Chapter 44 Father's Hate
JESSICA
I turned and I saw Michael approaching with another male doctor. They are both dressed in lab coats but the unfamiliar one has short blond hair.
Not as handsome as Michael
Michael has his hand on his trousers' pockets as he approaches me with a smile.
"Hey," I said, brushing my strand off my face nervously as he stood in front of me.
"Hey," he said.
"Later, Mike," the blonde one said, walking us.
"Yeah, see ya," Michael said, looking at him momentarily and then at me.
He is tall and very good-looking even close.
"I didn't think I would see you," he said.
"I um....I came to get some water. I was thirsty." I said, fiddling with fingers slightly.
"That's nice. Thirst brought you to me."
I furrowed my brows slightly.
"Get it?" he asked, smiling.
I chuckled the minute I understood what he said, lowering my gaze shyly.
"That's the most beautiful chuckle I have ever heard," he said, making Mr look at him.
He is staring at me.
I felt my cheeks heating up.
"Um....thank you."
"I was going to the canteen. I had a very busy day today and I am starving. Please join me." he said.
"I am still working."
His smile dropped slowly.
My heart tightened a bit.
I rejected him the last time. Now I am doing it again.
"I understand. Well um, I will see around then." He said.
I stared at him.
He smiled a bit and walked past me.
I closed my eyes and opened them.
I let out a sigh as I turned.
"Michael,"
He stopped and turned his head to me.
"My mom is throwing me a party on Saturday at our place. I don't know if you would be free by then but I would like to invite you."
He stared at me.
"Will you um...come?"
His lips formed a smile.
"Of course I will." He said, making me smile.
"Thanks for inviting me."
I nodded. "You are welcome."
He stared at me one last time before walking away.
I let out a fulfilled sigh.
NEXT DAY......
I placed all the pressure I am feeling on the strap of my bag while staring at the massive building in front of me.
It is almost noon and I am currently standing on the road opposite Uncle Xavier's company.
I can't believe I am doing this.
After much thought all through last night, I decided to do this. So here I am, dressed in a simple dress and holding my bag.
I am going to do this.
Invite him like a normal person would.
Like his niece would. Cause that is what you are, his niece.
Alright, let's do this.
I braced myself and held onto my bag as I crossed the road. I got to the company and entered.
The place is huge and luxurious. I let my jaw down as I looked all over the place with a few people moving you and fro.
How wealthy is Uncle Xavier?
This place is luxury itself.
Almost bigger than Uncle Brad's company.
Oh boy.
I composed myself, not wanting to be seen as weird. I headed towards the receptionist's desk and I met a male receptionist. He is neatly dressed in his white shirt and probably black pants which part of his desk is covering.
"Hello, how can I help you?" he asked with a bright smile. He has the name tag, " Carl " on his pocket.
I smiled a bit. "I am here to see the CEO. He is my uncle."
"Oh. What's your name?" He asked.
"Jessica Samuels."
"One moment please." He said, picking up the telephone. He pressed a button and placed the phone to his ear.
I looked around as he took the call.
The place has well-dressed workers moving around with files.
Uncle is really a big deal. I wonder why he is not married yet.
He has all these but no family of his own to share them with.
Not even a wife.
Imagine he had a wife someday and I have a memory of him kissing me in my head.
My heart reacted to my thoughts.
Jessica, stop. Please!
"Ms Samuels," the receptionist took my attention. "Take the elevator to the top floor. The door to your left is the CEO's office." He said, pointing in the direction.
I nodded and smiled slightly.
"Thank you," I said, walking towards the elevator. I entered and not long after, I got to the top floor.
I walked to the left as my heart pounded. I walked past the secretary's empty desk and I got closer to the door.
It has a name tag "CEO" on the top.
I gulped, closed my eyes, and opened them.
Here goes.
I knocked slightly.
"Enter," his voice sent shivers down my spine.
Oh God.
I braced myself and grabbed the doorknob.
I opened the door and there he was, seated at his desk and reading a paper.
He is dressed in a blue suit, looking better than the last time I saw him at his house.
In his room.
The night he....he kissed me.
My heart pounded continuously.
No, Jessica. The last time you saw him was at the hospital. Let's not think about the kiss now.
Focus and just invite him.
I walked into the office and closed the door behind me.
My legs and palms became sweaty as I walked towards his desk. His office is really huge.
Spacious and has a wild view through the huge windows behind him. I can see the Statue of Liberty from here.
You could stare at the view all.....
"Lovely surprise, Jessica." Uncle spoke up, taking my attention and making my heart drop.
He is staring at me blankly.
"G...Good morning, uncle," I stuttered, holding onto the strap of my bag.
"It is noon." he corrected.
I nodded slightly. "Sorry. Good after....."
"Is this the reason you are here?" He retorted.
I felt my insides beginning to tremble.
"To give greetings?"
"N..no...I...."
"Then what? Why are you here?" He retorted.
I lowered my gaze.
God, he makes me so uneasy. Like I am doing something terrible.
"Apologies," he said, sighing.
I looked at him. He is pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Sorry for my tone. I am having a pretty long stressful day right now. Tell me why you are here." He said, relaxing in his seat.
"I um....my mom is throwing me a party this Saturday."
He raised his brows.
"She is celebrating my new job as a nurse. I came to invite you." I managed to say.
He scoffed.
My heart tightened a bit.
"I'm sorry, you came to invite me?" he asked.
"Yes."
He hummed.
"I was hoping you would be able to come that day. My mom will make a lot of cakes."
Gosh, why did I just say that?
He scoffed. "What am I, eight?"
I shook my head slightly.
"You came all the way here to invite me to a party meant for kids?"
I opened my mouth to speak but.....
"Are you serious right now?"
"It's not for kids," I almost whispered. My pounding heart is becoming relentless.
"Really?"
"I thought you....you like cakes."
"I don't." He retorted.
I lowered my gaze and looked at him as something came to my mind.
"There will be wine and...."
"I have heard you, kid." He retorted, making me furrow my brows slightly.
He called me a kid.
That's not the first or second time.
"I need to work. So please leave," he said, moving his gaze to his laptop.
"Are you going to....."
"Use the door, kid." he blurted, making my heart clench as he stared at me.
More like scowled at me.
I felt tears coming, lowering my gaze. I turned to leave.
"Just what I needed," I heard him mutter.
I walked slowly towards the door as I thought about him calling me a kid.
Why does that hurt so much?
I turned to him.
He is staring at the laptop.
His lips and hands didn't see me as a kid that night, did they?
I took uncontrollable steps back to him, making him look my way.
"What did I....."
"I am not a kid," I said boldly.
He relaxed in his seat again while staring at me.
I felt my courage going down.
"Ple...please stop calling me one."
He scoffed.
My heart tightened again.
He nodded. "Okay. You've made your point. Now leave."
I furrowed my brows slightly.
"Out," he said calmly but not without the usual rudeness.
"Why are you always mean to me?" I am forced to ask.
He raised a brow.
"I...I haven't done anything wrong to you."
"Well, kids can't tell when they are wrong or not, can they, Jessica?"
I clenched the strap of my bag as I stared at him.
"Of course not. So that's your situation. Use the damn door. I don't have time for this shit." He said, returning his attention to his laptop.
My heart pounded as my guts took over me.
"Can adults tell when they kiss a kid?"
He froze.
I gulped as he looked at me.
"Excuse me?"
"The other night......the night you came back home drunk."
He kept staring at me.
My courage was going down again.
"I was there to give you your medication. You....you kissed me."
His face twitched.
"Twice," I added, gulping a bit as my heart begged to explode.
Gosh, I just told him.
I really told him.
He scoffed, moving his eyes elsewhere as he got on his feet.
This time, I held the strap of my bag with my two hands as he walked around his table and towards me.
He put his hands into his pockets as he stood in front of me.
His height could swallow me up if that were possible.
God, I am in trouble.
I shouldn't have told him.
What is wrong with me?!
"What the fuck did you just say?" he snarled.
I gulped as I struggled with words.
"Repeat the fucking shit you just said." He ordered.
"I...you...."
"That's it. Stutter. Say nothing. Say absolutely nothing cause that's how it is going to be."
I furrowed my brows confusedly.
"Nothing. You said nothing." He added, glaring at me.
I stared at him as my legs got weaker.
"I don't know what kind of fucked up fantasy you have been harboring about me in your immature nurse-fashioned brain but that's the lamest fantasy I have ever heard in my entire fucking life!"
I flinched.
"Place the age gap and my relationship with your father aside, I would rather kiss female frogs than a clumsy filthy kid like you."
His words felt like claws in my heart as tears filled my eyes.
"To have such fucking thoughts about me and accusing me as well, you are...."
"I am not....."
"Shut the fuck up." He snapped.
I stared at him.
"You are a filthy little thing and I see now why your father hates you so much." His green eyes rested on me without blinking.
If his other words felt like claws, what he said right now felt like a nuclear bomb.
"Don't you ever say that shit to me or anyone again. Do you fucking hear me?"
I didn't respond but stared at him.
He stared at me.
A tear rolled down my face, attracting his eyes.
But he looked towards the door.
So did I.
Kendra was staring at us.