No one knows, but she does.

Six

Rory stood before Victoria's father, her arms tightly crossed over her chest, a visible display of her fear. Her chest rose and fell with each anxious breath, betraying the intensity of her emotions. With a piercing glare, she locked eyes with him, silently demanding his attention.

Meanwhile, he remained unfazed, engrossed in his work, diligently scribbling and filling out paperwork at his desk. The stark contrast between their actions only heightened the tension in the room, leaving Rory feeling both vulnerable and determined to make her presence known.

She cleared her throat, making it known that she was standing there but he didn't look up once, it was as if he couldn't care less. She sighed before looking around the room, waiting for him to acknowledge her but he just flipped through the pages, purposely ignoring her.

      "Mr. Windsor, sir." Rory muttered,

       "What do you want, Ms. Hartley? I have papers to tend to, a school to run and a church to maintain. Whatever you have to say can surely wait." He said,

         "I'm gay." Rory said,

Rory's constant efforts paid off as Victoria's father finally looked up from his work, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. He interlocked his hands on top of the stack of papers, a gesture that signaled his readiness to engage with Rory. Leaning forward, he directed his full attention towards her, acknowledging her presence.

       "I know that already, Ms. Hartley." He said, sitting back in his chair, "If anything a person that can't see that is blind. You rage in gay."

       "Right, and I want to know if you have a problem with me—or gay people in general?" She asked,

With a sigh, Victoria's father shook his head, placing his leg on top of his lap and crossing them. A chuckle escaped his lips, followed by a gentle pinch of the bridge of his nose. It seemed that Rory's presence had elicited a mix of amusement and exasperation from him, further adding to the situation.

          "I don't have a problem with gay people. My daughter, Victoria. She's lesbian herself. I fully support her. Although, you already knew that." He said,

Rory arched her eyebrow in response, her curiosity piqued by Victoria's father's actions. She approached the chair directly in front of his desk, taking a seat with deliberate slowness. Just as she opened her mouth to voice her protest, he preemptively addressed her concerns, beating her to the punch. The power dynamics of their interaction were shifting, leaving Rory both intrigued and slightly caught off guard.

         "You like my daughter don't you? Is that why you always want to compete with her? Why you smile at her every time she's not looking?" He asked,

Rory hesitated, her words caught in her throat as she weighed the potential consequences of speaking up. Instead, she chose to answer through a simple nod. Victoria's father responded with a thoughtful hum, leaning back in his chair and intertwining his fingers once more. A smile gradually spread across his lips, signaling a shift in the atmosphere and a Rory hoped for some positivity in their interaction.

         "I get it." He said, "That's the way I looked at your mother. The way your eyes sparkle when she talks and the burning urge you just get to just compete with her because no matter the circumstances, you'll still get to hear her voice and be around her. I know the feeling and with all due respect, I must say just because she's a lesbian, that doesn't mean she wants you."

         "I'm sorry, sir?"

         "My daughter isn't stupid. She would never go against what my wishes is and she knows that your parents and my wife and I don't want anything to do with you and your family. She wouldn't go for you, she wouldn't even show the slightest bit of interest, if I'm being honest, the slightest chances of you even getting to kiss my daughter is nonexistent." He said,