the line between the two. We’d moved into that house after I’d turned seventeen, just two months after Dad had been convicted and sent to prison.
My father had been the ultimate asshole, proud, rich, arrogant and controlling. I’d seen it, some of it, growing up, but he kept most of that shit hidden from me. Looking back now, I could see it in him, could see the controlling nature, the way he was with my mom and then my sister, but I hadn’t known. I hadn’t understood it then. I knew I was his favorite, his boy. I was a big kid, even when I was young. I was taller than the rest, athletic and was pretty easy going.
Thankfully, he didn't spend much time with me, but when his cronies were around, he dragged me out to show me off, like a prized pony. He told his friends how well I was doing in whatever sport I was playing at the time. I had been proud to make him proud, had been happy to make him happy. It wasn’t until I was fourteen when I started to see things differently.
Unfortunately, I didn’t see things for what they were until it was too late. My eyes began to open during spring break, freshman year, just two months from turning fifteen. My dad told me that he was going to take me on a business trip with him over break.
Mom’s father had owned a bunch of oil fields. Since he and gran only had Mom, they passed the business down to her, but Dad ran it all. Mom’s family had money, a lot of money. Dad hadn’t been so fortunate, he worked hard, getting scholarships for both grades and football to get into college. It had been there, at school, that he met my mom.
My gramps had been proud of Dad for working so hard, changing his circumstances the way he had, not being a pampered little asshole like so many of the kids with money. So gramps approved, and Mom and Dad were married.
So, Dad ran the company, Harper Oil after gramps retired. He wanted to take me out to some of the fields, to see the rigs and meet the men. I was to see how things were going. He told me that he was grooming me to take over someday.
I was thrilled. I’d never gone on a trip with just Dad before. We flew down and then took the helicopter out for a tour. We stayed on the yacht and went out to some of the rigs. We were on board, touring the fields for four days.
At the time, I remember thinking it strange that Dad needed three assistants on board with us. I hadn’t understood why they couldn’t work from Dallas. We had phone access after all.
It was the first night, on board the ship, just before we sat down to dinner that Dad had pulled me aside for a little man to man talk.
“Listen, Trent, you’re growing into a man now. It's time you explore that. Do you know what I’m saying?” He asked, giving me a strange look, I hadn’t understood.
“Um, sure, Dad. I guess.” I’d stammered, not wanting to appear stupid to the man I idolized.
“Men need to be men, son. No matter how much they love their wives and family back home, we weren’t made to be sedentary, and idol like women. It is important to embrace your desires, to encourage that in yourself. It will help you to be a more powerful man, to be strong in business and in life.” He’d explained. I thought seriously about what he was saying, and honestly, I hadn’t been able to grasp the weight of his meaning. I had an idea, but really, I had no clue.
Since my dad was my hero, I nodded bravely and followed as he led me into the dining room. The table was set for five, which I thought was strange, but then remembered that he’d brought staff along and thought that they were probably going to join us. If I’d only known how right, I was.
We’d sat down at the table, my father opposite me, the assistant named Amy next to him and I sat on the other side, between two women, Jaqueline, and Marianne. It was bizarre that all of his assistants were young, very attractive, dressed similarly, but looked different. Jaqueline had long dark hair, olive skin, and dark brown
My father had been the ultimate asshole, proud, rich, arrogant and controlling. I’d seen it, some of it, growing up, but he kept most of that shit hidden from me. Looking back now, I could see it in him, could see the controlling nature, the way he was with my mom and then my sister, but I hadn’t known. I hadn’t understood it then. I knew I was his favorite, his boy. I was a big kid, even when I was young. I was taller than the rest, athletic and was pretty easy going.
Thankfully, he didn't spend much time with me, but when his cronies were around, he dragged me out to show me off, like a prized pony. He told his friends how well I was doing in whatever sport I was playing at the time. I had been proud to make him proud, had been happy to make him happy. It wasn’t until I was fourteen when I started to see things differently.
Unfortunately, I didn’t see things for what they were until it was too late. My eyes began to open during spring break, freshman year, just two months from turning fifteen. My dad told me that he was going to take me on a business trip with him over break.
Mom’s father had owned a bunch of oil fields. Since he and gran only had Mom, they passed the business down to her, but Dad ran it all. Mom’s family had money, a lot of money. Dad hadn’t been so fortunate, he worked hard, getting scholarships for both grades and football to get into college. It had been there, at school, that he met my mom.
My gramps had been proud of Dad for working so hard, changing his circumstances the way he had, not being a pampered little asshole like so many of the kids with money. So gramps approved, and Mom and Dad were married.
So, Dad ran the company, Harper Oil after gramps retired. He wanted to take me out to some of the fields, to see the rigs and meet the men. I was to see how things were going. He told me that he was grooming me to take over someday.
I was thrilled. I’d never gone on a trip with just Dad before. We flew down and then took the helicopter out for a tour. We stayed on the yacht and went out to some of the rigs. We were on board, touring the fields for four days.
At the time, I remember thinking it strange that Dad needed three assistants on board with us. I hadn’t understood why they couldn’t work from Dallas. We had phone access after all.
It was the first night, on board the ship, just before we sat down to dinner that Dad had pulled me aside for a little man to man talk.
“Listen, Trent, you’re growing into a man now. It's time you explore that. Do you know what I’m saying?” He asked, giving me a strange look, I hadn’t understood.
“Um, sure, Dad. I guess.” I’d stammered, not wanting to appear stupid to the man I idolized.
“Men need to be men, son. No matter how much they love their wives and family back home, we weren’t made to be sedentary, and idol like women. It is important to embrace your desires, to encourage that in yourself. It will help you to be a more powerful man, to be strong in business and in life.” He’d explained. I thought seriously about what he was saying, and honestly, I hadn’t been able to grasp the weight of his meaning. I had an idea, but really, I had no clue.
Since my dad was my hero, I nodded bravely and followed as he led me into the dining room. The table was set for five, which I thought was strange, but then remembered that he’d brought staff along and thought that they were probably going to join us. If I’d only known how right, I was.
We’d sat down at the table, my father opposite me, the assistant named Amy next to him and I sat on the other side, between two women, Jaqueline, and Marianne. It was bizarre that all of his assistants were young, very attractive, dressed similarly, but looked different. Jaqueline had long dark hair, olive skin, and dark brown
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