Chapter 36 The Park
Maddie's POV
I couldn't believe my eyes as I looked at my dad. He kept that alluring gaze on me, mostly intimidating. No smile...nothing. My heart was racing and I wanted him to say something. The aroma of food hit my nostrils but I was not hungry. I didn't expect my father to be here today and my mother left three months ago and she didn't tell me when she would be back, let alone bring my father with her.
"So, we came back today," my mother finally said as she walked from the kitchen. She looked neat and pretty. I guess that was all for my father. "Surprise!" she said awkwardly.
My father continued to watch me intently. I swallowed. "A text would've been better," I replied to my mother.
"I'm sorry," she said as she went back to the kitchen.
"How about I take you somewhere so that we can talk alone?" My father stepped in.
I contemplated if I should go anywhere with him or not. I wanted answers and I wanted to know everything. This was my opportunity. "Okay," I said and walked back out of the apartment, my father following after me.
When we got outside, I saw a Lexus parked in the driveway which I didn't bother to notice when I got out of the cab. We walked towards it. Once in the car, we drove in silence and stopped along the road. I looked to the side, there was a park. It was getting dark and I was hesitant. Would he do something to me?
He got out of the car and I remained in my seat until he opened the door for me. I looked up at him. "I won't bite," he said.
"I know the type of man that you are," I replied in defense.
He held his hand out to me. I just looked at it. "If you would like to eat something, then we can go to the restaurant instead, but I'm keeping it low for myself because my reputation has been tarnished. So choose." he said, still holding his hand out to me.
Hesitantly, I placed my hand in his. He helped me out of the car. We walked onto the freshly cut grass towards a bench. A few people strolled by. We sat down on the bench. I looked ahead of me at the lake further away. "So why did you want to see me?" I asked. I wanted to know his part.
"Your mother came to see me in prison. I didn't expect to see her ever again. She did inform me about what had happened when she quit working for me and that she told you her story. I didn't know that she had left because she heard me f^cking someone in my office at the club that I owned. I had that club with three other friends. My sick nature, if you want to call it that, started in college when one of my fellow classmates' aunt had s^x with me. I didn't want that, but she came onto me because of my good looks. It messed me up, she took my virginity. I got married to someone else, and I was faithful for a while until I slipped into bad habits. I got divorced. Had two kids, Miranda and Arden. Their mother wanted them to leave me. She left them money to somehow escape from me, but she never took them with her. I was not going to stop them. But that was the time when the club and my company needed to soar. I took the money that she left them and I invested that into the club." he said, taking a break from speaking.
I was intrigued by this so I remained quiet so that he could continue, "I have done bad things, and s^x had been an addiction for me. All of the demons inside of my head, I used s^x to get what I wanted and I took advantage of women because they were attracted to me too. I don't want to get into the details of the worst things that I have done, and I wish that I could take that back. I even made Arden be the same when he worked for me to get deals for my company. He did what I wanted and he wanted no part in it, so he quit and became a professor. I sat in prison just reflecting on each and everything that I have done and it still doesn't feel enough." he sucked in a breath. "There was once woman that was about to change my life. Her name was Cynthia. I took advantage of her too, and the heartbreak in her eyes was always haunting me because she was the woman that I needed and wanted, but I kept on pushing my feelings aside because I didn't want any saving from the things that I had been doing. It was the lifestyle that I know."
"If my mother had told you that she was pregnant with me, would you have wanted me?" I asked as I was wrapping my brain around this information.
"I don't know. I have two grown kids and my relationship with them is bad. I have a toddler and I don't see him because I never cared about him. When I was in prison, I had a lot to reflect on and when your mother came to visit me. She was still the attractive woman that I saw the day that she walked into my office at the club. When she told me about you, I wanted to get to know you and at least have one good relationship with a child of mine," we looked over at each other. "I hope that I can have that with you."
I looked ahead of me again, letting out a breath, "I wish that you never treated my mother as a f^ck toy, creating an abomination in this world which is me," tears stung the back of my eyes. I shifted on the bench to face him. "Do you have any idea how much my mother is struggling to make ends meet? Do you have any idea how my mind works? I have things running through my mind all the time because it feels as if I don't belong in this world because of how I was conceived and then to have an ex-boyfriend telling me how sh^t I am." I said.
"You are more than that. You are someone that is making me want to be a better person. A child that I never knew about. I do believe that we can get along just fine. My relationship with my other kids is already ruined, but I want to start over with you," he seemed hopeful.
I sucked in a deep breath. "I need some time to soak all of this in," I replied.
"Take all the time that you need," he said, looking ahead of him.
It was a lot and then he wanted a relationship with me. I don't know how it would turn out to be. But I needed time after everything that he told me. I hope that he means every word about wanting to be a better man this time around.
Mariko's POV
I hadn't heard from Maddie. Part of me was worried about her. I hope that she got home safely. I sent her a text but nothing came from her. As I sat in the lounge, watching Bella scribble on a page. My mind was on Maddie. Perhaps she forgot to text me and she is buried in her studies.
"Daddy, I drew a horse," Bella snapped me out of my thoughts. She stood up from the ground and came towards me, showing her sketch to me.
It was nothing like a horse but instead I said, "That is beautiful, Maddie will love it when she sees it."
"She will?" she beamed with excitement, her eyes lightened up. It put a smile onto my face.
"Yes she will. You need to get into bed now," I said as I stood up and I took her tiny hand in mine and we went to her bedroom.
I tucked her into bed and hoped that she would not ask me to read a story because I was still worried about Maddie, hoping that nothing happened to her. "Daddy, I miss mommy," I was taken aback.
"You do?" I asked.
"Yes! When is she coming over again?" she asked. She was now cuddling with Mr Fluffy in her arms.
"I don't know, maybe soon," I didn't want to make empty promises at all. If Amber can show her face so that Bella can be happy, then that would mean something to both of us. I hate to see my daughter wanting her mother, but her mother is just not available. Amber had become a really distant mother and I am disappointed in that. Our kids were supposed to come first but she pushed Bella away. "Goodnight my little princess," I said.
"Night, daddy!" she replied as she yawned.
I went to my bedroom and took my phone out of my pants pocket. I dialed Maddie's phone number. Her phone rang until it went to voicemail and then I tried again but the same happened. Why isn't she answering me? I know that she has things to do, but she could've at least let me know. I can't leave Bella here all by herself. So I can't even leave to check up on her.
I hope that she is okay. I don't know what I would ever do if something happened. I just want her to be safe at her apartment and hope that I see her tomorrow at work all in one piece.