My Dad's Best Friend

Chapter 6: Damsel in Harmony

"Good evening, Harsh." Nick smiled sheepishly at me.

"Hello Nikitisha! Would you mind leaving? I need to speak to my dad."

"Uh! Okay, you have a good day." NICK was about to leave when my dad held her hand and pointed her to the folder I was holding and she was shocked.

"Oh no." NICK remarked. It was quite evident she knew.

"You knew about this?" I confronted her.

"Nooooo..." she sounded casual and dramatic at the same time.

"Then why didn't you leave yet?" I was firm.

"You know what Prakash? On a second thought, I'd like to have that coffee you invited me in for. We all can make time for some small talk over coffee, and I will leave after that Harsh."

She thinks I am gullible. What she doesn't know is she really pisses me off. I don't understand why my dad is friends with her. She obviously doesn't care about him. When I found these reports in my dad's room when I went to look for my IPad, I was shaken. We aren't close enough and I would never forgive him for the things he did to hurt my mother and us, for which he never apologized. But, I care. And, if NICK would've cared enough she should've come to us and tell us. But she didn't and now I am angry.

"He seems angry," she whispered.

"Shhhhh!" my dad whispered back.

"Don't you shush me!" NICK retorted.

"Do you guys even realize that I can hear you?" I sounded calm maintaining the poise.

They looked at each other guiltily.

"Relax Nikitasha, I am not angry. So, don't you worry about it." I said smiling.

"Oh! That's lovely then. Not that, I don't like it when you are. Your eyes getting all intense and fiery with that typical hardcore background music in your shows, you know when things are not going in your way. I think you look terrific when you're angry." She said with that same sheepish smile.

I cannot believe she's talking about my performance in this scenario. Even my dad was surprised, but he didn't say anything. My plans on lashing out my dad and her proved no point, so I decided to play along.

"Oh! That's so sweet of you to say. But, as I said I'm not angry. And, I don't think you'll be able to handle my wrath." I was still smiling and now, she isn't.

"Okay... Let's get inside Nick. And Harsh, we'll talk about the reports. Could you just get us some coffee before we jump into anything?" My dad said breaking the tension.

"Sure," I said and they got inside.

"Hey Harsh! Do you know the recipe for my coffee?" NICK asked with curiosity.

"No," I said blatantly.

"Well. Could you just add..."

NICK was telling and my dad interrupted her, "Just get regular coffee for both of us Harsh."

"What? But I don't want to have regular coffee." NICK sounded upset.

"You will. For now," my dad sounded strict.

"You asked me to feel home and not to be shy before." She sounded like a child.

"Nick! Later." My dad yelled and she became quiet and he looked at me and indicated to me to go.

I went to the kitchen and started to prepare the coffee. By the way, my dad loves my coffee. He's a tea person in general but he shows special interest when I offer to make coffee. I even asked him on several occasions if he'd like some tea. He never said yes to that. He never complimented or anything, he'd simply say, "coffee would be great" and when my siblings ask if he wants coffee, he'd say a straight no.