Tomorrow Never Dies

Chapter 36 - "You're my daughter?"

It was the day. The day I'd been dreaming of for years, but had only just become a reality. The day I would meet my father. I'd messaged him on LinkedIn, asking politely to meet him for a 'discussion', and he'd arranged to meet me and Michael in a café in Perth city centre. I was absolutely terrified.

I'd put on a smart-casual outfit of black jeans and a patterned top my mum had given me for Christmas, and I'd put a little bit of makeup on to hide the tiredness from travelling and the slight time difference. I tied my hair back, then inspected Michael. He looked fairly smart, wearing black jeans and a top that wasn't ripped.

"You ready?" he asked, taking my hand and rubbing my palm gently.

"As ready as I'll ever be," I told him, and we stepped out into the city. We had to use maps and advice from locals to get to the café we wanted, and when we turned up it was completely empty except from the staff. We took a seat in a booth in the corner and talked quietly while we waited for my father to turn up.

After a little while, just as I was about to give up and leave, the bell on the door rang and I looked up, making eye contact with the man who had just walked in.

It was him.

He came over to the booth, and I stood up, eager to make a good first impression. I shook his hand - a weird feeling, considering most people don't usually have to meet their fathers so formally - and we sat down.

"Flora," he said after a little while. "I'm assuming, by the surname, you're Pam's daughter?"

"Yes, sir," I said quietly, reaching for Michael's hand under the table for reassurance.

"Call me... I'm not sure. But not sir," he said with a slight smile, and I calmed down. "I'm also assuming that you're my daughter?"

"That's right," I nodded.

"You're a beautiful young lady," he said, calling over a waitress and ordering three coffees. "Tell me about yourself, and this young man."

"This is Michael, my boyfriend," I said, judging the reaction on my father's face. His eyes didn't give away any emotion, so I couldn't tell if he was happy, or annoyed, or upset. "He studies music at Sydney University, and I'm a dance major."

"Why dance?"

"I'm not particularly academic, and dance has always been my passion, so I decided to pursue it as far as I can. I've been accepted into the New South Wales Ballet Company." Every word I said was carefully formulated.

"That's wonderful," he said. "What about your brothers? I haven't seen them since they were small."

"Matthew has played rugby on an international level, and now he plays for the Waratahs. Tobias studied biology and has actually just come home after spending a few months in Ecuador researching ecosystems in the Amazon Rainforest."

"So you've all done well for yourselves. And your mum? Has she found anyone?" I shook my head.

"No, she decided to stay single. And she did a very good job of raising the three of us alone." Michael's hand crept to my thigh, but not in a sexual way. It was more protective. "And you? Have you found anyone?"

"Yes," my father began. "I'm married to a woman named Rebecca, and we have a four year old girl called Emily."

"That's lovely," I smiled at the waitress who brought over our coffees.

"Does your mother know you're here?"

"No," I pressed my lips together. "She wasn't particularly fond of the idea of me meeting you, but recently I felt more and more compelled to find you, so I found you on LinkedIn and we came with a few friends on a road trip." My dad smiled, looking into his coffee.

"Michael, would you mind giving me a bit of time with Flora for a moment?" he asked, and Michael nodded. He left, presumably to the bathroom, and as soon as he was out of sight my father grabbed my wrist, his fingers wrapping around it so tightly I couldn't help but let out a little whimper. "Why have you come here?" His voice was low and intimidating. The façade he had put on for Michael was gone and suddenly I was terrified of being alone with him.

"I was curious," I said, the pitch of my voice rising slightly as he gripped my wrist. "I just wanted to know who you were."

"My wife doesn't know that I've had children from a previous relationship. She think's I'm a first time father, and it appeals to her. Don't you dare talk to her, or I will make you regret it."

"I won't," I said, realising my breath was growing short with the impending panic attack. "I swear."

"You're just like your mother. A worthless, stupid bitch," he spat. He threw a few dollars on the table and stormed out of the café. Michael was still in the bathroom and the staff were all otherwise occupied, so I was left to deal with my panic attack alone. Pretty much as soon as it ended, Michael returned, gasping when he saw me shaking.

"What happened?" he asked. "Flora, did he hurt you?" I nodded, holding my wrist tenderly.

"I'll kill him," he murmured, and I shook my head frantically.

"Don't tell my mum about this," I begged him. "She'll say it's my own fault."

"I won't, baby. I might tell Matty and Toby though," he said quietly. "They should know." I nodded, adding a few of my own dollars to the pile my father had left on the table, and the two of us stepped out into Perth to distract ourselves for the rest of the day. We wandered through the city, trying to find somewhere to waste away the day, eventually finding ourselves outside the aquarium.

"Shall we?" I asked. He nodded, and in we went.

*****
Short but dramatic so sh
Triple update bc i cant sleep so i decided hey lets write and surprise grace tomorrow morning

Song of the chapter: earned it by the weeknd