Chapter fourty

Crystal stood outside her father's bedroom. Trying to govern enough courage to go in. He had learnt that she hadn't been going to work and according to her nanny, his first reaction had been unfiltered fury.
Which meant that it was now or never, she had to tell him about her decision because if she failed to do so, then she'd have no choice but to go back to work.
Nick had left early that morning saying he had something urgent to tend to.
He had gone to her room while she was still asleep and kissed her goodbye. Telling her that he'd be back soon.
And she hoped that she'd have good news to tell him when he came back. That she had finally told her dad her intentions and all that was left was for her to start thinking of her next step.
She unlocked the door and walked inside. Where she found her dad in the process of placing several documents in his briefcase. He didn't stop with the task even after seeing her.
" Mind telling me why you're not at the Firm? " he asked in a flat and plain tone.
Clasping his briefcase closed, he turned to her with his arms crossed. She felt the same way she had the one and only time she'd been sent to the principal's office back in highschool. He had let her off the hook after learning who her dad was but the feeling was very much the same.
And she knew that it wasn't supposed to be like that. He was her dad. He was supposed to make her feel safe and comfortable instead of scared.
" I have a meeting with some very important clients in thirty minutes, so please... " he gestured for her to get to it. And she swallowed past the very sour lump in her throat. This was turning out to be harder than she had thought .
But she had to just let it out. Be honest and perhaps he'd understand.
" Well dad... the thing is.... I was thinking - "
" Goodness Crystal! Just spit it out! "
He sounded thoroughly impatient, glancing at his watch as he tapped his foot on the floor. So she closed her eyes and decided to just do it. Without worrying about his reaction or about her fears.
" I want to quit, " she said, and in a lower and shakier voice, she added " I don't want to be a lawyer anymore..... actually, I never wanted to be one to begin with. "
Her dad opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. And the only word that could be used to describe the look he gave her was anger mixed with disappointment. She loved her dad with her entire heart, but it was finally time for her to follow her own dreams.
" Is this some sort of joke? Just what kind of foolishness is this? "
" It's not foolishness dad - "
" Well of course it is! " he yelled. So loudly that she jumped. And the disappointment was completely gone to be replaced by rage.
" So what do you want to do? Stay at home all day? " she shook her head and was about to talk but he didn't give her a chance.
" And why not, right? I mean, you're Crystal Lockwood afterall. Why would you work when you have your father around to hand you everything you need. "
She had known that her dad wasn't the most emotionally considerate person there was, but she had never considered him to be so.... heartless.
His words stabbed at her heart. She had always tried her best to fend for herself so that she wouldn't have to rely on him but clearly he didn't care about that. And he was hurting her, both with his words, and with the way he was looking at her.
" That's not true, I want to become an artist, "
He shook his head, staring at her with a demoralizing look. The same way he looked at his employees seconds before he fired them.
" An artist you say? "
She nodded, running her hands up and down her arms as she tried to be strong.
" So you want to spend your day splashing around paint for a living. Is that right? "
Was he making fun of her? It sure did sound like he was. And if she doubted it then the humorless laugh he gave out afterwards confirmed it. It hurt her more than anything else. And she wanted to shout at him and tell him to stop. To try and make him see that it really was what she wanted.
" It's more than that. It's what I love doing and - " he cut her off by putting his hand up. Then he walked over to where she was. His jaw clenched and his eyes holding a strong hint of anger.
" If you don't want me to disown you, you'll go to your room, get dressed, and meet me in the car so that I can drop you off at work. Clear? "
He was so insensitive. And it was getting to her. The tears that had been welling in her eyes since he first made fun of her passion silently began rolling down her cheeks. And more were formed in their place. They blurred her vision until she could hardly see a thing. And she felt choked by the insane depth of pain she was currently feeling.
" Go on and get to it. And wipe those tears will you? " he said as he turned around to head back to the bed .
" No! " Crystal firmly stated. And he turned to her again, his brows raised.
" No? " he asked and she shook her head.
" No, " she repeated. Her voice lacked the amount of courage she wished it had but as long as he heard her. And he had just helped her to make her choice.
" What do you mean no! I'm your father and you WILL do as I say. "
She wiped at the tears that refused to stop falling. Then lifted her chin and looked at him with a broken and meek defiance.
" All these years I've been doing what YOU want me to because I wanted you to be proud,.. " she sniffled back the tears and went on louder and much more clearer this time as she pointed an accusing finger at him. , " ..but now it's clear to me that all you care about is your stupid reputation! And you don't have the slightest idea about how to appreciate the things you have. So I'd rather be a 'mere painter' than do something I don't love and risk turning out like you! "
She yelled at him. And as soon as she was done.... he slapped her right across the face.
Her face turned to the side and her hair swept across it. And suddenly all she could hear was a constant beeping in her ears, and all she could feel was a stinging pain in her cheek.
She lifted her hand up to cover the spot. Too shocked to comprehend what he had just done. Never in her life had he lifted his hand on her. He had shouted and yelled and he had locked her up in her room a few times as a teenager. But he had never dared to hit her.
An now that he had, the heaviness in her heart increased a tremendous amount. And she didn't even have it in her to look at him. All she wanted was to get out of there as fast as she could. And that's exactly what she did. She ran out, ignoring her dad when he repeatedly called her. She wanted to run and lock herself up in her room.
But then halfway down the hall she bumped into a familiar firm chest and was forced to unwillingly take a step back.
" Hey, where are you off to in such a hurry? " Nick asked as he looked down at her, having only arrived at the house . But she didn't answer, instead she tried to walk past him but he wouldn't let her.
" Crystal? " he called out as he held her arms and made her stand in front of him. She tried to struggle and walk away but that only made him tighten his grip. And it made him worry about exactly what was going on.
" Crystal, what's wrong? " he asked when he cupped her cheek and felt the tears. They made him itch. They made him as mad as he could possibly be.
He held her chin and angled her to look up at him.
" Come on, tell me what's wrong. " the words were spoken as more of a command. But it was a tender command. One that possessed the amount of care he held only for her. She shook her head, sniffling back a cry. Her hand on his wrist which she held on to with all her might.
" Crystal.. " he said past gritted teeth, that vein in his neck on the verge of popping out. Then he saw the red mark on her cheek and his hand naturally tightened into a very firm fist.
He moved her hair back and touched the spot with the back of his hand, she flinched. Then he searched for her eyes until he found them. And when he did, he held her gaze with a very intense one of his own.
" Who? "
It was one word. A single word that was spoken in a low and feral growl. He waited for her to answer, and when she didn't, he pressed her shoulder.
" Tell me who Crystal! " he ordered. Her single sob only making him all the more outraged. It was worse than if she were crying a whole gallon of tears. Because that soft and helpless sound was breaking him. It was ravaging him and making it impossible for him to think of anything else apart from finding whoever had done that to her and possibly choking him to death.
" It's not what you think, I... I- "
" Just tell me who hit you, " he cut in and she hung her head.
" It was my dad. " she whispered. Expecting him to ask her what had happened. But instead he pulled her in for a quick hug, then he kissed her forehead and stepped away from her.
Heading straight towards the direction she had just come from with quick and unmatched strides.
" Nick? Stop! Where are you going? " she ran after him. But she didn't catch up until he had gotten to her dad's room and literally kicked the door open.