't take my eyes off of it. "This is too much..."

"No such thing." He says confidently. "My daughter deserves the best. She's earned it."

The necklace has some brand logo designed elegantly around the round diamond. It's stunning and bold. And an obvious statement.

"It's very..." I curl my fingers and splay them to mimic an explosion. "Very poppy."

"Well, that's what you need to be from now on." He lectures. "Now you're a leader. Maybe in the future, you'll work side by side with me."

My eyes widen in disbelief. He always told me his IT industry was not fit for me. That I'd be better off in media production, because it was creative and 'easier' for me.

"Really?"

"If you keep this up, I don't see why not." He nods, puffing his chest. "You need to keep learning and becoming better." He opens his palm to go over a mental list. "The way you dress, how you behave, how you talk to people." He narrows his eyes with sternness. "You need to be taken seriously by everyone. Even the President! And to become that person, you need to start with things like that." He points at the necklace again. "Know your worth. Treat yourself with respect."

I brush my fingers around the expensive box as the jewelry sparkles at me. Calls for me.

Promises and words I've heard my whole life. Now... some fulfilled and others repeated.

I got so mad at Lucas for a game he played for a couple of weeks.

My father here has played me my whole life.

And I've taken it. Never blamed him for it. I've been a good girl and listened.

"Are you proud of me, dad?" I ask quietly without lifting my eyes.

"Of course, I am!" He continues like he's giving a speech. "You did everything I asked you to do. Went through school, got good grades, worked hard, climbed the ladder. Now your boss wants to keep you so bad, he's fighting for you!" He laughs in disbelief. "I've never been more happy."

"Yeah?" My voice shakes and I blink to take back the tears.

"You've done a great job." He continues, not noticing or caring. "Now, let's see what we want to eat." He picks up a menu and sits back. "What would you like? Pick anything you wish."

I stay in the same position, staring at the necklace, realizing it's not as shiny.

It might as well be two dollars.

It's so... unfulfilling.

I've never felt more... empty.

The fuck am I doing here?

Whose puppet have I been?

How long? How long have I been used and tossed around for? How long have I rejected myself and judged myself for the strings I have not seen? How long have I been angry at myself when I should've been angry at him?

I look up and can't help but for the first time, glare at my dad. He doesn't even notice.

"What are you getting, Laylay?" He asks, still reading.

"I'm leaving."

"Hm?" He looks up. "Come again?"

I scoff and set the gift down, slide it towards him. "Thanks, but I don't want it."

"What's that supposed to mean?" He picks it up and examines it. "What's wrong with it?"

"It's not me. That's what's wrong with it."

Now he's the one glaring. The hostility I've grown up with. Been made to believe I deserve it for simply being me.

"You don't like it?" He barks, as if waiting for me to correct myself.

I smile a little and shake my head. "I hate it."

His eyes widen in horror and he exhales, setting the gift down. "Well... huh, if you're going to be so unappreciative—"

"I am." I cut him off, voice firmer but for some odd reason, amusement in my eyes. "I don't appreciate you trying to mold me."

"Mold you?" He scowls.

I stand up, impatient to get out of here. Run away. But not out of fear.

Run the way I ran into those flower fields.

I want to be in my own company. I want to be free.

"Sorry, dad." I put my napkin on the table, looking down at him. "But I won't ever be what you want me to be."

"What are you talking about?" He scrutinizes me from head to toe. "Sit down this instant—"

"Goodbye, dad." I cut him off, picking up my purse. "When or if you ever wish to get to know me, give me a call." I turn on my heel, then remember something. "Oh, and one more thing."

"What?" He snaps, not moving an inch from his seat. As if resisting what's happening.

My smile widens.

The walls that had ripped the grounds disappear.

I can breathe.

"I quit. I'm starting my own business."

~

I walk out of the restaurant, grinning at the filthy city, the concrete buildings, and the disgusting smell of traffic and dust.

I giggle.

Bite my lip and look down when people stare as they pass by.

Bend down and pet a puppy that waggles his tail. He licks my hand happily.

Pull out my phone and call Shushan. See if she wants to hang out today.

Then call Gia to ask the same.

"What time?" She asks, voice unusually stressed. "It's really hectic here. I'm not sure what time I'll get off work."

"Oh, I'm sorry." I frown a bit, my absence must've been so sudden. "Don't worry, I'm sure Lucas will handle whatever's going on."

"Um, Layla... Lucas quit." She says it like she's surprised that I didn't know.

"What?" I am so confused.

"He quit." She repeats, equally confused. "He's not coming back."

~ A/N ~
Oh yeah! Was the dad convo as satisfying for you as it was for me? Who's excited for Layla?!