𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙲𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝙻𝚒𝚏𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 ✓ (𝟷𝟾+)

The Offer

Arin

The day started happy, exciting. I was on top of the world, floating in space and bouncing on clouds since meeting dad. 

Then, as always, things took an ugly turn. The dark ominous matters crawled from their hiding, turning the sky dark and pouring hailstorm of trouble over me. I resigning from my job. If that was not enough, to top it all up, I kissed Xavier.

Adopted shmodopted, my ass. 

My compass for men was broken. I was either having phone sex with an engaged man or kissing one related.

My focus on life was already detracked. It was high time I got my bearing in order than go down a road which could only gift me with struggles and pain. Heartbreak and a trip down the liquor lane. 

*

"Dad." I dashed, trotting off the last of the stairs like someone set me on fire. Dad and his guests eyed me with surprise. Maybe because Charles Oswald didn't yet make the world know, he had a daughter. 

I broke my run a few feet away from him. "Charles." I called out, waving my hand and pulling him towards the sparsely populated area. I could read him, his eyes. He was churning his expressions to stay clear, calm but called my his name, he was disheartened.

"Sorry for calling you by your name." I surrendered my hand ups. It was uncalled to take it away after what seemed to be the best gift for him.

"It's okay.. whatever is fine by you." Dad was letting me have my time and space to process the behemoth information that fell upon me.

"I need to leave.. I have work tomorrow." I said, trying my best to lie and keep things normal after behaving abnormally, kissing a stranger turned relative.

That's when dad held my elbow, walking us into a secluded room. The empty room was dim lit but I could make out, it was someone's study. 

Lowering himself, he whispered. "Weren't you fired my child?"

Oh shoot. My vision roamed the dim place, scanning the desk as I tried concocting a newer story. "Ohh yes. And I need to have a head start on a new job which, cross fingers will be not an 'assistant' role." 

Dad was amused. He wiped his face, sliding his kerchief in his pocket before rotating his head. His state at me was intense. Skin deep, I could feel its warmth. Unblinking, dad continued his attack without words. 

"What is it?" I wiped my face diligently, smacking the sides of my lips. "Is there something on my face?"

He chuckled, inhaling a long drawn breath. "I was looking at you because even after you know who you are, you are still worried about a job."

My brows bridged. "What do you mean?"

Holding onto my shoulder, he rattled it up. His gaze softened and the rattling did nothing more than sway me back and forth but to him, it made him chuckle.

"You are the heiress to this entire estate and business. You think you will have to job hunt again?" 

Although a brief meeting, in this span I felt a true connection between us. In this small time frame, I completely forgot of being raised by just my mother. In this small fraction of time, dad completed his journey of being a father, travelling back in time and replenishing all those silhouettes of his, where I missed him. 

"Dad, let me have this. I want to be independent and make it on my own." With pleading eyes, I battered my eyelids. If it worked on mom, it was bound to work on him too.