Mayor's Dutiful Wife

2. Richmonte

I woke up to a pounding headache, I very carefully opened an eyelid and shut it again fast. A merciless sunbeam squirted straight in, making my brain bleed.

"Ugh" I sat up with my head in my hands, feeling like my head is about to explode in about five minutes. I wore a robe over my negligee and walked into the living room.

"Martha, I need coffee" I called for the maid and a few minutes later she came with some painkillers, water, and a steaming sexy cup of coffee.

"Ugh, you are a lifesaver, Martha, remind me to give you a raise later," I said as I downed two painkillers and gulped a huge amount of water.

I drank my coffee and took a warm relaxing shower and I felt so much better after that. I dressed up for work in a professional black pantsuit, made a high ponytail, and wore my favorite nude Valentinos.

I walked into the living room and saw Scarlet completely f****d up.

"Hey, how do you look like this, and I who does modeling for a living look like a cat run over," she said in a tired voice.

"This is after two painkillers, two cups of coffee, and a warm bath, you should try it," I said as Martha served me breakfast.

After I was done with my breakfast, I was ready for another exciting day at work. I reached my office in about fifteen minutes. The guards and receptionist greeted me. I walked into my private elevator and arrived at my floor.

Pearl came frantically running over to me, with a coffee in one hand and files in the other.

"Woah, slow down," I said

"Someone is in your office, I couldn't tell them to wait outside since he is important and very intimidating," She said in one breath.

"And who might that be?" I asked, my eyebrows furrowed, I took my coffee from her and walked to my office.

"Your father," she said from behind me and I stopped dead in my tracks. I turned around and faced her stunned.

"What is he doing here? Did he say something?" I asked hurriedly

"No, nothing. He came and didn't even acknowledge me and walked straight into your office" she explained

"He has never visited me in the last six years. Why would he come now?" I asked confused.

"I don't know, maybe he missed you" She sheepishly said

"Missing someone is a feeling and my father doesn't have feelings" I whisper-yelled.

"Don't worry, I am sure everything is fine. Just go in and welcome him here. Ask him, why is he here?"

"Okay, everything is fine. Everything is going to be fine" I calmed my nerves.

For the first time in my life, I was afraid to walk into my own office.

I walked in confidently and saw him looking at the pictures hanging on my wall. It was a reminder of my old life. He had his eyes stuck on one particular picture, I followed his gaze and saw the picture I love the most.

It was before my dad joined politics and became this cold shell of a person. We were at the beach and I was a three-year-old in the picture. My parents were kissing as I poked my head out from in between their legs. They both were smiling into the kiss and I have never seen them more in love. A year after that my father joined politics and it all went downhill from there.

"Dad," I said in the most steady voice I could muster.

He turned around, he looked old. Wrinkles graced his beautiful sharp face, salt and pepper hair, and beard. He was still a strongly built man wearing his usual attire. My mom used to call him suits.

"Hannah Clarke, you have done good for yourself," he said looking at me from head to toe and then looked around the office. He strode towards my desk and asked "May I" gesturing towards my seat.

"Of course, you don't have to ask," I said, my palms were getting sweaty.

"I am not used to sitting on the other side of the desk," he says gracefully sitting down.

"How come you are here?" I said sitting down opposite him.

"Aren't you glad to see me?" He raised an eyebrow

"I am, I am really happy?" It sounded like a question to my ears.

"You don't look happy"

"Dad-"

"I'll just cut to the chase then," He said coldly, completely cutting me off.

"..."

"I want you to come back with me," he said more like ordered.

"Why?"

"Because I want you to"

"That is not a strong reason, Dad. I can't just get up and leave" I explained shakily.

"You already did that, when you left Richmonte, didn't you?" He said sarcastically

"Dad, I left because I got accepted to NYU. I did it to follow my dreams"

"You got what you wanted?"

"Yes" I sighed

"Good. Now, I want you to come back to Richmonte, where you belong"

"No, I am not going with you," I said sternly

He can't barge into my life and order me around like I am his puppet.

"You are just like your mother, selfish and self-centered" He sneered

"Dad, that's enough. You can leave" I fisted my hands in my lap gritting my teeth.

He stood up abruptly and buttoned his suit jacket. He walked to where the door was and stopped. He turned back and stared at me intently.

"I need you, Hannah. You are my only heir. My flesh and blood" he said, his voice changed from cold and distant to tired and miserable.

"For once, think about me too. I've always supported your every decision. You wanted to go to NYU, I supported you and gave you every possible thing you needed to do it. You wanted to open your own business, I gave you the money blindly because I supported you" he added

"Dad..."

"And for once I need you to do something for me..." His voice broke and I felt a twinge of pain in my heart. I've never seen my dad so broken and vulnerable. He was always a proud man.

"You left me alone, Hannie Bear. Just like your mother" he had tears in his eyes.

I think the last time he called me Hannie bear was when I was six and I've never seen him cry like ever. Watching him like this made me cry. I got up from my chair, ran to him, and hugged him, wrapping my arms around his broad chest.

"I am sorry, Dad," I said silently crying.

I was always weak when it came to my father. I have always asked for his attention. This is the first time I have seen my father getting emotional about anything.

"Will you come with me?" He asked hugging me back. His hug made me feel content.

"What is it that you want from me?" I asked wiping my tears

"Just trust me, okay" he uttered

"Okay"

"Okay? As in you are coming?" He inquired

"Yes" I smiled

"Thank you, Hannie bear" he placed a kiss on my forehead.

"I need to talk to my business partner and tell him I am going to my hometown for a few days, he will take care of everything," I tell him and he nodded

"We are leaving tonight" he informed

"Isn't it a bit early? Dad, I need more time than that"

"I don't have much time," he said looking away.

"What?"

"Nothing, it's nothing" he sighed

"No, dad. Why don't you have time?" I furrowed my eyebrows

"I am sick, Hannah, and I need my daughter"

"Oh my God, dad. What happened?"

"Doctors, they don't know but they said my organs are failing, at first it was just my one kidney and now the other one too. Slowly it's getting my liver, they don't know what is causing this. I don't even know how much time I have left" he said, his face stone cold.

"Dad, why didn't you tell me before?"

"I thought you would say I am emotionally blackmailing you into doing something I want," he said

"Dad, I would never think like that, not when you are sick"

"I am getting old, Hannie bear. My time is over"

"Please dad, don't say that" I only had him, my only real family.

"It's the truth" he chuckled humourlessly.

"When are we leaving?" I asked

"Tonight, I'll get everything ready. We will be flying in our jet"

"Okay, I'll wrap everything up by this evening"

He kissed my forehead and walked out and I was left alone thinking about going back to that dreadful town.

__________

The plane landed and my breath got stuck in my throat. Fear erupted in my belly and I felt like the same seventeen-year-old girl that ran away from here. It was like I never left.

Dad's driver was waiting for us. The whole car ride I kept staring out of the window, quietly. Everything was just the same as I left it. The same streets and the same shops and restaurants. A few new things here and there but other than that, It was the same.

I stepped out of the car and Eva, my stepmother stood there with a scowl on her face. She changed her demeanor when my dad came to my side. Smiling wide she hugged me and welcomed me to my childhood home.

Everything was completely different, my mother decorated this house. But now all of her essences were gone.

"You changed the decor?" I asked my father

"Eva did," he said flatly. "Your room is the same as you left it. I didn't let her touch it" he smiled

"Thank you"

Maids took my luggage to my room. As I entered my room, nostalgia hit me like a truck. All those horrible memories attached to this room also came crashing back.