His Reluctant Obsession

010 The Weight Of The Past

Lana

When I got back home, I met Beatrice sitting on the couch with her phone in her hand.

“Back so early? Don't tell me you got fired.” Beatrice looked up at me.

“I got fired yesterday,” I replied, slumped on the couch beside her.

Beatrice looked at me like I had gone crazy. “You look awfully chill about it.” she raised an eyebrow.

“I have two jobs, I got fired from one, and besides, I got a new one today,” I shrugged.

“Huh? Lana, explain in detail!” Beatrice said, dropping her phone and giving me her full attention.

I sighed and told her everything that had happened with Karl. She had that unbelievable look in her eyes like I would waste my time lying about something like this.

“Karl Moretti?! Do you know who he is? Everyone knows him. Compared to us, he is like way up in the sky, sis,” Beatrice exclaimed.

Of course, I know Karl, and I did extensive research on him.

“I know, that's why I am being careful,” I replied.

“You don't have to work there, you know, I can find a job and help with the rent,” Beatrice offered.

I didn't let Beatrice work while schooling because I didn't want it to affect her education.

“You don't have to Trixie, what are big sisters for?” I replied and got up from the couch.

“There’s food in the kitchen, and dad said hi,” Beatrice informed me, and I nodded before walking into the bedroom.

I know ignoring him won't bring mom back, but I just can't help it.

That night would forever be engraved in my memories.

Fifteen years ago*

It was a cold night in creekwood, Dad wasn't back yet as usual. He always comes back late and leaves early before I and Beatrice wake up to prepare for school.

Mom just finished setting the table for us to eat, and Beatrice was still engrossed in her homework.

“Drop the book and eat your dinner,” mom ordered, and Beatrice reluctantly peeled her eyes from the book.”

I ate from my plate and smiled. “Your food is the best!” I praise, and mom smiled.

Her phone rang, and she stepped aside to answer the call while I tried my hardest to ignore Beatrice.

We had a fight while coming back from school and haven't spoken since then. She didn’t look like she wanted to talk to me either.

When mom was done with her call, she came back and sat with us.

I noticed her demeanor changed. She appeared tense and stiff throughout dinner.

After we were done eating, she took me and Beatrice to her room.

“Aren’t we going to sleep in our room, Mommy?” Beatrice asked.

“No dear, stay in my room tonight, don't come out till I or dad call for you, okay?” Mom said.

Something was wrong. She looked pale.

“Is something wrong?” I asked.

“No dear, just stay here and don't come out” mom ordered and left the room, locking the door shut.

Beatrice and I laid on the bed. “Is mommy okay?” She asked me.

“Yes,” I replied.

That was the first conversation we had since we quarreled that afternoon.

A few minutes later, we heard noises from downstairs. I thought Beatrice was already asleep, but when she stiffened beside me, I knew she couldn't sleep either.

“Should we go check on Mommy? Maybe daddy is back,” Beatrice whispered.

“Mommy said not to leave till they call for us, and besides, the door is locked from outside.” I replied.

“Lana” Beatrice called. “I'm scared,” she added.

“Don't worry, everything will be alright.” I tried to convince myself, too.

The noise grew louder, and I hugged Beatrice tighter, then it stopped after a while.

I got up from the bed and walked toward the door while Beatrice remained on the bed. “Don't move,” I said to her.

I didn't even get to reach the door when we heard a violent kick on the wooden door, and we both flinched.

My heartbeat accelerated as Beatrice started crying, I turned towards her and hugged her tightly.

The kick came again, harder this time.

Beatrice was already crying a river, muffling her tears on my chest.

Then it stopped, and we heard faint sounds from the other end till it went quiet again.

“Lana! Beatrice!” We heard dad's voice after a while, and we both walked toward the door.

“dad!” Beatrice cried.

We heard the clinging of keys. It has to be dad. He is the only one apart from mom who has the keys to this room.

The door swung open, and dad walked in with a terrified expression on his face.

He hurried towards us and hugged us tightly. Only then did I allow myself to cry.

He came, but he was late. Mom was already dead.

Stabbed twice in her stomach, she lost too much blood to survive.

The case ended with a robbery going wrong because a few of our valuables were stolen, and the house was ransacked.

I didn't want to believe it at first, but I had to for my mental health.

If dad had been home, maybe mom wouldn't have been killed, or maybe they both would have been killed. Who knows?

But he wasn’t and that's enough to make me mad at him.

Present*

I went to work with eyebags under my eyes.

Everyone could tell I didn't sleep much last night.

My nightmares got worse, unfortunately. I shouldn't have peeled out old wounds last night.

“You look terrible,” Harper stated the obvious.

“Don't worry, it won't affect my work speed,” I assured.

“It better don't, I care for you, Lana, but my business is more important,” he said, and I nodded.

“Completely understandable,” I replied and walked into the kitchen.

_

I was happy when I saw Jenna walk into the kitchen.

“You're here early, very early,” I said.

“Harper said you don't look too good, so I came earlier, have some rest before you head out,” she said with concern, and I felt like hugging her.

“I love you so much” I said, and Jenna rolled her eyes playfully. You owe me,” she said, and I nodded before walking out.

I made sure to spend my extra two hours sleeping, and when I woke up, I felt really refreshed even though the bench in the locker room was uncomfortable.

When I got out of the restaurant, I met Cole, and I cursed inwardly.

Totally forgot he existed.

“Glad to see you aren't dead,” Cole said, walking towards me.

I chuckled awkwardly. “Sorry for ghosting you, I have too much going on at the moment.” I apologized.

“I knew you'd say that, I was genuinely worried, didn't you enjoy your date?” Cole asked with sad eyes.

“I did enjoy the date, I just have a lot happening” I tried to explain.

“It’s alright, I will keep waiting,” Cole replied, and I felt sorry for the guy.

“I'm not asking you to wait, don't hurt yourself anymore, bh, waiting for me anymore,” I said calmly and walked away.

I was thankful he didn't call me back, I really can’t deal with him right now.

_

The taxi stopped in front of the restaurant, and I walked in.

I was led by a lady to the changing room where I wore my uniform and came out to meet a man in chef uniform waiting for me.

“I would introduce you to your colleagues,” he said and led me to the kitchen.

“This is the new chef, Miss Lana Myers.” he introduced when we got to the kitchen.

I said hi to my new colleagues, but they merely nodded.

I didn't need a genius to tell me I wasn't welcomed.

There are three males and one female chef.

The female didn't fail to hide her disgust, and I swallowed the lump in my throat.

Oh, heavens.

When the chef who brought me in left, one of the male chefs walked up to me. “I'm Mike, and that is your section,” he pointed at a small space at the far end of the enormous kitchen, and I nodded.

I walked towards the space and looked around. Though it was small, it was neat, and I could definitely work here.

_

After an awfully long day, I went back to the changing room and wore back my clothes. The other female chef was throwing hateful glances at me, but I seriously couldn't care less.

What could I have done to offend her, I don't even know her name.

I got out of the restaurant and was more than surprised to see Karl leaning on his car gracefully.

My heart raced.

He is probably here on official business. After all, it's his property, I tried to ignore him, but he called out to me, and I froze.