I couldn't help but look at my father as if he had lost his mind. I wanted to think that maybe the tiredness of the trip had affected him, but his serious yet excited expression made that idea vanish. He seemed more sane than ever, and apparently my mother agreed with my father's crazy decision.
How was it possible that they were doing this to me?
He more than anyone knew what returning to New York meant, and to Fashion Week! It was a sure encounter with Alexander Lancaster, and I didn't want to see him even if my life depended on it.
"Mr. Doinel, I'm afraid this is a hasty decision that hasn't been previously discussed. The company can't be left without anyone in charge, as you can understand. The launch of a new collection is approaching, and someone needs to take responsibility. So, I prefer to stay and take charge of Doinel." I spoke with all the seriousness the case required, not taking my eyes off his.
I was conveying my dissatisfaction with his sudden announcement, and there was no need to mention out loud the reasons why I preferred to stay.
My father didn't change his expression, despite seeing the displeasure on my face.
Why was he doing this to me?
"Ms. Sarah, I have everything under control. My partners and best friends, Mr. and Mrs. Dubois, will take the reins of the company, so it will continue to function in our absence." I bit my lower lip, containing the urge to express my dissatisfaction, but this time as a father and daughter. However, I couldn't expose my identity and my relationship with the president of Doinel in front of the executives present at the meeting.
"President Doinel, may I speak with you and Mrs. Doinel alone?" I asked, standing up, feeling everyone's gaze on me. I didn't care what they were thinking of me and my reluctant behavior. I needed to talk to my father and make him see reason.
I couldn't go back to New York!
I didn't want to go back!
"Of course, Vice President Petit. We'll take five minutes of recess." My father informed, getting up from his chair. I quickly left the boardroom and reached my office, where I released the breath I had been holding since my father dropped that bombshell.
My parents entered the office, and I closed the door behind them, making sure no one curious was nearby to hear us.
"Do you realize what you're doing to me? Do you know what it means to attend Fashion Week in New York? Why are you doing this to me? Mom! Dad!" I began my rant, pacing back and forth. When I turned to face them, I felt my cheeks burning with anger at how unfair my parents were being.
"Sari, dear, we know that if you go back, you might encounter your ex-husband. But sweetheart, you can't hide from the Lancasters forever. Don't you realize that despite divorcing that family over three years ago, they still influence your life and your decisions? It's not right for you to reject such an important opportunity out of fear of coming across Mr. Lancaster at the event." My father said, making me stop in front of them. His words made me see things from a different perspective.
My father was right, even though it was hard for me to admit it. I was letting an opportunity pass by that not everyone gets and that anyone would want because of the Lancasters. I was letting that family I divorced keep affecting me despite all these years of not hearing from them.
I didn't consider myself hiding from the Lancasters; I was avoiding them. But should I miss such an important event just to keep avoiding them?
I was supposed to not care anymore, so why should I be bothered or fearful of a possible encounter with a man who was like a stranger to me?
"Your father is right, my Sari. Besides, we have declined many invitations to Fashion Week in New York for your sake, to avoid making you uncomfortable because we know you don't want to show up again in the place where you were hurt. But your father and I think it's time for you to attend on behalf of your company because you are Doinel's heir. This is the moment to show what you're made of and prove to those Lancasters that you're not the nobody they thought you were. It's time to shut mouths, don't you think?"
My mother approached me, placing her hands on my shoulders, waiting for my response.Her encouraging words erased the slightest doubts that were clouding my thinking.
Of course, I was going to take advantage of this opportunity and any other to silence anyone who dared to humiliate me and trample on my dignity in the past. The submissive Sarah was left behind, making way for a strong and capable woman.
"So, are you going to miss this opportunity to attend an important event in your career because of the person you left everything for? Or are you going to go to New York and make the name of Doinel proud?" My father asked behind my mother. Although they already knew the answer I was going to give, I looked at them with a smile on my face.
"Of course I will go, count me in." I said determined. But my smile disappeared from my face when I remembered a small detail from almost three years ago.
"Wait, with Tristan, it will be impossible."
"Tristan will travel with us. We will bring Maga to help you take care of him." My mother said as if it were no big deal. And although my first thought was to take him with me, just the thought that Alexander might find out about his son gave me a headache.
No, I couldn't allow that. I'd rather my son not know about his father until he's older. I didn't want him to meet the Lancasters as such a vulnerable child. No, I wouldn't let my son have any contact with that family that knew no respect and believed that because they had money and power, they should be worshiped.
"Don't worry, daughter. We won't let the Lancasters find out about Tristan, and in case they do, which I highly doubt, we won't allow that family to lay a finger on him." My father immediately understood what was really bothering me and reassured me with his words.
"Tristan will stay with Maga while you interact with the media. No one will realize that Tristan is your son."
If my father said so, I could feel relieved. The last thing I want was for my son to be harmed because of his father's family.
"Now that everything is clear, shall we go back to the meeting? The five minutes have passed and I still have some topics to discuss." My father said. I nodded, returning to my smile, and hugged both of them, feeling grateful for the unconditional support they provided.
Back in the boardroom, my father confirmed my attendance at the event in New York, as well as Vincent's, Paul's, and of course, both of their attendance. Our flight was scheduled for five days from now, so we needed to get the company in order and leave it in the hands of the Dubois for a few days.
He mentioned a possible collaboration project and invited Ms. Boyer, who was going to be solely in charge of the contracts with the brand that would collaborate with Doinel.
Although Ms. Boyer took my position in the company in the worst way, she kept her distance from me during the time I had been occupying my place. However, I heard on more than one occasion that she talked about the mysterious father of my child and started false rumors about my divorce and the reason I was expelled from the Lancaster family, claiming that I had an affair with another man that left me pregnant.
It wasn't until my father caught her talking to the receptionist about me that he gave her a memorandum for disrespecting the vice president. Since then, he made all the staff sign a confidentiality agreement in which no one would talk about Tristan or Sarah.
He did this mainly to hide the identity of my son, just as he did with me when they tried to kidnap me as a child. And also to prevent the Lancasters and their associates from knowing about the son of Alexander Lancaster's ex-wife.
Going back to the topic, I didn't like my father's decision to include Ms. Boyer, but I respected it. After all, she was one of the executives with the most time and experience in the company and would be very useful in closing deals.
After the meeting, I found Abby in my office with Tristan sleeping in her arms. I looked at her silently for a few seconds, and her brown eyes met mine. I knew that pleading look; she couldn't stand being "estranged" from me for too long, and honestly, neither could I, especially now that I had to tell her about my trip to New York. She was going to go crazy, I knew it.