Page 148 of Blue Gold

Placing a glass in front of me, the one I always used to drink from, Claudia moved to fill it up. I watched her as she did, thinking about last night. After dinner, we stayed up until late, and I told her about everything that had happened. It was a complicated conversation, mostly due to Claudia’s hard feelings toward Elliot. And yet, for that one night, she put it all aside and was a listening ear.

“You know, thinking about what you said yesterday,” Claudia started saying as I took the first sip of coffee. “Don’t you think Theodore might have something to do with that?”

Still drinking, my brows drew inward.

“My father? How come?”

“We both know he’s a total asshole.”

“More like a pig.”

“That would be an insult to pigs,” she sneered.

I snorted, fully agreeing on that.

“Back to my point. It’s not too much of a stretch to think he did something to chase away Elliot.”

I grimaced at the melodramatic idea that suited one of her telenovelas. “What, you think he paid him off?”

“No…” She gave me an irritated look. “More like he said something or threatened him.”

Thinking about it, she did have a point, but⁠—

“You think he’d go to such lengths?”

With one hand on her waist, Claudia looked at me with a raised brow, her expression saying it all, as we both knew the answer to my question was a roaring yes. My father was beyond capable of doing something like that, and while I was skeptical it was indeed the case, it was still worth checking it out.

That afternoon, I decided to visit Father. Meeting with him wasn’t my first choice, but it didn’t matter, as I was willing to do whatever it took to find Elliot. Thanks to Sherry, who, despite no longer being my employee, still seemed eager to assist me, I knew he was home.

The cab pulled up in front of my parents’ town house in the Upper East Side. And while it had been months since I last visited here, I couldn’t say I missed it. Discomfort settled in my gut, and my body tensed as I climbed the stairs leading to the house. My last meeting with Father also didn’t make it any easier, and only God knew what was waiting for me once I got inside. Bracing myself, I took a deep breath and knocked on the large wooden door, stepping back while waiting for it to be answered.

I’d expected one of the housekeepers to open it, but instead, it was my sister, Catherine.

“What are you doing here?” she snarled, brows drawn close and eyes narrowed.

So much for being welcome.

The noises coming from the house, along with the cocktail dress she wore, told me that a party was going on inside. A party I was clearly not invited to.

“I’m here to see Dad.”

Glancing over her shoulder, she then returned her eyes to me. “Mhmm, he’s not home⁠—”

“Who’s at the door, Catherine?” Mother’s voice came from inside a moment before she appeared next to Catherine. “Oh, Daniel.”

Same as my sister, Mother also wore a fancy cocktail dress while holding a glass of champagne. Noticing I saw the glass, she attempted to hide it, and I rolled my eyes at her poor attempt.

“I assume my invitation was lost in the mail?” I asked the two of them, who responded with an awkward laugh.

“Darling, I just assumed you’d be busy with work.”

“Did you?”

“Why, yes, of course.”

“And here I thought you knew Father fired me.”

While Catherine did seem surprised, Mother faked a gasp. “Oh, did he now?”