61. Killian
Chapter sixty-one
Killian
A Few Days Later
S itting in my office, I sighed heavily as I buried myself in my paperwork. It’s been more than a week since Delilah and I had our argument, and ever since, Brielle kicked me out of our room... leaving me to fend for myself. She’s been ignoring me for quite some time now and only speaks to me when she deems it absolutely necessary to do so.
Has it been frustrating? Yes. Is it annoying and childish? Somewhat.
Did I deserve it?
I still couldn’t answer whether I truly deserved to be ignored by my wife or thrown away by my daughter. Did that boy deserve my daughter? To put his hands on her? To act as if he owned her and mock me simultaneously?
Of course not... and it hurt. It hurt to feel rejected, unwanted, and hated, all for trying to protect her. It was killing me day in and day out, hearing those words echo in my mind along with the cries of both her, Ivory, Brielle... Blaine.
That idiot knew all along, and for the longest time, I knew he was hiding something, but that sly bastard kept his promise to them and never told me. I was slightly impressed by his capabilities, but looking at him in the corner eating a jar of Nutella with a spoon had me thinking otherwise.
“You know,” he began, and I sighed, running my hands down my face. “If you were understanding and had a bit of compassion, you wouldn’t have this problem. I wonder if we would have even met if you were emotional. Our dynamic wouldn’t work,” he muttered as if he was really thinking about the scenario.
I rolled my eyes at him as I continued my work, and eventually, he left to order something to eat, per usual.
I tried to ignore the picture of Delilah at her dance recital when she was eight or nine years old, which sat on my desk. Still, I found myself looking at it fondly, as she was so happy. And as joyous as this occasion was, Brielle constantly reminded me that the only reason she was this happy was that I was there.
Eleven Years Ago
Walking into the living room, I smiled as Delilah sat in the middle of the floor going through her dance bag and costumes, as today was her Spring Recital. Her hair was curled beautifully, and her makeup was also done to perfection. Zachary sat in the corner, playing with one of her headbands, and Brielle came into view holding Ivory in her arms and slightly glared at me, causing my smile to falter. Here my daughter was... excited and happy—and I was about to ruin it.
“Delilah, sweetheart,” I muttered, and she beamed up at me happily.
“Daddy! Do you see how many costumes I have? Madam A put me in almost every dance! She even gave me a solo, too! Did Mom show you the program agenda?”
I nodded as my heart constricted.
“Delilah, sweetie… something’s come up,” I muttered, and she tilted her head to the side in confusion as I continued, “There’s a problem in one of my buildings in Chicago, and they need my help.”
“Will you need to leave after my performance? We can have dinner early if that would make it easier?” she asked, and I sighed.
I glanced over to Brielle, who was sitting with Zachary now and paid me no mind. She wasn’t going to give me a break on this either.
“The thing is, sweetheart. My plane leaves in about an hour or two.”
She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, and I could see a small pout wanting to appear on her face.
“B-but then you’ll miss the show,” she whispered.
I sighed heavily. Brielle gave me the side-eye, and I crouched down to Delilah’s level.
“I know, sweetheart... I’m sorry. Daddy just has a lot of business to take care of. He’ll make it to the next one, hmm?” I said softly.
She looked away as she stood up slowly and nodded. I noticed a small tear escaped her eye, and she wiped it away quickly as she walked out of the living room and up to her room.
I stood and looked over to Brielle as she shrugged.
“I told you to reschedule, but it’s okay, I guess. Enjoy your flight,” she muttered.
I crossed my arms as I approached her. “You know this meeting is crucial.”
She nodded. “I know,” she said and left the room with the children, leaving me to feel more like shit than ever before.
Soon, it was time for Delilah to go to the theater to prepare, and I stood by the door of our home as she walked out with the remainder of her dance attire that needed to be put in the car. I made my way over to assist her, and she shook her head.
“I-It’s okay. I got it. Bye, Daddy...” she whispered.
I sighed heavily as she entered the car without sparing me a final glance. Soon I was left by myself as the kids, Brielle, Blaine, Reginald, George, and Benjamin had gone with her. I was left with Leo, who made it known that he was a bit sour that he had to drive me to the airport and that he was going to miss the recital, but he didn’t say much to me.
Soon, we were on the road, and I found myself trying to busy myself with the preparations for the meeting... but I couldn’t. All that I could think about were those little eyes that looked up at me in hope and hurt simultaneously. I didn’t think it would’ve been a big deal... Brielle was upset, but she didn’t force me to go.
“You know this meeting is crucial.”
She nodded. “I know.
“But your daughter is more important.”
She didn’t say those exact words, but I knew that’s what she wanted to say. Fuck, that’s what I should’ve said. Those idiots in Chicago need to figure out what they’re doing on their own. I have a family, for Christ’s sake. I would much rather fire them from the comfort of my own home with my daughter in my arms than go and try to fix what they’ve done... and fire them in the end, most likely.
I put the files in my hands to the side, and Leo looked at me through the rearview mirror.
“Leo,” I muttered, looking out the window once again.
“Yes, sir?”
“...We’re going to the recital,” I muttered, and he hummed as he continued to drive straight. I furrowed my eyebrows as I looked over at him and watched him grab a pair of sunglasses from his glove compartment.
“Leo, did you hear what I said—” I began, but I was cut off as he put the glasses on and the opening of Tokyo Drift from The Fast and the Furious started playing.
My eyes widened as I braced myself in the backseat. Leo made a highly climactic U-turn in the middle of traffic and sped down the other side of the highway. Feeling more confused than scared, I looked over at him, who seemed to have a small smile on his face.
“I want to fire you, Leo,” I muttered, still shaken. He simply laughed as we made our way to the theater.
We’d arrived in less than fifteen minutes, and I rushed in as the recital was seconds from starting. I opened the door to the auditorium and smiled as Delilah stood on the stage with a microphone in her dance costume.
“This dance is dedicated to my dad. The words of the song mean a lot to me, and so does he. Even though it’s a love song, I see it as our song and how he’s loved me for the longest time and—THERE HE IS! HI, DADDY! HI! HE CAME!” she screamed, pointing at me.
I smiled as I waved back, listening to the audience’s laughter. I found my seat by Brielle with the help of one of the ushers, and she laid her head on my shoulder and grabbed my hand in hers.
The lights began to dim, and All of Me by John Legend started to play. I watched my beautiful girl on stage as she danced and twirled graciously. My heart constricted as I couldn’t even believe I would think to miss this.
Feeling a tap on my shoulder, I looked to see Blaine wiping his tears. “It’s okay to cry,” he whispered, and I rolled my eyes as I continued watching and cherishing my daughter.
Present
Delilah
Sitting in Archer’s office, I sighed as I finished the last of the reports that his father assigned him. Did I like this “new” job of playing his secretary? Absolutely not. It was dreadful, as Benny would say about how messy my room would be, so yes, I would compare this new job to cleaning my room.
But it wasn’t entirely his fault. It was his father’s as well. Having Calvin breathe down my neck for work and insight into my life while Archer was quite literally trying to find different times in the day to breathe down my neck was tiring. However, I appreciated Archer for helping me get my mind off the fight I’d just had with my dad.
It was slowly eating me that I may have gone too far, but I ignored it because the feeling of being liberated was much more enjoyable.
“Knock knock,” I heard at the door, and Archer walked in with two coffees and a lustful look in his eyes.
I looked away from the computer and tilted my head. “Can I help you, Mr. Lockwood?” I asked.
He smiled as he placed the coffee down and turned me in my chair. “There are many different things you can help me with, Princess. I don’t know if right here would be the appropriate place... your office being the neighbor to my father’s office and all,” he muttered.
I rolled my eyes. “And my bedroom being close neighbors to my parents’ room the other night was appropriate?” I asked.
He shrugged, placing a kiss on my neck. “Hmm… more or less.”
I rolled my eyes at him and jumped when I felt his hand snake around my neck.
“What did I say about rolling those pretty little eyes, baby?” he whispered, and I blushed as he placed a kiss on my lips. He chuckled at my shyness, and I pushed him away.
He bit his lip. “Push me away all you want now, Princess… there’s no pushing me away tonight, though,” he muttered.
I ignored him as my father called my phone. I glared over at Archer as I ignored the call.
“Do you see what happens when we try to get frisky? The universe brings my dad to us,” I muttered.
Archer leaned against the desk. “Pretty sure that’s not why he’s calling.”
I sighed as he was calling once again. I didn’t really want to pick up as I had no idea what I’d say to the man. This was the first time he’d called in the last week, and what a coincidence it was that I was with Archer as well.
The call went away, and I groaned as Archer gave me a knowing look. I ignored him as I went back to the computer, but I heard another notification from my phone, only this time it was a message from Ivory.
I picked it up and read the message, my heart beginning to race. Time felt like it had stopped, and my breaths became more labored.
Ivory: Mom is in the hospital. It’s the baby.