Leaning her back against the closed front door, she silently cursed men in general and her own stupidity in particular. Her father had nothing better to do than handing out punches and judgment like there was no tomorrow, her boyfriend (what even was he exactly?) had turned into a caveman who'd suspected her of cheating, and Delila herself had obviously become a hormonal maniac controlled by her not so hidden desires.
Will was right, they needed to talk. Badly. But she also wanted to just jump his bones and forget about everything else. Wasn't talking overrated anyway? Why did all things love- and relationship-related always had to be so damned complicated? Wasn't this supposed to get easier the older you got?
The faint clinking of fine china coming from her living room suddenly reminded her of the fact that her dad was still here and probably waiting for some sort of clarification. Psshhh... more like he owed her an explanation after that untypical outburst from earlier.
She palmed her eyes in frustration. Why wasn't this day over yet?
Well, it couldn't be helped, time to solve one problem at a time.
Sitting in one of the chairs, coffee in front of him like nothing out of the ordinary had ever happened, was her dad. Her little "chat" with Will had obviously left him enough time to shower and put himself together again. If it weren't for the reddened and swollen knuckles of his right hand, the illusion would have been perfect.
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"Daddy?" Previously unsure of what his reaction would be, Delila felt relief as he instantly got up and pulled her in a tight embrace.
"Darling, I am so sorry for my behavior and that you had to see me like that! Are you alright?" Putting her at arm's length, he checked her over and then glanced behind her into the hallway.
"He's not here, daddy, I've sent him away... for now."
"Oh, well, I would have liked the chance to apologize to Montgomery as well. And to maybe find out what makes him so special to you..."
"Yeah, as if...." Delila's snickering was only rewarded with one very indignant look.
"At least I would have tried..."
Sitting down and making herself comfortable, she gestured for her father to do the same again.
"Daddy, I know you were only looking out for me – in a very unexpected way to say the least – but there really is no need for you to worry. You already know everything that troubled me, and I'd like to remind you, that you were completely fine with the whole situation as long as you had no idea about Will being... well, Will."
"But that man is a womanizing scoundrel!"
"A scoundrel, dad? Really?" Delila suddenly felt her heart swell with love for her father. No unscrupulous business negotiation, no threats of hostile takeovers, not even the terrifying force of nature that was her mother had ever managed to rile him up like the mere thought of his little girl being in any sort of predicament.
"Daddy, I know he has a past. I mean, how could he not? Even I've "looked" at a man or two in my life. Shocking, isn't it?"
"Not the kind of information I need right now, darling."
With a soft smile, Delila leaned back into her comfy chair. "I know, so let's focus on the issue at hand. I am in love with that scoundrel and I'd very much like to explore were things might take us as a couple. I get that this is all very unexpected, it kind of is for me as well. But trust that I would and will let you know if I should need you. As I already did by the way, seeing as I called you.
He does treat me more than well and everything else needs to be hashed out between him and me first. I mean, we haven't even had "the talk" yet, so give the poor man a chance. So far, I think you're more in the loop than he is. I really didn't manage the whole situation in the best way possible, did I?"
"Delila, in my eyes, there literally is nothing more perfect in the whole world than you, so I am having a really hard time seeing you as anything but. Nevertheless, I think I understand what you mean. I will try my best to just support you from the sidelines and keep an open mind about him. Just know that I also do have connections to Russia and Italy and let me tell you, I don't think some of my contacts from over there have any problems making a body disappear without a trace should the need ever arise."
"So, keeping an open mind just means that you'll consider every option?"
"Well, I could always do it myself.... There have reportedly been many accidents where people just fell out of planes mid-flight."
"Yes, daddy, I am sure that randomly happens all the time. But please, let's refrain from killing Will off just yet. I would very much like a chance to properly tell him that I fell in love with him first."
With half a shudder and half a grin, her father looked at her. "Well, I'll be damned... Will Montgomery... wealthy as Midas, unscrupulous as the devil, more charming than necessary and bloody dubious at best. You're sure that I can't get you to reconsider one of those striplings from your mother's club?"
"Dad, not you too! And I think if one of those guys would have been right for me, it would have happened already. Mom really didn't miss a chance to introduce me to all of them back in the days."
Julius only raised his hands in mock-defense: "Hey, I had to try one last time at least... but I think my work here is done for now. You have a probably very impatient man waiting for you to save him from his own thoughts and doubts and I actually just remembered that I have a business to run."
"Please, daddy, we both now that it's Rhonda who's running the show. I really don't get why after almost two decades that woman still is happy being your assistant when she could easily be gunning for world domination or at least having her own company."
"Pssst.... Don't jinx it! I have a strict don't ask don't tell policy when it comes to Rhonda. I really don't want her to get any ideas and leave the firm. Everything would descend into complete chaos without her. At least she still needs me to sign things, so we're good for now."
They got up and Delila accompanied her father to the door, where his holdall was already packed and ready, sitting at the foot of the stairs. On her porch, they shared one last hug, both feeling lighter than before.
"I love you, darling. Take good care of yourself and that big heart of yours!"
"Love you too, and thank you for coming to see me."
"I will always make time for you. And as you know, I am never..."
"... You're never more than a phone call away!"
"Never!" Waving him goodbye, she watched as her dad drove off.
Making her way back inside, Delila grabbed her phone, already dialing while walking through into the kitchen. It didn't take long for the call to be answered: "Will? Would now be a good time to talk?"
