Jessica's Rampage and Damon Sr.'s Demand
The Lances sat at the massive dinner table in complete silence. There was a tension in the air that had not been part of the family in six long years. Jessica sighed in annoyance.
"Amber doesn't even live there anymore. Why is this a problem?"
"You have a house Jessica – why live there, why break up Amber's marriage?"
Jessica scoffed. "Amber and Dan should never have married. Everyone at this table said so at one time or another, but now I am breaking up something that should never have been."
Virginia shook her head and sipped her wine, she no longer wanted to talk to her sister.
Jessica shrugged. "Besides. Daddy cut me off so I will be selling my house."
Everyone gasped.
"Your grandfather built that house for you! Damon – she can not sell her house."
Damon Sr. looked at his wife coolly. "If she chooses to sell her house instead of work…" He pursed his lips. "That is for her. I will not stop her or help her."
"Don't worry momma. I will buy the house from her." Virginia looked at her sister with a sly smile. "I have been wanting to expand my property."
Jessica sneered. She didn't want to sell to Virginia but she also knew her mother would make Virginia to pay her above market value. She sipped her drink.
"Thank you little sister."
Jessica pulled into the driveway and smiled broadly when she saw Dan's car already parked.
Dan literally jumped when she entered. He rolled his eyes and stood. He grabbed his laptop, a few notebooks – and walked into one of the spare bedrooms.
She frowned. "Darling. Let's not be angry anymore. We need to…" she started when he slammed the door shut. She got the house keys and moved to unlock the door and froze.
He had changed the door. She frowned at she looked at the sturdy outer door now hanging in the doorway. She slammed her open palm on the door.
"You need to stop this right now Dan! You know you…"
"You don't know anything about me!! Hell – last week I didn't know! I can not have Amber with you here – and I want Amber, not you."
His muffled voice silenced and Jessica was left standing looking blankly at the door.
She huffs and goes to bed – in the master bedroom.
Her phone woke her at 6am. A text notification. She rolled over, still annoyed from yesterday.
Text:
"Jessica. I want you in my office at 8am."
Her father. It was a miracle he had not exploded before now. She sighed and got up – hoping she could see Dan before she started her day.
Jessica ended up driving to her father's building in great annoyance. Dan would not speak to her – she was not even sure where he had been in the house. The locks on both his studio and office were changed.
She gripped the steering wheel in fury – her knuckles and fingertips going white.
She pulled into her parking space and went up in the private elevator.
She tapped her toe – not in fury, but due to nerves – her teeth clamped down on her lower lip. She didn't actually fear her father she just didn't like the control he had over her life.
The elevator opened, Jessica stepped out, and walked briskly to her father's desk. She made her heels clack loudly against the floor but her father never looked up. She pursed her lips and sat in the seat directly opposite her father
"This needs to end Jessica – NOW." He didn't look up from his desk as he spoke authoritatively. You will move from Amber's house and start working." He paused and looked up at her. "LEGITIMATE work."
Jessica sighed but she didn't say anything.
"You have not worked for four years. When will you begin to pay the money back."
"Daddy when you helped me you were helping your daughter not a business partner. Why would I need to pay you back?"
Damon Lance Sr. Looked at his eldest daughter in silence. He finally sighed after a long moment.
"Jessica you and Dan truly deserve each other. You are two of the most selfish people I have ever known. You started a foundation to feed and educate children and you kept all the money for yourself. You did not feed nor educate one child. And you were almost placed in a prison I Eastern Europe." He leaned forward across his desk.
"You sit here and tell me that it is something owed to you because you are my daughter? Understand me when I tell you that I love my wife and I only helped you then for her. She and I already have an agreement."
He sat back in his seat and went back to work.
"You get nothing else from me."
Jessica sat still for a few minutes more. She watched her father, calm radiating through her body, and then she stood and walked out.
By the time she was behind the steering wheel she was infuriated. Because of Amber her life was crumbling to ashes and blowing away at her feet.
She thought for a moment and smiled. She would get the money from Virginia to solve her current money problems – their mother would make Virginia return the house whenever she was ready for it. Her smiled widened as she picked up her phone.
She would leave Dan alone for a few days – he needed time to calm himself.
"Hello love."
"Love? You've been in town for days and you …"
"I am coming over now."
Silence
"Don't be mad. Are you saying you don't want to see me?" Jessica pouted – she knew he would eventually give her what she wanted.
"You always pick him over me. Why should I be okay with being second choice."
She scoffed. Don't be mad with me because you married a lazy dunce."
"I have to work tonight."
"Good I am on my way."
"I said n…"
Jessica disconnected the phone without listening.
She would get her way.