I looked at my phone for the teeth time, in hopes that it would come through.
But nothing happened, the battery was dead. I had forgotten to charge it again.
Aria had told me that she had arrived but she was nowhere in sight at the parking lot.
I glance around again, hoping to sight the familiar customized blue Lexus, still nothing.
I sat on the bench, the thick air was my hair in the wind.
Across me was the main storey building. One of the windows should belong to Dirk room.
Dirk, that name again.
He had not returned after he left earlier.
Why was he so pissed at the thought of me being engaged? Did he really like me?
I looked to one of the windows I believed belonged to his room. Had he returned yet? What was he doing now?
A smile tugged on my lips as I recall his sweet swoon to pull me away from the reporters' watchful eyes.
I should have clarified the misunderstanding earlier. Geesh, Autumn what was really your problem, why had you gone quiet, of all time, then?
A crazy thought entered my mind, 'go back to the room and tell him that he had misunderstood'.
Just as I stood up, a car slowly drove to my side. It's glass, whine down to reveal the driver, Finn.
For the first time in my life, I was happy that he was the one, that he had come for me.
He climbed down to open the back door for me, bowing slightly as I walked in. He was always like this, respectful even though he was older than I was.
"Thank you." I muttered as he settled into the driver seat. He looked to the rear mirror, his eyes meeting mine, nodding. He rarely spoke too, maybe not always, but to me.
"I am just doing my work, ma." He said against my stare. I smile at him. It worked.
"How did you know that I was here?" I asked, remembering that I had not told him about my whereabouts.
"I trace your cellphone location." I furrow my brows. Right, when I had shared it to Aria.
I stared as he went back to focusing on the road. His eyes looked tired, poor thing, I must have made him worried about his job when I ditch him like I did last night.
Throughout the drive, none of us said anything to each other again.
On getting to the estate, he again opened the door for me to step out. Before I could walk inside the main building, he stopped me and handed his jacket to me. I stare back not understanding.
"Your dad is around, you may want to cover up."
I looked down to my chest, my Bossom out in the open. He was right. Dad would get even more piss on the sight that his precious daughter left home dressed like she lacked clothing.
I collected it from his hand, muttering a 'thank you' before matching back inside.
My dad was around? How come? He wasn't supposed to be back until next weekend at least.
My heart hammered against my chest at the dread of what awaited me behind the closed door.
As I pushed open the door to the living room, I prayed that my dad was not there.
I needed to change back to something comfortable so I could pay attention to his scolding which I knew would come.
But things don't always go the way we want. My dad was seated on his favourite seat, reading through the financial magazine.
"There comes my little bird." He closed the magazine on sighting me, causing my heart to drop at his cool voice.
If he was shouting, it would mean that the rage would pass quicker but when it's this light, this light as a feather, it was just starting.
"Come closer." He ordered, but I just stood rooted.
A frown crossed his face. "Don't make me repeat myself."
I walked closer to him.
"Where were you, young lady?"
I stare down at my feet. I couldn't answer that question. I couldn't speak the truth just as I couldn't lie. I knew he already figured it out where I was.
He picked up the magazine again, opening to the last page of the booklet. "I'm listening. As you can see I was in the middle of something before you interrupted."
I swallowed and made to speak.
"I was at the clubhouse." I answer truthfully.
"I didn't get that?" He said. He did, I knew he did.
I stood wondering what his next move would be after making me answer the question.
Was he going to bring out the family's old rule book? Perhaps, he was going to ground me again.
Shiver ran through my spine on the thought of having to be locked in over a month like the last time. No he wouldn't, I was older now. He glanced up from the magazine
"I was at the clubhouse." I spoke louder this time.
"Hope you enjoyed it to the fullest because it is the last time you will ever see the walls beyond this estate's."
I felt my heart tightened. He was not just saying it. He meant it. He was grounding me.
For a moment I wanted to throw a tantrum. I was not a child anymore. I was an adult, almost in my twenties. Though an only child, one born of his true and only love, I deserved more than to be treated like a fragile doll, one that needed constant protection and guidance.
But I didn't. I just stood there, head bowed, accepting my punishment. I wanted to be seen as sensible, maybe then he will love me a little more as a person rather than treat me as a helpless child who seems to only want to drag the esteemed family name to the mud.
"Take her to her room and seize her phone. She will be cut off from any connection from the outside worl
d. She needs to learn her lesson until I say otherwise!" He roared, his quiet voice long forgotten.