Adopted by the Billionaire✔️

[14]

Ellie's POV
When Daddy called me, I saw him standing next to another man.
The man was tall and nice‑looking, but I didn't know him.
I walked over slowly and stood close to Daddy's leg.
Daddy told me the man was his friend and that he was going to help us. The man kneeled down and called me cutie. I didn't like that. I don't like nicknames from strangers. But Daddy knew him, so I tried to like him.
It didn't work.
The man started to tell a story about Daddy, but before he could finish, Daddy stepped on his foot. Daddy told me you shouldn't kick or step on people unless you don't like them.
So I thought...
If Daddy did it, maybe it was okay.
But then I got a better idea.
The man backed up a little, and I ran between his legs. He fell down and made a loud noise. I didn't know what I did wrong, but he looked hurt.
My fingers twisted together, and my eyes got big.
Daddy laughed really loud, then picked me up and told me it wasn't my fault. He said the man was okay.
So I believed him.
The man stood up and said the same thing. Then he left. I didn't understand why he left so fast, but I didn't think about it long.
I wanted to play on the swings.
Daddy let me go, and I waited until one was empty. I stayed away from the other kids. I sat down and tried to push myself, but nothing happened. So I tried harder.
Then I went up.
It was fun.
I went higher and higher.
Then I saw a woman talking to Daddy. She had a kid with her. I scrunched my nose.
I didn't like that.
While I was looking, my hand slipped. I fell off the swing and put my hands out. My right hand hurt really bad.
I cried.
Daddy came fast. He held my hand and looked at it. He put a sling on it and pressed something cold on it. It hurt a little, but not too much.
There was a boy near Daddy, talking a lot. I didn't like him either.
Then the woman came back, and Daddy picked me up and walked away. We went on the moving stairs that go by themselves. Daddy put me in the car and drove home.
I kept thinking about my old daddy.
What if he comes back?
What if he takes me away?
When we got home, the woman from earlier was standing by Daddy's door. I put my head on Daddy's shoulder. I didn't feel like looking at her. She was pretty, but she didn't feel nice.
Daddy opened the door. I went to the turtles.
My wrist didn't hurt anymore.
I picked up the turtle who always hides. She peeked out. I smiled.
"I'll name you Shelly," I said.
The other turtle had a long tail. Mama once told me girls have short tails and boys have long ones.
"I'll name you Sam."
I put food in the tank and watched them move. Then I saw something white in the corner.
Two little circles.
Eggs.
"Daddy! Daddy!" I yelled.
He came over. "What is it, princess?"
"There's eggs!" I said, pointing. "We're going to have more turtles!"
Daddy looked surprised. He said it would take a long time for them to hatch.
I shined the light on them. "It'll go faster," I said.
The woman asked what their names were.
"This is Shelly," I said, pointing. "And that's Sam. The babies don't have names yet."
Daddy asked how I knew Shelly was a girl.
"Girls have short tails," I said.
The woman said I was smart.
"Just like Daddy," I said.
Then I watched the turtles again.
They looked safe.
And so did I.

revision: 3.10.26