Build And Break novel Chapter 57

Steven, who appeared to not have known about Jack's next announcement, directed all his attention at him with a raised brow of wonder. Angela was still too fazed to register the incoming of another news.

"I'm having a major heart surgery in a few weeks. That's why I wanted to merge our companies, Morris. And that's why I really wanted you back here, Angela. I wanted to puzzle our family back as one. It wasn't easy or the brightest road here but nothing I ever did was. But look at us now. The three of us sitting around one table. So, yea, that's pretty much all I wanted to say. I thought I'd let you two know."

At this, Angela couldn't take anymore of sitting in that suddenly seemingly suffocating room. "I need some air." She stood from her seat and jogged out of the dining room.

When she reached the garden she had dearly loved spending time at during her younger years, Angela ran into the trees, removing her heels along the way, until she found the one tree where her childhood treehouse was once built. Defeated, she leaned to the tree trunk and on instant, burst into tears. Tears that she had no idea if they were of sadness, of worry or of any other emotion she had all mixed at that moment.

It had been long minutes before she heard the crunching of leafs under the approaching footsteps.

"I knew I'd find you here." Jack announced his arrival. He rested back to a nearby tree. He heard her subtle sniffle. "Are you okay?"

Angela looked up at him with her wet eyes. "Are you?"

Jack needn't her to elaborate to know what she was referring to. "Do you really care to know?"

Angela shrugged barely. "I guess I do."

"Well, I'm not good. I'm never going to be good for that matter. I'm an old man. I'm going to test my luck with the surgery now."

"Is it risky?" A few weeks ago, Angela wouldn't have thought twice about checking on her father's health.

"Yes, very." Jack answered with calm and ease.

Unsure what to say next, Angela only nodded.

"How are you and Steven going?" Jack changed the subject at an opportune moment.

"What do you mean?" Did her father think he could play matchmaker between her and Steven like he had done more than ten years ago?

"I know I've never given you any advice or, well, I've never been a father to you at all, but let me tell you something now. These past years, I've been working very close to Steven. And he never, not once, has he spoken about you with me. But every time I caught him staring at a blank wall in the middle of an important meeting, I knew you were his sole focus on his mind. And let me tell you, that man waited for you to be back in his life. For four long years, he waited to have you back. If he hadn't found you when he did, he would have brought you back here some other way, another day."

For the countless time that day, Angela couldn't believe what she was hearing. Firstly, because she was having the longest conversation ever with her father and he was giving her word of advice. Second of all, because her father was telling her that Steven, the same man who kicked her out, had reportedly wanted her back. Once, John too had confided in her that Steven had still thought about her while they were apart.

"Jack." Steven was approaching them, careful of not touching a single leaf or branch. "There you are. I nearly got lost in all these trees to find you. The wine is finished. You wouldn't happen to have another one of that expensive bottle hidden in your cellar, would you?"

"I do but I wouldn't dare tell you the password to my cellar. I suspect I'd find a missing bottle every time you visit." Jack joked causing Steven to chuckle and a small smile to appear on Angela's lips.

"Well, you do always have the best wine, Jack."

Jack dismissed his words with a playful wave of his hand. "Yea, yea. I'll go get the wine."

"You wouldn't mind if I steal some alone time with your daughter though, would you?" Steven attempted with a wide grin.