Bittersweet Moments

30 | Popcorn

30 | Popcorn

I was back to the life where it was as normal as it could get.

Brennan had finally explained what happened to Montana, and they were slowly going towards the healing process. Alongside with my job at the Dales, my sister had been asking me to be with her in her shows and works whenever I had time. Two weeks flew past quickly.

Also, Lawrence and Jess were nowhere near scoring a girl a girl for the former. But both Montana and I, as girls, could see that there was more behind that matchmaker-client relationship. Numerous times, I asked Lawrence what he thought about Jessica, but he constantly replied that she was nothing more than a friend.

I beg to differ, mister.

"You've got to be kidding me."

Not-so-fresh out of bed, and a frightful sight greeted me. I just wanted probably a decent breakfast left on the kitchen table, not a tormentor sitting on the couch. But too late, I was standing in front of my father, dressed in my pajamas and tired eyes.

Formal as always, and dressed in a business suit. Sunglasses rested over his face and a cup of coffee no doubt offered by Mom was held in his hand. I went in front of him and crossed my arms.

"Oliver," Dad said. Not even a smile, a 'hello' or a 'good morning'. Just a brusque mention of my name.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, walking to the kitchen to fetch myself a cup of anything. My stomach looked for one thing and one thing only in the morning.

"You know why I'm here," he told me.

You're here to threaten me and my family again. I bet you didn't even care about Montana and Brennan's split-up. I bet you were ecstatic about it. And since there was an attack towards Brennan's side, the Dales' side, you're determined more than ever to bring down Walter Dale. Through me.

"You're dating that Dale boy. I have to say it's a good style. What did you get from him?"

I wanted grab that cup of coffee from him and smash it at the wall. But one, I knew he wouldn't flinch at all and two, that would be showing him I was affected.

"Nothing," I snapped, "Nothing at all. I don't have anything with me, Dad, so get out of here. I'm dating Jackson because I want to."

"So you're assuming I could walk away here without thoughts of destroying your relationship and your own well-being?"

I tried to control my breaths. My back was turned to him, and I didn't want him to see how I felt. But I knew he knew. He knew exactly how to destroy me. "You should quit this stupid act of yours. So you and Walter lost Elise. What now? You're going to point at him forever? It's not fair, Dad."

In my peripherals, I saw that he wasn't the least bit bothered by the sudden outburst about Elise. "I am over it. Over that. I've moved on. This is purely business."

"Business. Business? Business for you is to take his advantages away from him and make it yours? Business is involving your daughter for your personal interests? Why couldn't you just make a peace contract with Walter Dale, huh?"

"I did offer him once. He declined."

"Maybe he thinks it's for his company's good!"

I slapped both hands over my face, rubbing it. I wished to go to my room, get back to sleep, and wake up with a hot meal in replacement of Dad.

"Tell me what you found out, Oliver. You will not lie to me and you will tell me everything. You know the consequences and the rewards. Don't make me worsen what's in for you if you omit anything."