Welcome to Gaia! ::

She was seated in her father's office, the brochures her mother had given her for a finishing school clenched in her fist. He'd already heard about this from his wife; he was, frankly, surprised it had taken his daughter so long to approach him in regards to the situation at hand. It was lunchtime, the day after. He'd been expecting, when his wife woke him up the night previous to complain about her daughter's tie-breaking, for Jada to have been knocking at his office at exactly 9am.

She came bearing a sandwich for him and his coffee. Jada must have been really infuriated if she came bearing a sacrifice to his stomach.

“Daddy.” Jada sat down, chewed on her lip, then looked at him. “I need to talk to you.”

“I heard the date last night was less than stellar.”

“I don't want to do this anymore. I feel like I am being...” she cut herself off. “I'm not going to do this anymore, it isn't a question of wanting.” how firm she sounded. “It's a question of what I want.” His daughter was quivering. She looked so frightened, setting her foot down in front of him. He hadn't raised her to quiver and shake so. Was what she had to say so bad? “I'm not a prostitute. I'm not going to sell myself to the highest bidder as soon as I am legal. I deserve the chance to go on a proper date.”

“I agree.” he assured her.

She looked startled. “I'm not going to finishing school. I am going to DCU. I'm not going to skip through Sovereign Heights.”

“That's fine.” her confidence pleased him. Did she realize this? He was actually proud of her. Not angry.

“I don't want to live here, daddy.”

Ah. That was the killing blow. “Where will you live?”

“I'll stay in the house until I am 18, if I have to, but I want my own home for my 18th birthday. An apartment, or a house, or something. Just as long as it is my own.” she shook her head. “I'm used to having my own room from Crystal, and living under the same roof as Mama after I graduate Crystal will make things too tense. You know it will.” She didn't have to cajole him.

Her eyes did it anyway. He'd never been able to resist her when she looked at him like that. “Jada, you know if you want someplace I'll get it for you.” he assured her. “Did you have something in mind yet?”

She shook her head. “I didn't want to start looking until I knew I'd be allowed to have a place of my own.”

“Once you are 18 you have access to your trust fund. I couldn't stop you from buying it then, and the least I can do is give you a head start in something comfortable. Here is the deal.”

He looked her over. She sat up straight, preparing for business. “I will give you a loan. An advance on your trust fund. Think of it as a mortgage. When you are 18, you'll be expected to pay it in full, plus an additional 5 percent of the loaned amount.” he raised a brow, looking at her. “This loan will pay for the home, any furniture you need, anything you need to get started. Until you are 18, your mother and I will have a key to this apartment. Just like if you lived here, your rooms will be subject to inspection.”

She scowled, nose wrinkling. “Daddy-”

“Don't 'Daddy' me. Not in regards to that. Until you are 18, we have responsibilities to you.” She scowled again. Her father gave her a warning look. She stopped scowling. “And one last thing.”

“Yes sir?”

“I love you, Jada. I've never regretted a decision I have made in your favor.” he stood, moved around the table and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Don't make me regret this one.”