Ascension

Chapter Six

I now stood in front of the oak doors that led into my dad's office. I haven't stepped inside of this room for several years. I had the faintest memory of my parents sitting in there, reading through hundreds of books, and going through family albums.

The thoughts alone made me picture my mother. I was so young that I'd only have memories pop up here and there. I remember her pale skin that resembled porcelain, her short brown hair that she always had curled and pinned, and those pale green orbs that she had given me. I could picture her perfectly.

I brought my fist up and gently knocked on the door before pushing inside. The amazing scent of books filled my nostrils as soon as I entered the room. Two staircases on either side of the dome shaped space led to the second floor that held endless aisles of books and more books. Nothing but history and information filled this place.

Small lights were placed smartly here and there to keep the room dim but bright enough for everyone to see. But the grand study, my dad's workplace, was an endless wonder. The cedar decor and intricate carvings around every case, to the emerald green upholstery that lined every seat.

My eyes then fall on my dad, who's sitting at the large wooden desk in the center of the first floor. He turned in the leather chair to the front side of his desk, I could tell he was agitated. That little vein upon his forehead was sticking out.

"I don't care!" He finally shouts, startling me. "Do you know how long we have been waiting for this? For this moment? I know you know, because I have drilled this into your brains for the last seven months! There's a bus coming into Atlanta this weekend, and we need to be prepared, I don't think you truly understand what's at stake."

His fingers tapped at the desk aggressively, his eyes searching for something as I hear a voice coming from the other end of the phone. He finally peeks up, sees me standing at the door, and his expression slightly softens.

"Listen, Perez." His tone is more calm. "I want those files on my desk, organized and ready for inspection in the morning. They are too risky to take any chances on, you know what happened last time. If they aren't already done - I want it done now. I need you to impress me and figure this out.... Good. Thank you. I'll see you tomorrow."

He dropped his phone on the desk after he was through with his call and pinched the bridge of his nose. "You seem pretty upset... Who was that?" I slowly approached the love seat directly across from him and took a seat.

"It's none of your concern, honey." He didn't once look at me again as he pushed all of the scattered papers together in one pile and off to the side.

This is how it always was. Busy. Non-stop work. He was always on the phone, whether it was work, barking orders, or being the middleman. As I watched him try to file his paperwork, another small memory of my mother popped up. She would have a small rolling chair behind him and file as he worked just so she made sure that he was organized, and would double check everything.

He looked as if he was having a hard time keeping up.

"So. How was Abel? Do you like him?" He finally asks.

I nodded my head, "he's really kind."

Finally he pulls his eyes away from his work and up at me. "What's wrong?"

I gave a careless shrug. "I don't know. I've just been thinking a lot here recently, I guess."

"About?"

"It doesn't matter."

His eyes narrow. "It does matter, Daniella. You can tell me anything."

"You don't tell me anything." I point out. "Everything is just a happy little secret."