179 — MICHAEL O’NEIL (POV)

I never thought I would set foot in this building again, but here I am, in the elevator that takes me to the 79th floor of one of the biggest towers in New York City; it was created precisely to accommodate all the companies of the current most important holding company in America.
All of it was supposed to be mine. At least, that’s what I was raised for. My family expected me to take over the empire they built, but even now, as the elevator doors open, showing me an enormous window showing me the top of the city, I don’t feel a single regret.
We’re on top of the world. Still, none of that really matters… Especially when I think about my daughter.
Angelee is getting married in two weeks. Hearing that gave me some concern and shivers, but they are adults and know what they are doing. It’s not my place to meddle in their lives anymore. *But what I can do* is make sure they don’t have to worry about anything other than flower arrangements and guest lists.
And that’s precisely why I’m here, crossing the hall with confident steps.
I pass through the reception without looking at the apparently very young woman who calls me. She says, *“Sir, you can’t go in like this!”* in a loud, trembling voice. I stop and look at her, focusing on her tight skirt and great cleavage. Her hair is also stylish and elegant, but I just focus on the quite expensive earrings that look way more than a secretary’s salary can afford.
Well, anyone can see a pattern. Beautiful, young and naive, but ambitious. *It was like that with the other seven and counting.*
“Do you have an appointment?” She asks, looking at the screen with a certain superiority. She seems happy to have stopped me. But who on earth would burst through Dominic O’Neil’s door if not someone insane? This woman doesn’t have much experience, but the first secretaries at least had a good eye. When did my father stop hiring competent people to attract mistresses?
“I suppose. Dominic called me here after all.” I say, and she looks up in disdain. Believe me, girl, I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t like this.
“Mr. O’Neil didn’t warn me about any visitors.”
I guess he didn’t expect me actually to come since I ignored all his calls before.
“Call him, then.” I sigh, putting my hands in my pockets.
She discreetly rolls her eyes, sure I didn’t see it, and picks up the phone. With her eyes on the number pad, she asks, “Your name?”
“Michael.” I pause, then smile. “Michael O’Neil.”
Suddenly, the girl turns pale. She puts down the phone and looks at me warily, swallowing hard. Well, I suppose my name is still quite popular as my father’s only rightful heir.
“I can go in?” I ask, and she shakes her head desperately.
“Mr. O’Neil is in a meeting right now- WAIT!”
I don’t let her finish; I just walk toward the office despite her protests, focusing only on the black door with the name DOMINIC O’NEIL on the sign.
However, as soon as I get a little closer, my eyes meet those of the person leaving the room, and my heart freezes, stopping beating for a second. And for the first time in a long time, I regret something I did — I really should have waited.
Kristen is walking out, but unlike me, there isn’t a single trace of surprise on her face. In fact, she gives me a victorious smile as she closes the door behind her, looking at me with the same superiority as always. There’s arrogance in every part of this woman, and my memories have not betrayed me in that fact... She’s still the same as I remember.
“Michael, what a coincidence.” Kristen doesn’t even bother putting emotion into her voice, nor does she make an effort to act surprised. Her red lips, curved in a mischievous smile, twists my stomach. “I would never imagine I would see you in this place again-”
“Spare the small talk, Kristen. I don’t have time to waste on you.” I interrupt her, hands still in my pants pockets. She narrows her eyes, not liking my tone or the posture that doesn’t even flinch at her presence. “So, if you’ll excuse me.”
I walk with my eyes glued to the door, but as soon as I pass by Kristen, her voice makes me freeze on the ground again, “Do you think you won? Let’s see how long you’ll be arrogant!”
I slowly spin my body towards her, now seeing an expression that I never thought Kristen was capable of making: resentful eyes, eyebrows furrowed and lowered, and her lips drawn back.
“Why are you looking at me like you feel sorry for me?” She scoffs, running a hand through her hair that slides easily between her slender fingers. Her eyes are narrowed, and she struggles to smile, looking a little insane. “I’m not the miserable one here, Michael... You think you’re superior, but you’re stuck with the people you hate the most. And in the end, you will have no choice but to lower your head and lick the feet of those you denied.”
She thinks that those words affect me, but I couldn’t care less.
“Look, Kristen, I don’t give a damn if you’re sleeping with my father. Do it all you want... But remember, you won’t get what you want. That’s the type of man he is.”
Her eyes widen. She probably never thought that I would find out, but it’s pretty obvious.
“How do you dare-”
“Oh, and I’ll tell you something,” I lean over her, bringing our faces closer, and she doesn’t seem taken aback. “Don’t come close to Julian or my daughter… Otherwise, you will regret it.”
“Why would I approach your… Oh-” Realization hits Kristen, and then she scoffs a visibly bitter laugh. “So she put her claws on Adams… sly girl.”
I clench my hands into fists but do nothing but stare at her.
Kristen clicks her tongue and flips her hair behind her shoulders.
“Well, whatever. *It doesn’t change anything.”* She fakes a concern. “Oh, my... I shouldn’t take up any more of your time, Mike… You have a lot to talk about with your father, after all.”
Without saying any other word, Kristen withdraws, walking victoriously.
I sigh, annoyed, turning my back on her and running a hand through my hair.
*Great, now my mood is shit.*
I take a deep breath, fill my lungs to the max, and open the door without announcing my arrival. My rude act only causes the old man to lift his sharp brown eyes and look over his glasses, unimpressed.
Despite having aged a lot, to the point where his hair is completely gray, he remains the same. Imposing. Threatening. There’s something about my father that makes everyone naturally respect him... *like being in front of a lion.*
Dominic looks back at the documents, turning one of the pages, and says, with a voice that sounds loud like thunder despite the calm and collected tone. “You really came. I thought you were going to ignore me like you always do.”
I cross my arms, “Well, I’m here now. Why did you call me?”
He still doesn’t look at me.
“I heard you bought a bankrupt company. Didn’t I teach you better than that?”
“If you call me to give investment advice, save it. I don’t give a shit about your opinion.”
My father looks up finally, “I certainly didn’t teach you to speak in that graceless way.”
“You haven’t been part of my life for a long time, Father. Maybe you are senile? I am no longer a child who needs the care of relatives.”
“Don’t you?” He laughs sarcastically, and that’s odd because he’s not a man to be amused; it only happens when he’s looking down on someone. But of course, outside this room, to the world, he wears the mask of a proud family man, a smiling, selfless gentleman... but it’s just a facade. The real Dominic is an austere person who only sees success in his eyes. His family, his children — everything is a tool for his ascension.
“This is nonsense.” I sigh with a rigid expression. “You have nothing to say.”
“What a surprise, you want to hear what your father has to say. Don’t tell me you want an affectionate family reunion as well?” My father laughs, shaking his head, and finally sets down the documents. “I must say, I’m truly surprised that my granddaughter got her hands on the Adams fortune.”
“Don’t you dare talk about my daughter-”
“Didn’t you come here after so many years to listen to my thoughts?” Dominic interrupts me, making me clench my teeth and lock my jaw. “For God’s sake, I’m praising your girl. I didn’t think she would go far in life, but she surprisingly achieved a lot. She got pregnant by the Adams heir and even made him return home. And now, she has taken a seat in that company of yours.”
I narrow my eyes and say, “Angelee earned the position as Director through her own effort.”
“Oh, I know… You are my son, even if you hate to admit it. You would never give a high position to someone who doesn’t deserve it, even if it’s your daughter.”
I sigh, running a hand through my hair.
“I’m not going to make small talk; we both know why I called you and why you came after so long.”
I don’t flinch; I just keep looking at him.
“Seven years ago, you walked through this same door to defend your daughter. Today is the same. Patterns are made to repeat themselves.”
“Seven years ago, you were stabbing me in the back in this room. Patterns are really made to repeat themselves, considering you’re intending to do the same thing again.”
Dominic narrows his eyes, then sighs, removing his glasses.
“You sound like I did something terrible. I was just doing the best for you.”
“Hiding my daughter for sixteen years makes you have a good heart?” I retort, noticing his eyes lost in another corner of the room.
“That wasn’t my idea. I never intended to do any harm to my granddaughter. That’s something *your mother* decided on her own.”
“Is that enough of an excuse? She became bitter because of *you.* And even if you didn’t decide to reject Angelee on your own, you were negligent.”
“Negligent? I sent enough money for them to have a comfortable life. That woman was able to spend the rest of her life in the best hospital in the city-”
“I should have been there!” I raise my voice, suddenly upset. He’s poking at my wound, my greatest pain, and he even dares to be surprised by my reaction. “My daughter watched her mother die, thinking her only family was leaving her! Do you think the money you sent makes up for what you did?”
Dominic stays quiet; for the first time in who knows how long, he doesn’t have anything to say.
*“I shouldn’t have come here,”* I say finally, with an exhausted sigh. “That was stupid-”
“You’re right. Angelee is an O’Neil, but she has never been recognized as such, and none of that could make up for the past. But we can make a difference now. *I can change that.”* My father interrupts me, deadly serious. “I can make her my heir... Leave her all my wealth to her and, of course, *to the children in her womb.”*
I catch my breath in my throat, my heart beating fast and hard enough to hurt.
“But I want you to come back.” My father smiles. “Marry Kristen and take the place you’re born for — and I will accept Angelee as my rightful granddaughter.”