The next day early morning, I prepared for university, quite thankful that he wasn't around and headed outside.
As I left the building, I saw his familiar silhouette standing at the entrance with his muscles tensing around his jaw. He took off his glasses and I saw the shape of his brows bending inwards.
He was angry.
"Get in." He spoke when I approached the entrance gate. Great, I can't escape anymore.
I slid on the passenger seat of his car without a word and secured the seatbelt. During the ride to the company, my eyes were fixed out the window taking in the suffocating silence.
The Tad I knew was always a talkative person, amused about small things and having so many dreams and love for life unlike the Tad who was still so young and no hopes from anyone, who was just cold & indifferent. Maybe the therepy never worked the way it was supposed to.
Could we ever be the same again?
I closed my eyes and focused on the faint voice of the radio as we reached the building.
MILLERS & HOUSTANS
The name built on the building shined under the evening sky. Weaponary business over the years grew so much that the country trusted them for their economy.
The owner?
A perfect chairman, and a selfish father. That's how perfect it was to describe him.
My now husband since two days held my hand and looked at me.
"I thought we were going to your company." I said sounding a little annoyed.
His eyes darkened at the mention of his company and he took a deep breath, "Change of plans."
"I'm not coming." I pulled my hand away.
"Listen to him once!" He said.
"Don't meddle in this, Tad." I snapped.
"I can, I'm your husband. You never gave him a chance to explain. And he needs my help."
"So you'll force me?"
"I'm not trying to force if you just obey!"
"Obey?" I scoffed, "When did he even tell you everything?" I gritted my teeth.
Whatever my business was with my father was during the time Tad was busy hating me.
"When you were in prison."
"Oh, of course! He couldn't come himself to fix his mistakes because his secret, his life is way important to him than his adopted daughter!" I spat, "He was the reason I have that tag on my head, people still call me a murderer all thanks to this coward."
"Are you sure?" He calmly asked.
And as soon as I opened my mouth, I closed it.
Was I sure?
Did I ever confront him, asked him why he didn't save me when I needed him?
When I needed a father to hug me, he sent a man who glared at me, mocked my condition and left me alone to weep in that cold rain.
...But did I ask him why he couldn't show up?
No, and why would I? If I was to understand and hug him instead, I feared he would never approach me himself, never give me attention and eventually throw me away.
To gain his attention, I was ready to be a pathetic loser? Was I that low?
Tad's warm thumb wiped the tears that rolled down again and I looked up.
"Listen to him, he's your father. Yeah?" He cupped my cheeks.
"Yeah." I whispered, helplessly.
We walked in through the building and reached his office and I froze. Everyone was here. The friends I avoided for months were looking right at me with unknown emotions in their eyes. Shocked, worried and nervous.
I looked at my feet, noticing the smiley and my heart eased.
They were my friends regardless. If they were mad at me, it was on me.
"Cassie." The man sitting on his chair at the front whispered.
"Hi, Dad." I looked back.
The silence extended and the lines on his forehead deepened as he frowned.
"How are you?" He asked, finally.
I never realised how much I had missed him until he I saw him. The softness in his eyes, the fine lines doing nothing to decrease his dashing personality, the strong aura of a leader — everything was still the same just the tears in those eyes were different.
"I'm fine." I replied and I sat.
Shayla, my other half, sheepishly smiled when I looked at her and I could only nod.
Was it the guilt? Should be.
"So as I was saying, the group's target seems to be more to general public than just women since the latest results show the presence of this chemical in vitamin medicines as well." Dad spoke and I frowned.
Why was I here?
"They're currently residing in Florida's hotel as tourist and I need you all to be there."
"Excuse me, 'you all'?" I looked at Tad and eyed my father who just gave me a blank look.
"Not now, Cassie."
"Not ever, Merlin!" I stood up and threw my bag, "Why are my friends here? And why are you discussing this with them? Taking down someone is dangerous!" I yelled.
I knew about this small organisation which were creating havoc over Manhattan past few weeks. Numerous cases, death of young children and so many hospitalised. The government needed Merlin's help more than the police department since his resources spread across continents.
But that did not mean he'd send young rookies on the face of death. He even trained my friends right under my nose and I never knew they were a part of his organisation.
"Petal-"
"Don't call me that! You're trying to kill them and will not allow you!"
The door suddenly burst open and Merlin's younger brother walked in.
"Olivia... is asking for Cassie. She's having a panic attack." He spoke and his suddenly fixed on me. "Oh, my god. She saw you."
Merlin rushed outside followed by Tad and I my legs stuck in that very place. It had been two years since I'd seen her. She was against me joining Merlin's team and we never spoke since she left the country with her son.
And now she was here? Asking for me?
"Let's go, Si." Shayla held my shoulders gently.
"Huh? Y-Yeah." I walked out with everyone else and we made it to the room where her voice muffled sobs could be heard.
Merlin was hugging her delicately, her arms looked pale and thin as if all the blood had dried out painfully and slowly, her hair disheveled and somewhat grey, her voice hoarse as her lips only uttered my name like a chant.
"Mom." I whispered.