"Dad!" I shrieked louder than I have ever done in my life.
The door swung open and my father walked back inside. I have never been more grateful in my entire life, I ran and hid behind him.
He'd always been this larger than life man I grew up doting on and hating simultaneously. Someone I couldn't fully love or hate wholeheartedly.
He had always been a complex man, full of contradictions. On one hand, he's always been distant and abusive, like he would rather observe me from afar, rather than being fully present.
But on the other hand, I knew he loved me, at least in his own way. He was occasionally nice to me, kind even. Understanding of me even when I was a rebellious sixteen year old who was just informed that she was getting married in a few years to a boy she had never met.
He loved me when I drove one of his expensive cars into a lake in a fit of rage, he never made a fuss, he never even yelled at me.
I remember when I was younger, he'd come to my room, sit on the edge of my bed, and tell me stories about his own childhood. His eyes would light up, and for a brief moment, I'd see a glimmer of the man he used to be, before the weight of the company's debt bore down on him…before he was forced to sell his kid to the highest bidder.
But those moments were fleeting. He'd always leave, duty always calls, and I'd be left feeling like I was just a small part of his much bigger world. Even now, as I've grown older, I still feel like I'm just a pawn in his game of power, a means to an end.
But there has to be a line. A father would draw a line at this.
"D-daddy" I grabbed his arm, afraid to let go. "They want me to take off m-my panties, spread my legs and have t-that creepy old man shove his fingers inside me. Don't let them touch me. Send them away, now Dad!" I demanded and clutched onto him like lice on hair.
I was beyond mortified…he would be mortified on my behalf soon enough.
"May I have the room?" He looked at Bridgette but the old bag of bones didn't move a little bit.
She stood like an unwavering rock…with her perfectly manicured hands and her stupid pearl necklace and the permanent mess she called a face. She ignored my Dad.
Dad lost his temper soon after.
"It's my bloody house! And my daughter! I said...Get out!" He screamed and for the first time, I saw the unwavering bag of bones flinch.
Way to go, Dad!
One by one, everyone left and soon, I was left with just my father and my stepmother.
"D-daddy, thank you for…"
My gratitude was caught short. I felt a sting on my cheek, and my head jerked to the side so forcefully, I saw stars like a cartoon character.
I could taste blood in my mouth, and my eyes watered on cue.
Of course.
Of course, the sky was still blue and the sun was still yellow, why in fuck's name did I think that Charles Hatchet would come to my rescue?!
Stupid... stupid me!
I stared at him. He'd never hit me before. His reign of terror on me was always through threats and the occasional cuss words but never physical.
My father's face was inches from mine, his eyes blazed with anger but not as much as mine. Rage was the word.
"You stupid! Stupid heartbreaking coward...is that the best you've got!" It was the first time I ever openly spoke against my father. It earned me another slap on the face.
"Stop being a whiny little brat. Get on that bed and do as you are told or so help me God, I would do what we will both regret like toss you out of that goddamn window, do you understand me, Nicolette?!"
I caught my reflection in the mirror, my eyes told a story…a story of a girl who had just been kicked where it hurt.
"Charlie!" Stepmother screamed, coming closer to us. I turned towards her, hoping to see the same horror on my face on hers but all I saw was a woman examining her most prized piece of equipment. "You didn't have to hit her that hard. Her face will bruise, then what would we tell our guests"
My heart stopped beating for a second.
At least before, I could come up with an excuse for their behavior…it must be incredibly difficult to pawn one's daughter for the sake of greater good but this time around, I was fresh out of the excuse.
For a moment, we just stared at each other, the only sound was my ragged breathing and maybe the sound of my heart breaking.
"Get on the goddamn bed, Nicolette!"
I stood there, my heart racing, as my father's face turned even more beet red with rage. His eyes bulged, and the veins on his neck seemed to pulse with fury. He towered over me, his massive frame against my small and insignificant body.
I watched him.
When did I stop being his little girl?
Daddy…I almost whispered but it caught in my throat. I realized instantly that I genuinely hated my own father.
I took a step back, trying to create some distance between us. But he followed me, his eyes blazing with fury. I could feel his hot breath on my face.
"Thanks Charles. Congratulations because now I actually genuinely hate you" I screamed at him.
"I hate you right back you little piece of shit! You should have died in that car crash not your mother! She died trying to get you out! I lost the love of my life because of you!" He screamed back in my face.
I dropped on the floor, tears falling all over my face, it felt like someone took the ground right from under my feet.
"Get. on. the. Fucking. bed or I will do it for you" He commanded.
I blinked back tears and climbed into the bed and I spread my legs, all the while I kept my eyes on him, tears running down my face.
His anger faltered for a second. Did he know he went too far? Did he realize no father should ever say that to his grieving daughter? He blinked and rubbed his face.
"Don't you understand, Nicolette?" he said in his soft voice "This is not about you. This is about the future of Avalon group. We all must play our part. We all must do our duty. This is your duty. You have no idea, what I had to do to get this union back on the table. Now, be a good daughter and do your duty to me!"
I cried more. "You should go, Interim CEO Charles Hatchet" I wiped the tears off my face. "I'm about to take off my panties…unless you want to stay and watch"
Father turned around and walked out.
"And d-don't get too a-attached to my f-fucking company!"
He said nothing except bang the door.
Stepmother stood by the corner and said "He does love you, you know. Maybe you shouldn't say hurtful things to him, sweetheart"
"Yeah? Well, I love him right back" I say with the coldest hate I could muster.
I laid back on the bed and stared at the ceiling, I didn't even blink when the door opened again and Bridgette and her entourage walked back inside.
"Are you ready? We've wasted enough time!"
"She is ready" Stepmother offered.
I kept my eyes on the ceiling but I refused to take off the panties myself.
They would have to do their dirty work by themselves. Because I will not.