A Minor Offense

Hey, Dad.

I still could not move. My feet stood rooted to the spot I was occupying, making me feel paralyzed.

The owner of the voice tapped on my shoulder and I whirled around and suddenly I was glad I hadn't replied when he first called me.

All though this wasn't exactly morally correct, I couldn't think of anything else.

I was glad I had learned sign language.

I signed to him that my name was Arielle, and I hoped he didn't know the language. I felt awful pretending to be deaf, and I silently hoped this didn't bite me in the ass later.

His face reddened in embarrassed realization.

"I am so sorry miss! Can you read lips?" His blue eyes looked upset, and I could tell he wanted to get out of the awkward situation. I signed to him that he had nice eyes, hoping that this would lessen any karma I have coming from what I'm doing.

Not that I actually believe in karma.

"Be on your way...excuse me." He said the words slowly, trying to see if I could read lips in one last attempt. He hurried into the elevator and I let out a sigh of relief.

"Arielle, you are one fucked up pup." I murmured to myself.

I walked down the rich looking hallway, trying to find the door with his name.

Finally, I came to a set of double doors that had a plaque that said CEO- Michael Knowles .

I gulped and steadied myself with a deep breath. Now or never, and the clock is ticking.

My hand gripped the metal handle and with a wince I flew the door open. I stormed into his office and slammed the door behind me.

I forced myself to appear confident when I was everything but. The slamming of the door caused him to spin around in his plush leather chair so that he was facing me.

Over a decade and I'm seeing my father. I felt like I was suffocating looking at the man in front of me. He was real.

But looking at the man in front me I knew I had no reason to be afraid. It was him that should be afraid, it was him that should have shame, not me.

"Hey, Dad." I grinned a large grin, showing off my pearly whites.

His face paled and he abruptly stood up from his chair.

"Is it...is it...you?"

"It's Arielle. Miss me?" You have no idea how good that felt. I could feel my adrenaline pumping through my veins, forcing my heated words to tumble out of my mouth.

"How could you? You are a very pathetic man." I had to control my voice from rising, my anger getting the best of me.

"Arielle..you've grown up so much...you look beautiful." His eyes looked wet, and I refused to see him shed a tear over me. He didn't care.

"That's what happens when time goes on. You know, time? That thing you should've spent with me?" He pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath. Suddenly his phone rang and he picked it up hastily.

"Yes." His voice was very irritated. "No. Cancel my meetings for the rest of the day. I don't care! I'm Michael Knowles, I can cancel my meetings. It's okay. Sorry for yelling. Yes, that's fine. Bye." He let out a breath of air and rubbed his hands stressfully over his face.

I arched one perfectly plucked eyebrow at him, waiting for an explanation.

"I don't know what to say." He looked at me with an expression I couldn't quite read.