Falling For My Dad's Vice President

Chapter Two

Lily’s POV

“You’re not coming for class?” Kristina’s voice roared through the phone. “I’m sorry my love I think I had too much to drink last night”, I mumbled, feeling barely awake.

“How am I supposed to function today without you?” She continued “Don’t worry sweetheart, you’ll be fine” I reassured her.

“Ugh! Anyway, take care of yourself. I’ll see you later I guess mwah!” she concluded before cutting the call.

I woke up feeling nauseous and my head pounding horribly. I knew I had a lot to drink the previous night, so naturally, I expected to be hung over, but it was worse than what I anticipated.

“ugh!” I rolled over to the edge of the bed, forcing myself to get up in my room and go downstairs to find something to help with the horrible way my body felt.

“Marie!” I yelled, walking down the stairs to the living room that led to the kitchen. “Marie!...are you there?” . Marie was the middle-aged maid my dad hired many years ago. She’s almost family at this point.

“Yes, Miss Lily!” Her voice drifted from somewhere deeper in the kitchen. I found her preparing my dad’s usual morning coffee.

“Marie, I think I’m dying,” I said, dramatically resting against her, waiting for a reaction. Her head shot up in concern as she stopped what she was doing to check my temperature. She understood my dramatic way of wording things.

“You’re not dying, little miss,” she replied, laughing gently. “Just a fever.” She nudged me onto the high stool by the counter. “Wait here, I’ll get something to help you.”

She walked back to where she was preparing coffee and I watched. My mind drifted back to the memories of my drunken encounter with the vomit guy and my mysterious savior.

Marie finished making the coffee and picked up the tray heading for my dad’s study where he usually took it.

As she reached the entrance of the kitchen, my dad walked in causing her to stop in her tracks.

My stomach twisted at the sight of his presence. I rolled my eyes out of habit as he walked in with his suitcase.

“Mr. Sterling!, I was about to bring your coffee” Marie exclaimed in surprise. “Are you already leaving for work?”

“Yeah I’m leaving soon so no need Marie, I’ll take my coffee here” his cold, commanding voice vibrated through the air.

“Ugh! Of all places!” I mumbled quietly.

Apparently, he heard me. His piercing gaze swung over, freezing me to my core. He didn’t say anything, but his disapproving look spoke volumes.

Marie put the tray back on the counter in front of my Dad, sensing the tension, hurried out, probably grateful to escape.

“And why aren’t you in school?” my dad questioned, his voice laced with irritation that I could sense from a million miles away. He despised me, he always had for as long as I could recall.

I never understood why, and I still didn’t, but soon I stopped wondering and just started doing whatever I wanted which always provoked him.

My mouth went dry as I took a gulp. I didn’t want to start anything on an early Monday morning but I could feel something was bound to start anyway.

It was the same question he’d asked a hundred times, each one with less care than the last. I could feel my anger bubbling up.

“It’s none of your business” I replied, my calm voice sharpened with the bitterness on my tongue.

He exhaled sharply, setting his cup down with a clink. “I won’t ask again Lily…why aren’t you in class?

“Why do you care? You never bother to ask how I’m doing when I’m actually there.” I scoffed. My heartbeat spiked because I knew I was now pushing his buttons. Every time we argued, I always felt the urge to blow up in his face.

His jaws clenched, eyes narrowing. “That’s not the point. You need to be in school. It’s your responsibility.”

“Responsibility? I repeated bitterly “Like you’re one to talk!” my tone rose with a hint of mockery in it. “You don’t even notice when I’m struggling. It’s like I don’t exist unless it’s convenient for you.”

“I’m not here to coddle you. I expect you to manage your own life.” His tone flat and dismissive.

“Manage…” I scoffed, the sizzling rage inside me waiting to blow up. The sheer indifference in his voice made my blood boil.

I’d spent my whole life craving his approval, chasing even a sliver of affection. And now, with that same coldness, he was pushing me away again.

I felt the familiar ache slowly envelop me as I glared at the man sitting in front of me glaring back at me.

“You wouldn’t know the first thing about what I’m going through! You’re too busy pretending I’m not here!” I continued pressing my rage to remain calm… the rage I inherited from him.

“Enough with the dramatics! I have my own obligations. I can’t be at your beck and call.” His cold gaze remained as he took another sip out of his coffee.

“You think this is a drama? I’m living it, Dad! It’s not just some act for your entertainment!”

I felt like a joke to him, someone he couldn’t even take seriously, and my insides only boiled even more from the thought of it. He didn’t care at all about any of my feelings, and he made sure to show me.

“You’re overreacting, Lily. This is not that serious. Just get back to class and stop failing your courses too!” He took a final sip and rose up to leave, but I wasn’t done with him.

“Not serious?! It’s not serious because it’s not your life! You come home, sit in your chair, and act like everything is fine while I’m falling apart!” my voice now trembling in the anger that surged inside my veins.

“You need to take responsibility for your own choices. This is on you.”

“That’s it!” I stood up angrily. “Do you even hear yourself? You think it’s all about me not trying hard enough? You never even asked what’s really going on with me!... I’m your daughter for God’s sake!” I began yelling as my eyes burned with the heat of tears that threatened to fall.

“Enough Lily!” he snapped “I can’t fix everything! Life doesn’t revolve around your feelings!” My dad roared. His voice was devoid of any warmth, piercing what was left of my stone-cold heart that shattered all over again, and before I could stop them, the tears began to rain down my cheeks.

“Maybe if you actually cared, I wouldn’t feel so alone! You’re always so cold and distant. Why do you hate me so much dad? What did I ever do?” I cried as the last air left my lungs and more struggled back in.

The dreadful ache that I had partied the whole night to drown came back like it was nothing. My head pounded even harder than before and my eyes clouded with the tears that filled them.

My dad just stood there and watched as I bawled my eyes out. I tried to look through my tears to see his expression but nothing changed, the same dark gaze he always gave me remained and nothing else.

“I miss mom!” I mumbled quietly, but enough for him to catch it. His hardened expression cracked for a moment. His brows squeezed in a confusing way.

“You don’t understand how hard I work for this family! You’re making it impossible!” he said, his voice less certain.

“Oh, poor you! You think your job is harder than being a kid with a dad like you? You don’t even want to be here!”

“I can’t deal with this right now.!” He said, picking up his suitcase and heading out.

“Where are you going? You can’t just walk away from this!” I screamed after him into the living room before stopping as I watched him reach for the door.

“I’m done with this conversation!” he shouted, slamming the door behind him.

My knees gave out, and I sank to the floor, my sobs spilling out as his car zoomed off.

Marie who was watching from a distance, came and wrapped her arms around me to comfort me. We both walked back to the kitchen.

I stayed with Marie for a long while wiping my tears as I watched her cook and gave me bites to taste and cheer me up. She knew how to comfort me.

After a while, she led me to the living room to distract me with a TV show. Hours passed, the argument still replaying in my mind, but Marie’s presence kept me grounded. Then the doorbell rang.

Marie had briefly gone to the bathroom, so I stood up to take it. It rang again and I hurried to the door to asnwer it. I opened the door and my whole world froze.