Chapter 18 - FINE PRINT
Michael read every page.
Twice.
Tyler sat across from him at the kitchen table Saturday morning.
The contract lay between them.
His mother, Rachel, drank coffee at the counter and pretended not to listen.
Michael reached page nineteen.
Stopped.
Read it again.
Then circled one paragraph.
“What does this mean?”
Tyler leaned over.
“Content exclusivity.”
“I can read.”
“Then why'd you ask?”
Michael looked at him.
Tyler smiled.
Michael didn't.
Tyler stopped smiling.
Michael tapped the paragraph.
“They can use your family story?”
“Only for campaign materials.”
“For how long?”
Tyler looked.
“Three years.”
Michael turned the page.
“And they approve interviews about the campaign.”
“That's normal.”
“How do you know?”
“Dana said.”
Michael leaned back.
Rachel finally turned around.
“That is not an answer.”
Tyler exhaled.
“Okay.”
Michael closed the contract.
“You want my opinion?”
Tyler hesitated.
Then nodded.
Michael slid the papers back.
“I wouldn't sign it.”
Tyler's jaw tightened.
Michael continued.
“But I'm not you.”
The irritation vanished slightly.
Tyler looked down.
“Twenty-five thousand dollars.”
“I saw.”
“That could help.”
Michael's expression changed.
Not pride.
Not anger.
Something gentler.
“With what?”
Tyler shrugged.
“The business.”
“No.”
“Dad—”
“No.”
Michael pointed at him.
“If you sign something, sign it because it's good for you. Not because you think you owe me.”
Tyler looked away.
“You've done a lot.”
“I'm your father.”
“That doesn't make it free.”
Michael stared at him.
“Yes, Tyler.”
His voice softened.
“It does.”
Silence.
Rachel looked down at her coffee.
Tyler picked up the contract.
“What if I negotiate?”
Michael nodded.
“Then negotiate.”
“What if they walk?”
“They walk.”
“What if it's the best offer I get?”
Michael shrugged.
“Then maybe the best offer isn't good enough.”
Tyler laughed bitterly.
“Easy for you to say.”
Michael's expression changed.
Tyler regretted it immediately.
But Michael didn't snap.
“No.”
He nodded toward the contract.
“Actually, I know exactly what it feels like to need money and have somebody tell you the conditions aren't a big deal.”
Tyler understood.
Merritt.
Hawthorne.
He looked back at page nineteen.
“I'm going to ask them to remove the family rights.”
Michael stood.
“Good.”
“You think they'll do it?”
“No idea.”
Tyler looked up.
“You're not coming?”
“To the meeting?”
“Yes.”
Michael shook his head.
“Why?”
“Because you're the one signing.”
Then he walked outside.
May you like
Tyler stared at the contract.
For the first time, being trusted felt heavier than being controlled.
