Angel of Mine (Completed)

Chapter 9

"You're doing great honey! That's it, yes. Keep it going you're nearly there." Rodin's heart was beating fast and excited. No doubt his daughter is gonna nail 1st place at the championship next week. He stops the timer and kneels to talk to her daughter but was stunned to see Cerise swimming away and kept going. "What the..? Cerise! Get back here. Stop this minute!" Oh but no his stubborn daughter still kept pushing and pushing so he plunged into the pool and stopped her.

"Hey, hey, hey squirt. Are you trying to kill yourself with exhaustion? Come on talk to me. Tell your old man how I can comfort you because I sure am dying inside to see you so.. so defeated. This is not you at all baby girl." His eye caught a shadow watching near the pillars. Lathan was standing there, shoulders stooped. He was always there during practices but would never attempt to approach Cerise. He was keeping his distance and that alone earned Rodin's respect.

He hugs her as she sobs uncontrollably. It has been a week since she was discharged from the hospital and since then she would just stay cooped up in her room and would come down during meals or when she has to go to school and practice. She had refused to see Lathan and that poor boy has been coming every single day. Even with all the flowers he sends, making my house look like a funeral parlor, she still refused to talk to him. He can't help but intervene.

"Hush now. I'm here. Cerise I know that you are hurting inside but you have got to let me in baby girl. And that poor boy, I know things are not easy for him too. He is near to camping out just to see you so I guess it's time to talk. Just hear him out and you decide later on. What do you say, huh?" He tilted her chin so he can look at her face.

"Dad, he said he loved me. But why would he keep this from me? He, being a Worthington is too huge for me to process right now. And he being engaged is just too much. I feel betrayed dad. What am I going to do?" She swam towards the steps and leaned on the tiles.

Part of me wanted to see Lathan. It may look to be too extreme and I am being a drama queen but I can't help how I feel. I didn't think I am good enough to even rub elbows with him. She was almost sure he could probably own a large chunk of Wellsworth. She is not even as sophisticated as that girl in the red dress, no matter how slutty she is by having an affair with Mr. Carrington. All this self doubt is indeed shredding me to pieces and I am not even sure if this will be resolved after I talk to him.

"As I said kiddo, give him a chance to explain everything. I think he has suffered enough and he may have his own reasons why he hid this, not only from you but to everyone. He was a pool cleaner for goodness sake. He has a comfortable life and yet." He shakes his head. "Just talk to him will yah? The competition is a week away, you need to get this out from your system so you can focus. Ok?"

She nods and takes a deep breath. "Let me just go take my shower and we can go. I think you need one too. I'm sorry you had to dive in." She snickered as she was going up the steps. As she was toweling down her dad was still sitting on the steps. "Aren't you taking a shower dad?"

"I'll follow in a minute. Why don't you go ahead. I'll meet you at the front in 20." He splashed water on her as she walked out and she laughed.

"You can come out now, Lathan!" This boy has got it bad.

"Mr. Morrigan, sir. I didn't realize you knew I was around. I'm sorry to snoop in like this. I know its cowardly and maybe stalkerish but as I said I am not going to deny that I love your daughter."