𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙲𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝙻𝚒𝚏𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 ✓ (𝟷𝟾+)

The Family

   Roger

She resigned. Just like that. Instead of coming back to work, she fucking resigned.

Was it me? Was I too hard on her? I mean, Mrs. Rose was right. Arin never took leaves. And the only time she did, I was rude to her, demanding her to show up at work when she was on leave. I was too engaged with my pent up frustration on Stella to have spewed unintended words at anyone. 

Arin was the victim of my wrath.

With Brandon's suit in motion, I had to get my bearings in order. I was not going to loose my company to that swine. His only contribution in my life was his sperm and I wanted to keep it such. 

"Are the files for the merger been vetted?" I dialled Mrs. Rose for confirmation, who jogged inside. 

She stared hard at me, confusion spreading across her face. "I don't know Roger. It's Arin who was handling it."

"Then ask Georgia to get to work and figure it out. I want it in my office in an hour's time." I said. Time was of the essence to beat Brendon and I wasn't willing to sacrifice any of my precious moments, mourning for an ex- assistant. 

*

   Arin

Well that did not go well. I quit my job. In a flying fit of rage and colossal decision to hamper my future, ensured my doom. 

"Is there a problem kid?" dad asked in a concerned tone. His lips parted but not for a smile. It seemed, he was evaluating my issue with his experienced sunken eyes. 

"Nope. All fine." I lied. 

With a labored breathing, dad cleared is throat. Maybe he wasn't comfortable with me not stating the reason for my worry but in my defense, I only met him a few hours back. It was uncharacteristic of me to dump the massive load of 'his daughter screwed up' information so soon. 

If dad was indeed for the long haul, he would eventually know what a wreck his daughter was. 

We were driving to the Oswald mansion.  Dad, in his infinite wisdom decided to introduce me to everyone. The only relief was knowing Roger was at office. Even if he decided to come back later to meet Stella, I'd escape by then. 

"You know I might not know you that well, but I can read a person." Dad spoke, keeping his voice steady but the uneasiness could be felt from a mile.

I contemplated for a few minutes. He was putting in the effort to know me. Then why was I shutting down. With a long drawn breath, I whispered."I might have resigned from my job."

He glanced at me. My peripheral vision could gauge but I pretended to watch the street ahead of us. Dad chuckled, small pockets of air releasing before it roared up. For a person who was supposed to be worried for me, he looked quite nonchalant.

"Florence did this." He wheezed for air while I stated at him, blank. "Once when she was being scolded by my dad, so she resigned."

Was I fucking repeating history here! Classic daughter.

Holding hard at the side of the car, I pressed hard, trying to remain silent. But when dad looked back again, nodding his head gently, nudging me to answer, I broke character. 

"It's not the scolding that bothered me dad."My arms waived around in frustration, replaying Roger's words back. "It's the 'come back to office on a leave day' that bothered me."

With a strange, cringe inducing expression, Dad looked at me. He had trouble believing it. "Roger. That man seems rational. Why would he call you back when you took a personal day off.."