12

Alex's heart was pounding as he answered the phone, recognizing the familiar voice of his father. He had a feeling he knew what his dad was going to say, but he wasn't sure if he was prepared to hear it.

"Alex, son, I hope I'm not interrupting anything," his father began, his voice stern and business-like.

Alex tensed up, knowing that whatever came next probably wasn't going to be good. "No, Dad, you're not. What's going on?" he asked, trying his best to sound calm and collected.

"I saw you with that girl the other night," his father continued, his tone getting even more serious. "It's important that you focus on your business. I don't want you to get sidetracked by some girl you just met."

Alex felt his blood boil at his father's words. For years, he had put all of his energy and effort into the family's business, working tirelessly to make it a success. But now, with Elizabeth in his life, he realized that there was more to live for than just work.

"Dad, I appreciate your concern," Alex said, his voice firm and resolute. "But you don't get to tell me who I can and can't fall in love with. And where were you when mom was in a coma all those months? You didn't even bother to check on her."

There was a long pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, Alex wasn't sure if his father had hung up or not.

"I know this isn't easy, son," his father said finally, his voice softening. "But you have to understand that I'm just looking out for the best interests of the company. We've put our entire livelihoods into it, and we can't afford to let anything hurt it."

Alex felt a flicker of irritation at his father's words. He knew that the company was important, but he couldn't help but feel like his father was trying to control him. "I understand that, Dad," he said, his tone a little less heated. "But I've worked my entire life for this company, too. And now, I've found something in my life that makes me happy. I'm not going to give that up just because you think it's a distraction."

There was another pause on the other end of the line, and this time, Alex was sure that his father had hung up. He sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and relief. He knew that this wasn't the end of the conversation, but for now, he was just happy to stand up for himself, for Elizabeth, and for the things that truly mattered to him.