Page 49 of Spike (Iron Thunder MC 5)
Nothing interested me. I didn’t want to go shopping. I had nobody I wanted to meet. Nothing I wanted to do. I got a few invitations to parties and a few events, but I didn’t feel like going to any of them.
I just stayed indoors, usually locked in my bedroom, reading or surfing the net while Spike waited outside, listening out for any sounds he thought could be potential threats.
Daddy was set to return at the end of the two weeks and even though initially, I couldn’t wait for him to leave and leave me alone, now there was a small part of me that wanted him to come back.
I wanted him here so I could confront him with all the questions I had for him. I also wanted him here so I could tell him to fire Spike. I was convinced that was what was holding him back from me. If Daddy fired Spike and he didn’t have this job anymore, then maybe there was a chance that we could be together.
On the morning that Daddy was supposed to return from his trip, I woke up feeling better than I had in the past two weeks. I felt as if I might finally be able to turn this around.
I jumped out of bed and before I even changed or freshened up, I went to the door and pulled it open. Spike was sitting on the floor by my door, looking at his phone. He looked up at me, his eyes floating all over my body. I was in small cotton shorts and a skimpy silk camisole. I hadn’t forgotten how good it felt for him to watch me like this. His eyes were all over me, taking me in. So, he still wanted me. That desire for me hadn’t gone anywhere. So what was holding him back?
Spike looked away from me and I sat down beside him, right there in the hallway. It didn’t matter; nobody was going to bother us here.
Spike drew in a deep breath, as if he wished I hadn’t sat down beside him.
“I don’t know what is going on with you, Spike, I wish you would just talk to me.”
“There is nothing to say. I’m just here to do my job.”
“Daddy is coming home today.”
“Yes, I know.”
“There are going to be some changes around here after tonight.”
“I hope so,” he replied and looked away from me.
I wanted to reach out and touch him, but I held back. Just tonight. I just had to make it to tonight and everything would be okay. After that, we could be together.“Sweetheart!” Daddy greeted me with a big hug at the door.
I’d changed into a pretty pink cocktail dress, done myself up with makeup and fixed my hair. This was the first time in two weeks that I’d actually put an effort into my appearance and the sad part was that I had done it for my father. Just to please him. Just to reinforce his belief that his daughter was the perfect princess.
The irony and hypocrisy of it made my stomach churn, but I reminded myself that I just needed to do this for a few more hours and then I was free. After that, Spike could whisk me away somewhere far from here. Daddy just needed to release him of his duties.
“Hi, Daddy, how was your trip?” I hugged him and he slipped a narrow velvet box in my hands.
“This is just a little something to show how much I’ve missed you, my pumpkin.”
I forced myself to smile as I opened the box. There was a sparkling bracelet in there. Emerald and diamonds. It was beautiful and my eyelids fluttered a little with admiration but I snapped the box shut. I didn’t need this stuff anymore. I didn’t care about it.
From the corner of my eye, I could see Spike standing near me, watching us. I would trade all my jewelry and all my clothes just to be with him. To be able to wake up with him beside me. Nobody made me feel the way he did when I was with him.
“Thank you, Daddy, and I’ve arranged a welcome dinner for you to show how much I have missed you,” I said and offered him a big smile.
“My daughter, the perfect host!” he exclaimed and walked into the house followed by his usual entourage. Jim and the rest, none of whom actually ever looked at me.
Why was it only now that I was noticing how dismissive Daddy’s close staff had always been of me?
“Dinner sounds great, sweetheart. I’m going to freshen up and I’ll join you in the dining room at eight,” he said as he walked away.
“Okay, Daddy, I’ll see you then. We have a lot to talk about no doubt.”
He waved at me as he went up the stairs.
