|42| • Everest
"I insist, stay for dinner Everest."
Those words sounded like a challenge, his hard gaze holding me in place.
From the way he looked, I'm sure her father was already analysing my every move, I saw his gaze move daughter who was awfully close to me, the oblivious lady still held on to my elbow, her lips pouting.
Goodness, I wasn't prepared for the grilling right away, although he did say we would meet soon enough.
Clearing my throat, I forced out a smile.
"How could I decline such an offer?" I responded smoothly even though my entire inside was scampering around. The man was probably riling up on his insides, cooking some questions to throw my way so as to destabilise me. At least that was what I'd have done did I was in his position.
Amelia's father cocked his head to the dining table, walking slowly to the kitchen. I looked down at Amelia, she was already looking at me, an apologetic expression on her face. I did want to tell her it was alright, but that was far from what I was feeling, so I settled for a deep breath.
As we walked to the dining table, I thought back to when I had met Saffron's boyfriend, was this how he felt on the hot seat?
Did beads of sweat form on his forehead?
It was as though I was walking to my doom.
Ah, I was being dramatic, wasn't I? I felt small hands grasp my sweaty ones, it was my baby girl.
She squeezed my palms in a comforting way.
It helped, just a little.
"He'll love you." She said with a gentle smile.
Love me? Goodness, I was hoping he'd tolerate me in the least. Amelia's doe eyes peered at mine, as though she was searching for belief in her words.
I couldn't even smile back, I simply squeezed her palms softly.
I didn't want to lose this lady, heck, I just made it official.
Her father sat down opposite me, I thought Amelia was going to sit by my side but her dad chirped in, halting her movements. "Amelia be a dear and whip us something quick for dinner. I think there are some leftovers in the fridge."
He was looking at me as he said this and I immediately understood the meaning.
He wanted it to be just us in the dining room.
He didn't want his little girl interfering.
Amelia hesitated, sparing me a small smile before doing her father's bidding.
As she walked out of the room, I made sure to mask any emotion I felt.
I was in this alone now.
"I haven't properly introduced myself. My name is Everest, Everest Simon." Extending my hands, I let a small smile show. The older man gazed down at my hand, narrowed his eyes and when I thought he wasn't going to return the kindness, his hands met mine in a firm, curt handshake.
"I know your name already. Call me Joseph.
" He told me his name, and I nodded. Joseph.
It was a biblical name, it suited him. Somehow, he looked like Joseph.
I noticed his hair was thick, twisted at the top and came down a little.
A bit similar to what Abel had. I ran my hands through the curved strands of blond hair which mopped on my head.
"I apologise if my arrival was unannounced, it's just, Lia— I mean Amelia called me and I got worried," I explained cooly while he inspected me. He didn't nod, he simply cleared his throat and asked.
"How did you two meet?"
I pursed my lips, that was quite the story, wasn't it? I was conflicted about whether to start from the beginning or skip to the bakery. "Well, we met formally at the bakery. The first time was when she helped me from a fall." That was me putting it lightly.
"The bakery? So that was what she was doing all those times.
" Joseph muttered the last sentence under his breath but I mustered up what he said.
"When I...saw her again at the bakery, I couldn't help but take her number, I wanted to keep in touch.
" Why was I still talking? This was an interrogation not a walk down memory lane.
"Keep in touch? How romantic." Sarcasm coated his words. "I'm curious, Simon, how old did you think she was when you decided to how did you say it? Keep in touch?" I shifted in my seat, of course, this was going to be an issue. She was young, innocent and bubbly.
I looked like a crepe trying to taint his daughter.
"Uh...Derrick told me that day. They were together when I saw her. I know she's twenty. And—"
"Oh. You do?" Joseph hummed, leaning to put his chin on the palm of his hand. This man was intimidating, but I wasn't going to let him see that I was melting under his gaze. Keeping a firm stance and shaking eyes, I nodded.
"I'm going, to be honest with you, Joseph. Amelia is a wonderful lady, and I found myself falling for her the more we spoke. I did promise myself that if she ever felt uncomfortable with me, or pushed, I'd walk away." He continued to stare at me. "I take it she never did."
I shook my head. "She didn't."
Joseph heaved out a sigh, narrowing his eyes to the side. "I see. I'm not against the age difference, what I am against is some man manipulating her into doing things she has no experience with. And excuse me to say that men in your age group usually do that."
I knew where he was coming from. Holding my tongue, I refrained from telling him I wasn't like the other men, that would only make his suspicion grow at such a cliche line. "What do you do for work?"
He changed the subject when I didn't say anything. "I was in the military, so I didn't really have passion for anything else after. Just recently though, I started working at a mechanic shop." His eyebrows arched up. "The military?"
"Yes sir, for eight years. I ended up being second in command to the lieutenant." Joseph seemed impressed, folding his arms, he continued. "What mechanic shop? Where's that?" Ah, well, I guess he wouldn't know I started working under his son.
"Abel's, sir."
Joseph's eyebrows furrowed before realisation hit his face. "My son, Abel? He knows about you?" I nod, "Yes he does." Joseph chuckled, massaging his temple.
"So I've been the one in the dark about all this." He muttered, kissing his teeth. About to ask something else, he was interrupted by a light voice and the sound of feet on the floor.
I looked forward, seeing Amelia with two plates of what seemed to be pie, a nervous smile on her face.
"The food is almost ready, here's the appetiser.
" She said, sounding almost out of breath.
Dropping the plate in front of her father, she turned to drop mine.
When she was close enough to block my view, she pouted.
"You alright?"
She seemed worried. I didn't want to make her worry any further so I chuckled, "I'm alright, sweetheart." Amelia looked relieved when I said this, nodded her head, she scrambled back into the kitchen.
I didn't even have the stomach to eat this, but I took the spoon and scooped some of the food. It was sweet, as I expected. A flaky apple pie. "Thank you for the food." Joseph nodded, taking a gulp of his orange juice.
"There is something I wanted to hear from you directly." He uttered after he swallowed his drink, his hands intertwining on the glass table. I guess this question was heavy on his heart because his gaze was set on me throughout.
"I heard you offered to be a benefactor of some sort."
Oh. She already told him that. Not breaking character, I nodded, perhaps his sinister silence meant I should explain myself.
"She...Amelia told me she had a dream of going to a baking school, she also explained that it was only a dream because the tuition was usually too high.
And...I decided I could help her out with that.
Pay the tuition, or at least lighten the burden on her. "
"Help her out? Lighten the burden?" He scoffed, "In exchange for what?
Or you don't expect me to believe you'd spend a thousand just as an act of love.
" He spat his words like they were toxins, aimed at my heart.
My jaw clenched, why couldn't it simply be that?
Did I have to ask for something more? Like what? Her virginity?
"It's not in exchange for anything, Joseph."
"Right? So if she decides to drop you this instant, would you still have the compelling feeling to lighten her burden?
Since, I mean, her father isn't doing anything about it.
" He continued, and with every word, the dent on his eyebrows became thicker.
"I'm not saying your incapable, I'm just saying I don't mind paying for her tuition.
Whether we are in a relationship or not. "
Joseph grimaced.
"If my daughter wanted to go to a damned baking school, and I thought it was more important than quitting the job she just got — after idling about going to shitty bakeries with that Darrick guy and depending on her brother and me for everything, I'd have sold the house and given it to her. " His words were strong, glaring hard.
"A dream is sometimes meant to stay that way. A dream."
I sighed. "She didn't even want to get that job, she did so to please you. So why is it so hard to allow her to do something she really wants to do?" At this point, I didn't care if I sounded rude, I needed to get my point across.
He smirked. "After what? On one of her idle days at her tea party, she decides she wants to become a professional baker. She decided the tins and rolling pins I'd gotten weren't enough. That she'd rather spend thousands going to a stuck-up place just to get a title and make muffins?"
"But yeah, leave it to the man trying to woo her to solidify those fantasies by offering to drop his life savings in the name of chasing dreams."
Trying to woo her. Those words left a bitter taste in my mouth, I didn't do it because of that, I did it simply because I cared about her, and her dreams. Whether he thought it was ridiculous or not. Why was he so against her doing what she wanted anyways? Wasn't she worth a try?
"I don't get it. What's the problem? Do you just want her in a little box of what you think she should do and become or you just can't stand another man providing for your daughter when you won't?"
The words left my mouth before I could stop it, as his eyebrows furrowed to no end, I realised I could have put those words in a better way. Joseph slammed his fist on the table, startling me. He rose to his feet, clearly furious.
"Providing for my daughter? Who the fuck do you think you are?"
"I'm the man that loves your daughter." Standing to my feet as well, I reply boldly, digging an even deeper hole for myself. Joseph scoffed, a bitter laugh leaving his lips.
I didn't know when Amelia came in until I heard her voice. "Papa, what—" She began but he didn't let her finish, Joseph bellowed in an angry voice.
"Get out of my house."
I knew I'd crossed the line, and took a jab at his ego. Any man would be angry or at least feel a slight annoyance. That didn't mean my heart didn't ache at the words. He didn't like me, heck, he wanted me out of his sight now. I couldn't look Amelia in the eye, I'd let her down.
"Joseph, I'm sorry that—"
I'm sorry that my words pissed you off but I wouldn't change a thing, I love Amelia and I wouldn't think twice about paying her tuition for her dreams. That waswhat I would have said, but the aged man wasn't hearing it. His aura oozed intimidation, his eyes showing how livid he was.
"I will not repeat myself. Get out."
His voice held no room for argument, I had messed up big time.
My hands formed a fist, jaw clenched. Before I could let out another word, Amelia ran to my side.
"Papa! Why would you send him out?! What did he do?
" She questioned, her voice raising a pitch.
Joseph kissed his teeth, moving away from the table.
"Benefactor my ass. If you want to go to that damned bakery school, use your earnings. I'll support whatever you put into it. Don't you know after he pays for this you're basically in his debt? Or are you just blinded by infatuation?"
He snarled, glaring at the both of us. The last thing I wanted was for them to fight because of my big, stubborn mouth. Amelia gasped lowly, her eyes clouding with tears. "Papa..." She trailed off, sad.
"I'll leave. I'm sorry about all of this. And I'm sorry about what I said, I didn't know it would offend you." Backing away from the table as well, I was about to take my leave, heart on the floor.
"Evie," Amelia called out, holding my wrist.
Not now.
Not here.
If I was going to stay, their relationship would suffer the more. "It's okay, Amelia." I shook her grasp off, walking out of their home which I was definitely not welcome to anymore.
Before I could reach my car, I heard her call again. Her sob broke me even more.
"Everest Simon! Get back here! What did you say to him? Why are you leaving?" Amelia questioned, running after me. When she reached where I was, she grabbed my elbow this time.
"Talk to me, Evie."
I shook my head, what was I going to say? Did I mess up? I most likely ended our relationship before it even started. "I'll talk to you later, okay?" Amelia stomped her feet.
"Well, I want to talk to you now! What the heck?! Just tell me what happened!" Her voice was loud, and she kept tugging on my hand, tears rolling down her cheek. I felt even worse, and as though it was the icing on the cake, I snapped.
"Stop being such a brat! I said we'll talk later!"
Amelia paused instantly, her teary eyes widening as she let me go. Shit. I harshly tugged on my hair. What was that? Why did I snap just now? Biting my lip, I didn't know what else to say or do.
Cursing myself mentally, I climbed my truck and reversed out of her house, squeezing my steering wheel so hard my knuckles paled in colour.
I am such an idiot.