One Million

Chapter Seven

Skylar awoke for the second time by a commotion in the living room, but this time the sun was up. Skylar rubbed her tired eyes and walked into the living room. Seated there was Ryan, Flicker, and three other men she didn't know. They were all glued to the TV. Ryan glanced over his shoulder at her.

"Sky look, you're in the news." Skylar walked over and studied the screen. There was a picture of her in the corner of the screen and the news caster was speaking.

"Skylar Tepburn, daughter of Julias and Jennifer Tepburn, went missing four days ago at her father's hotel grand opening. The family has been searching frantically for their daughter. Just in today, a breakthrough in the investigation. A letter was mailed to the Tepburn's home this morning. The letter read as such: "We have your daughter. We will trade her for exactly one million US dollars on Friday, September 13th at noon in Riverside Park. Come alone." The authorities are still looking for those behind the kidnapping." Ryan turned off the TV.

"Looks like our little princess is fetching quite the news story." Flicker joked from his position in the couch beside Ryan. Skylar blushed and walked into the bathroom and grabbed the hair brush. She walked back in and the three men she didn't know were gone, leaving her alone with Ryan and Flicker.

"Did you get your man back?" Skylar asked as she stood in the doorway brushing her hair. Flicker glared at Ryan.

"You told her?" He snapped and Ryan held up his hands.

"She was there while I was talking to you. What was I supposed to do?" Flicker rolled his eyes.

"Not tell her idiot." Ryan shrugged. "You're letting a pretty face distract you."

"I am not!" Ryan snapped but Skylar could see a hint of a blush on his cheeks. Skylar finished brushing her hair and put the hair brush back before brushing her teeth. She could hear Ryan and Flicker talking but coudln't make out what they were saying. After finishing with her teeth, Skylar went and sat on the chair that was across from couch where Ryan and Flicker were seated.

"Well." Flicker stood. "I think I'll let you two love birds flirt for a while. I'll go make breakfast." Skylar and Ryan locked eyes for a split second then broke it off, a blush creeping into Skylar's cheeks. And with that, Flicker was gone. Ryan and Skylar sat in awkward silence for a long time.

"What's the first thing you're going to do when you get home?" Ryan finally asked.

"Hug my dad." Skylar said without missing a beat. Ryan smiled.

"Daddy's little girl huh?" Skylar laughed.

"I suppose so. I'm not the biggest fan of my mother."

"Because she's unfaithful?" Skylar nodded.

"That's part of it. She's not the best mother in the world either."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, she's very self-centered. She never really raised me. It was mostly my father. He took me out places and did things with me. Mom was too concerned with her job."

"What kind of things did you guys do?" Skylar smiled.

"He would take me to the park and push me on the swing. He would play barbies with me, he even took me on his fishing trips."

"You know how to fish?" Skylar nodded. Ryan laughed. "I would have never pegged you as a fisherman. You'll have to show me sometime." Skylar laughed.

"Will I be seeing you after this fiasco is over?"

"Good point." Ryan said. "Probably not. I always wanted to go fishing but my dad always said I was too young and my older brother was always too busy." Skylar nodded.