37

Katherine Thornes

"Really, dad?" I beamed at my dad's announcement. I couldn't believe my ears, I was going to be the one who would take over my father's business. My father's billion-dollar business if I may add.

Wow. Being thrilled was an understatement for how I felt.

"Yes dear, anything for you. And you are the rightful heir to the dynasty. You're smart, intelligent and you're strategic. The business would flourish better in your hands." My father added and it felt so nice hearing him compliment me. He always did, right from when I was little. He encouraged me and always made me feel better about myself. I've missed him so much. I've missed this so much.

"Thank you so much, dad. I'm honored, really." I appreciate him, truly meaning my words. This is honestly going to be a life-changing step.

"You know what Katherine, keep this between me and you, and don't let your father know." Rachael began and I started to laugh because my father was literally just across the table and she was being audible enough.

"I can hear you loud and clear, Racheal." My father chuckled, taking a bite from his spoon.

"Ssh!" She turned to face him and shushed him. "I want to tell Katherine a secret you're not allowed to know." My father couldn't hide his amusement at that, and then Rachel turned to me.

"When you become the CEO of the company, make me your personal assistant so I can get a share of that money too, pretty please," Rachel begged comically, and it was hilarious. I burst out in laughter immediately as well as my dad who had even been finding it hard to control his ever since.

"What? Why are you both laughing here? I'm being serious." Rachel protested but it didn't hinder my dad and me from laughing more.

"I can't believe you sometimes, Rachel." My father expressed amidst his laughter.

Rachel huffed, "All I want is a share from the billions. That's all." She feigned annoyance and returned back to her meal.

"Don't worry Rachel, you'll become my personal assistant the moment I become the CEO. A no–brainer, really." I said, my laughter tittering down.

"Great. We'll be richer than your father in no time." Rachel stated and offered her hand for a high–five, and I obliged.

"You ladies never seem to amuse me. Plotting my downfall in my presence?" My dad shook his head, chuckling.

"Oh yes, honey. Get ready for us, we'll get so rich, we'll buy your house and kick you out." Rachel stated and my father laughed again, Rachel joined in too. I felt so blissful watching them laugh, watching him laugh.

He looked so different from fourteen years ago, in our little house and our little living room, where I'd be sitting on his lap watching cartoons on our little TV box. The father–daughter euphoria is usually short-lived because the moment my mom returns, they go at each other's necks.

Yet, he still always managed to smile at me, laugh with me, and joke with me. But whenever I lay my head down to sleep at night and those smiles and laughter replay in my memories, they seemed fake and forced. Like a cover-up.

But today, it looks so real. He looks genuinely happy. He has found his peace and I was happy. I was happy being in their midst. I could stay here a full month straight and won't even miss my mother's home one bit. Here, it was lively and fun, with her it was strangulating and choking.

She is always nagging to the extreme and pushing me to death to be better at school and my studies. I have never enjoyed that.

Speaking of school, I have classes tomorrow and it's getting very late. I really need to start going home now. I have to study before I sleep, or else I won't be able to cover up the scheme my mother and the teacher had drafted for me.

And I would get a scolding tomorrow if I don't do that.

"Dad, Rachel. I really need to start heading home now, I have to be up early for school tomorrow and it's really getting late." I said to them, rising from my seat. "I really had a great evening with you both," I added, genuinely.

"Aw. Why don't you spend the night then? It's pretty late to be heading all the way home at this hour. We have enough room." Rachel offered and I immediately protested against it.

"No, no. Please, there's no need for that. I don't want to inconvenience you both."

"Katherine honey, I just said we have enough room. Nothing like inconvenience here. Your father and I are most happy to have you stay over." She urged and I shook my head in naught, I can't accept that for so many reasons.

I didn't want my dad to know about how my mother was treating me, and I know my mother won't be happy to someday hear I spent the night at their house instead of studying.

I felt telling my dad about what my mother was doing would make me seem ungrateful to her. She really has good intentions for me, just that she's expressing them wrongly. And telling my dad would be like reporting her.

And let's not forget, this was the same dad who abandoned us many years ago.

"There's no need to worry about that Rachel. There's plenty of time for me to come here and stay over, for a full week or two even. Not just one meager night." I tried to persuade her to let me go.

"Well okay, that's fine. But promise you'd come and spend some time with us someday." Rachel said and I nodded in agreement. "If it's okay with your mum though." She added, and I smiled saying nothing.

I doubt it will ever be.

"Alright Katherine, I'll arrange for the driver to take you home in your car. Since you're here, why not utilize it? It has been idle for a long time." My father stated.

"Thank you, dad."

"Come on, I'll go with you outside." He said and rose up from his seat too.

"Happy Birthday Rachel, I'll bring over your gift soonest," I said to her again as my father and I walked out of the dining room.

"I'll be waiting on it, Katherine. But wait, hold on! I have something for you."

-:-

The driver dropped me off in front of my apartment and I alighted the vehicle. Rachel had given me so many gifts, meanwhile, I was the one supposed to be gifting her. She had given me some nice dresses, shoes, and bags enough to fill up a whole traveling bag. And she gave me a cute, little heart pendant necklace and lots and lots of cake.

However, there was yet another case of a surprise–yet–not–so–surprising presence at my doorstep again. Alexander Walters, the only difference was that he was sleeping against my door this time.

I dropped all I was holding beside the sleeping boy and was about to wake him up but I paused mid–action. He looked so peaceful while he slept and I had to take a moment to memorize how peaceful he looked.

God, this boy was so handsome. I pushed a strand of loose hair away from his face, he needed a haircut but I think this overgrown style suits him better.

Okay, that's enough admiration for Katherine.

"Alex, wake up." I shook him until his eyes fluttered open and he stared in confusion until he realized it was me.

"Hi."

"Hey." He said, adjusting himself on the steps and then letting out a yawn.

"It's almost eleven pm, what are you doing out here?"

"It's almost eleven pm, why are you just returning home now?" He retorted. I rolled my eyes, folding my arms.

"I went for my step–mom's birthday dinner, remember?"

"Oh yeah." He yawned again and made to get on his feet. "How was it?"

"Great. I brought you some cake." I smiled, reaching for my bag and bringing out a few cakes, and handing it to him.

"Thanks, Kat." He collected just one, and bit into it immediately.

"So what are you going to do about tomorrow? I know you've spent most of your day sleeping and the rest of it at your step–mum's." Alexander asked, taking another bite from his cake.

I opened up one cake too and began to bite from it. It tasted really good, in fact, it tasted divine. I hummed in satisfaction.

"This cake is really good, Katherine." Alexander complimented and I nodded in agreement.

"True that," I replied mouthful. I swallowed. "What do you mean by what I'm going to do about tomorrow?" I questioned, I didn't understand what he meant.

He stared at me with furrowed brows, "What do you mean? You don't know what's happening tomorrow?" Alexander asked, seriously. I shook my head in naught, I can't remember anything significant happening tomorrow.

Or did he think that I had agreed to our second rescheduling of the date to be tomorrow? Come to think of it, we never even had a discussion about that. I said I was going to Rachel's birthday and he stormed off angry.

Speaking of that, I was still mad at him for that action.

"Alexander, I don't remember agreeing to go on a date with you tomor—"

"It's not about the date Katherine, I'm talking about Mr. Thomas's Chemistry test tomorrow that counts for seventy percent of your total grade."

It seemed like my whole world had come to an end at that statement,

"WHAT?"