Sterling
I let out an inward sigh as I followed my father out of the living room. I could feel the dread building in my stomach. He clearly wasn't pleased with whoever had been on the other side of the phone call. He made that obvious by the expression on his face.
We headed up the stairs and into my grandfather's study. He shut the door and turned all of his attention to me. "Any guesses who that may have been?" He asked as he stepped closer.
I had a looming feeling in my stomach. I had a pretty good idea but I didn't want to be right. I was hoping to get through the holidays without her popping up. However, that's not how Elise did things. She liked to make everything so goddamn difficult.
"Your ex-girlfriend decided to put it upon her parents to give me a phone call." He spoke before I had the chance to answer him.
"Of course she did." The annoyance was clear in my voice. "What did they want?"
"They wanted me to convince you to give her another chance." He began to explain to me. "They claim that she's so distraught over the break up that she hasn't left her room and she barely eats."
"Bullshit." I cut him off without thinking. "I don't buy it."
Elise just wanted to try to get my sympathy. She had pulled a stunt like this many times. Every time I'd fall for it too. I wasn't going to this time, I refused to let myself be manipulated again. This would be the only way for her to realize she had no power at all towards me.
"I don't either." My father responded and then continued on with the details of his conversation. "They claim that you're the love of her life and all that. They were really trying to sell me on the idea of you two getting back together."
"And what did you tell them?" It was clear where he stood with his feelings for Elise.
He hated her, my entire family hated her. And to think I had given up getting away from her so much to the point I had considered proposing to her. I thought that if I did it would make her happy and keep her busy. The only person I had told about it was Killian, clearly even he realized how bad the situation was because clearly he didn't keep his mouth shut. I knew he must've told my father because that following week was when Isabelle had arrived.
"I informed them that this had nothing to do with me." He answered. "That as my son, if you chose to end things to make yourself happier then I was giving you my full support. They didn't like that very much."
"Of course not." I rolled my eyes.
I knew as her parents Elise's family felt like it was their duty to get her whatever she wanted. Even though she's a grown adult they still do it. I watched it happen too many times. Unfortunately for them, I'm not just some item Elise can have just because she wants me.
"I'm sorry they tried dragging you into this." I apologized as I knew this was a major inconvenience for him. Especially since he had received the call when we were supposed to be spending time together as a family.
His face was like stone and I couldn't really read him. A few moments of silence went by before he spoke again. "It got me thinking."
"About?" I raised a brow.
"Every time you've tried to leave her, who's been right there to help keep it from happening?" He questioned.
"Her parents." I answered.
Her mother and father had witnessed a few of our fights but managed to help calm things down. When I had gone days without talking to Elise while I contemplated a break up they reached out and convinced me she was just having a hard time. They always intervened before I got away. They must've realized talking to me this time wasn't going to work though as they called my dad.
"I think this goes deeper than just your messed up relationship with her." My father continued on with his thoughts. "I don't know why, but it seems like the Tunt's might need you for something they haven't disclosed."
I nodded as I took in his words. This would make a lot of sense actually. I had a gut feeling that he was right about it. He's a smart man that can see through people's bullshit pretty easily most of the time. What I couldn't pick up on in person he managed to figure out over one phone call.
"I don't know what it could be." It's not like they were going broke. They had more than enough money so it's not like they needed a marriage to secure their wealth. There had to be something else.
"We should start doing some digging to get to the bottom of it." He responded. "However this is your situation and you're a grown man. I'm here to help but I want you to take the lead on it. I want you to come up with the plan and I'll do my part."
I thought for a moment about the best way to do this. If they needed me for something then it would take some serious connections to get to the bottom of it. "I want you to focus on her parents. We need to uncover as much dirt on them as possible and you're going to be the best one to do it."
My father nodded. "I can do that."
"I'll focus more on Elise." She was my problem after all. "I'll try to uncover what information I can while also making sure Isabelle is protected from here."
He stepped closer to me and I could feel his eyes intensely stare into mine. "Okay. But don't let this situation fuck up what you have going on for you out there. You just got Isabelle back, don't let these people be the reason you lose her." His tone was low and serious. "I brought her back for you once but if you break her heart I will not do it again."
"Understood." I responded.
"Good." His intense gaze remained. "This stays between you and me for right now. I'll eventually let your mother in on the details but as of right now I don't want her stressed about something you and I can handle."
"Of course." I agreed. I didn't want Isabelle stressing over it either so the quieter it was the better.
He backed away from me. "Dinner should be just about ready now. I'd hate to keep everyone waiting any longer. If anyone asks, this was about a client for Tipton Enterprises. No one will push too much on that."
"Okay." I began to follow him out of the room but he stopped and turned around to face me again.
"Remember everything I've told you." He spoke. "This situation is messy and I can almost guarantee we're going to find things that neither one of us is going to like. But you're a Tipton, be prepared to handle it like one."