Chapter 2 ~ Paris Martinez's POV

“Really, Dad? You can't do this!” I retorted as I barged into his office.

I managed to pretend everything was okay after my graduation party, last night. Ethan had offered to help but I had convinced him that this was my bottle to fight. He had a life of his own and I wouldn't want anyone fighting my battles for me again—Ethan and I are both aware of how controlling Dad could be. He was the one making decisions we weren't passionate about, I did everything this man would ask me to do even when I knew it got me messed up in my head.

I recalled him forcing me to take dancing classes just so I could mingle with other spoilt brats teenagers and trying to change the course I was studying for in college, a lot happened but I couldn't let him continue ruining my life with his so-called—I know what is best for you—decisions.

“You cannot do this!” I yelled with a lace of anger in my voice.

“Young lady, you will have some manners when you talk to me,” Dad said with his eyes fixated on the file he was writing on, his voice was calm and deliberate.

I huffed, sitting in front of him. “You know my passion for medicine, you can't make me take over this company. I don't want to do this, I understand that you are about to retire but this time... you have to listen to me, Dad.”

He scribbled on the file and then took a glance at me. “You have never listened to me, Paris. I told you not to go for that medicine, your first-class degree in that course was a waste!” He spoke to me in Spanish, whenever he spoke Spanish, that meant he was upset.

I would never understand why he felt that way, I should be the one getting upset.

“I have never listened to you? No, you have never listened to me! You are controlling, you don't ever understand me but you tell me that I never listened to you? I let you make stupid decisions for me.” I ran my fingers through my hair in frustration.

“These are all teenage talks, you need to grow up.”

“I love medicine, I am not even learned in the industrial business. Where do you want me to start from?”

“I see you are considering taking my position,” Dad smirked.

“No! I can't do this.” I replied with hesitation.

“If I were you, I will get prepared. You will be supervised and trained by your new boss. He will be preparing you for what to do in the industrial business next week. For the main time, get some rest.” He explained with an unbothered look on his face.

“You can't do this, I ...I will be working for someone?”

“Yes.”

I breathed a heavy sigh of resignation. “Why this?”

“Do you have to make me repeat myself, Paris Valeria Elizabeth Martinez?” He gave me a stern glare.

I shook my head vehemently. “Alright, Papa.”

“Good, get out.”

“Just know, whatever this is...this whole you retiring and trying to make me do what I am not interested in, will backfire.”

“Listen, Angel, you have no idea how many corpses I have stepped on to build this name and company. The sweat, my hard work, and everything, I want to continue my legacy.”

By the corpse he stepped on, I guessed he meant he went through dangerous means to get to where he was today. It wasn't the first time he rang it to my ears about his so-called legacy, every decision he took about Ethan and me was always about his status.

“And as usual, your impetuous actions are always clear for me to see. With all due respect, Dad, we both know this is about you and not me but fine,” I raised my two hands in surrender. “I will let you have your way again, was this why mum also left? Is this about her?” My tone was laced with bitterness, Dad had glared at me and I knew how my words had him fume but I could care less. I strutted out of his office angrily and drove to see Nina at St. Carters.

I arrived at the hospital, wearing a smile as every patient passed through. I waved at Nina who saw me from afar, she walked further towards me in excitement. Nina was looking smart in her scrub as usual.

“Ouh, hello there, sexy.” Nina hugged me with a bright smile on her face.

“I didn't expect to see your work so soon, can't you catch a break or something?” I replied in a worried tone.

“I am fine, really...besides, I don't have anywhere else to go and you know I love my job.”

“Listen, honey, I know you are passionate but you should catch yourself a breath, let's go for a girls' trip or something,” I suggested.

“Okay stop sounding like a parent.” She rolled her eyes at me.

“What? No. I just miss you by my side.” I responded with a puppy face which caused her to chuckle loudly.

“You came to my workplace just to bribe me into going on a girls' trip with you?”

“What can I say? I love  you that much.” I replied with a smug on my face.

“And when will you start working here?” Nina asked, this was the part that I dreaded. Nina and I agreed that we would be at St. Carters as soon as we graduated but Dad's retirement saga has done a lot of damage.

“Actually... I can't work as a doctor anymore.”

Her eyeballs bulged in surprise. “You can't do what?” She took a hold of my hand and lead me to the staff room.

I rubbed my forehead whilst I heaved a sigh. “My dad wants me to take over his company.”

“That is unexpected, you aren't even trained for such a profession.”

“He told me someone else will train me, I will be working under someone until he believed I am good enough to take over.”

“That's so unfair.”

I shrugged nonchalantly. “I know, it's what I am used to, he never lets me take decisions myself.” Suddenly, Nina's pager chimed loudly.

“I have been paged, we will talk about this later today.” I nodded and watched her run out of the staff room.