"Go ahead, Matilda. I'm all ears." Matilda locks eyes with me, then at Ms Fahlenbock, then back at me.
"These men ar-!"
"My girl, my precious girl!"
I walk over to Matilda, with fake joy and hidden anger.
"Kiddie, what are you doing here?" I pick her up and walk over to back and sit on the other recliner, setting her on my lap.
"How on Earth did you get here - come here, my little girl!" She holds on to me.
Owen looks extremely puzzled and frightened, Matilda looks determined and confused, while Ms Fahlenbock just looks confused.
"She's your daughter?" I look at Matilda straight in her eyes and I whisper with full anger.
"Blow it and I swear on my sister, I'll send you to the orphanage immediately..."
"Matilda, this man is your father?"
Matilda looks at me and I nod.
"Yes, Gwen. He's my father." Ms Fahlenbock's eyes widen a bit.
"Kiddie, you know you can't follow me everywhere.
We've been over this. I told you I was going to work."
"No." Matilda states factly, furthering my annoyance and rage. Owen looks like he's about to get jump scared.
"What do you mean 'no'?
I told you, don't you remember?" I turn to Ms Fahlenbock, who is still surprised.
"I'm very sorry. She just loves her father so much." Ms Fahlenbock smiles.
Matilda looks at Owen, who smiles half heartedly kind, yet half nervous and then she looks at me.
"Gwen, this man is a-!" I cut her off quickly.
"This man is-!" I parrot.
"This man is a what? I don't understand!" I look at Matilda who doesn't seem intent on backing down, even if it fucks all of our goddamn lives... I won't back down neither! I look at Ms Fahlenbock, then back at Matilda.
I look at Owen, we're fucked...
"This man is a fraud!" I quickly stand up.
"What?!" Owen.
"What?!" Ms Fahlenbock.
"What?!" Matilda. They all look surprised and confused.
I remain standing up, pointing straight at Owen...
"He is a fraud, a scam artist, and a liar!"
"I'm what?!" Owen looks like he's gonna pass out from the sheer chaos. I walk towards Ms Fahlenbock.
Matilda has her mouth open in shock, as does Owen.
"You shouldn't sign anything, Miss! This con man is offering you a significantly lower market price for the paintings!"
"M-mr Nelson, I think you should think about what you're doing..." Owen smiles nervously, but his eyes show, well the same.
I point at him, then quickly at myself.
"H-he also tricked me!" Owen's face turns red, embarrassed.
"N-n-no!" He studders.
I motion at the paintings.
"These aren't the ones on the contracts, these are from the same artists, but worth far more."
"I cannot believe this!" Ms Fahlenbock turns to Owen, pissed.
YOU ARE READING
Broken Tales
ActionDuncan Nelson's life changes dramatically when he gets arrested after another useless con job. To avoid going to prison, he decides to accept responsibility of his so-called long lost daughter, eight year old Matilda Olivia. But with his best friend...
