Masila

Hania

Hania

Kiley Heart is my Dad's business partner/girlfriend.

Not the reason my dad left my mom, though. He left her because of the freaky African ways.

But back to Kiley. She was different I'll give her that. And not ditzy like I expected. She had to be smart to work with my Dad. She was short and brown haired, probably around thirty five, not that I ever bothered to ask.

But she hates me. Full blown hatred.

Mostly because she's obsessed with the idea of her and her perfect match raising a son. My dad, well, isn't the perfect match, and I'm obviously not a son.

And leaving/fighting isn't very good for a job.

So she goes to dinner with us, beaming a four thousand dollar set of perfect white teeth at me every two seconds.

I grimace as we walk inside Noñnoll Departe. My father's favorite restaurant.

We're here to celebrate picking up Masila in a few hours.

We sit at the table in silence, the waiter coming to us immediately and seeming to drown in the obvious tension.

As Kiley orders, I shoot a look at my Dad. "Are you ever going to tell me?"

He looks surprised, his eyebrows raising. "What?"

"You know what," I say under my breath. "Masila. Why is she coming?"

He blinks. "She just needs to. You don't need an explanation to take in family,"

"Yeah, well, I do," My voice rises until the table over looks over in concern.

"Han, drop it,"

The waiter looks between us nervously. "Um, sir, what would you like to drink?"

"Scotch," My Dad growls and Kiley widens her eyes in warning at us.

"I want lemon water, please," I say without the waiter asking what I needed.

My dad glares at me and I glare right back.

Kiley's powder packed face turns towards me. "Grow up, Han,"

My dad nods at her.

Great chime in, my daughter's make believe mother.

I snort very unlady likedly. "Why don't you, Kiley? You're childish,"

Her gaze turns to a begging one as she faces my dad, and judging by his expression, I know whatever converstaion we were having, is over.

"Enough," my dad's voice is low and dangerous. I submit. Let Kiley win.

They drop me out of their world in that instant, obsorbed in the new world that is Masila.

"Han," He feels like talking to me again? "You'll help Mass out with everything won't you?"

Mass? Dear God.

"Mass?" I speak my thoughts. "That's worse than Han,"

His face gets red and he clenches his teeth.

I walk out of the restaurant.