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003. Men And Their Meddling Mysteries
FOUR hours sleep were most definitely not enough Priscilla. She was awoken by Rose, who was gently brushing the baby hairs from her forehead and she whispered for her to wake up. The moment was short-lived and sweet, and the moment Rose left the room to let her get ready she was up faster than a bullet. She had forgotten about this 'meeting' that had been arranged with her father. What an odd way to word a simple conversation with your daughter, Priscilla had thought as she got ready. Considering it was only taking place downstairs in her father's office, she slipped on a simple white skirt and a baby pink Ralph Lauren polo.
Half asleep, Priscilla made her way to her father's office downstairs. Rafe's bedroom door was still shut and she saw no sign of light from beneath it, assuming he was still asleep. She held back a smile remembering his text from last night — or that morning — and processed the fact he stayed awake to make sure she was home. Rafe Cameron could deny it all he wanted, but he did care about his little sister.
Priscilla knocked on the large oak doors which revealed her father's office, peeking her head inside to find her father, who sat at his desk. He was dressed in a shirt and some shorts, his Panerai watch resting gracefully on his wrist as it gleamed in the morning sun. Ward looked up, a vague smile on his bearded face.
"Morning, Cilla." Ward greeted his daughter warmly. He waved his hand, encouraging her to come in. "Come on, come and sit down — close the door behind you."
Priscilla obliged silently. Following his exact words, the large oak doors shut with a forceful click and she took a seat in the cushioned chair before her father. Ward was watching her with a small smile, minor crinkles decorating the skin around his eyes as he did so.
Now sat down, Ward had Priscilla's full attention. He began; "I know you must be confused, your father calling a meeting with you," Ward chuckled at his own words, shaking his head lightly. Priscilla simply smiled, unsure of what was happening and where this was going. "You might think this is too formal, something almost like a — like a buisness conference,"
Priscilla nodded along with his words. She was confused, and this was eerily like a business meeting. Realistically, the only business meeting she had ever attended was one when she was ten years old — her mother and father had been divorced for a few months now, it was her father's week and Priscilla was too ill to go to school. Rose was at work, her mother unaware of the situation and Ward's only other option was for her to tag along to his fifty minute meeting with men from the mainland. This, however, had a different vibe about it. It was more casual, yet still as tense.
"Truthfully, Cilla, this is a business meeting." Ward told her sincerely, earning a confused look from his daughter. Ward hesitated for a second, swallowing thickly before continuing, "Unlike your siblings, Cilla, you're — you've got this certain flair about you. I know it, Liam — you know Liam, my business partner from New York, yeah him— knows it, even Rose and Rafe know it. Sure, your siblings are responsible and independent in many ways, but they still rely on me. I mean, even Rafe does, and that boy is nineteen years old!"
