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My mouth opens, but no sound comes out. Then I hear Myah piping in, “I’m not Sloane’s daughter. I’m not that lucky. My actual mom is a gold-digging hussy who doesn’t even care about me.”
Chris guffaws and slaps his thigh as if Myah has just stated something hilarious instead of a hurtful truth. This man is really an unfeeling monster. I wonder how my mother can even stand being around him. But then again, my mother may have just been another monster — maybe a little one, but still one too — for letting my father take over my life.
“You know, child,” he repeats the word, knowing full well how it irks Myah. Dad’s that way with everyone. My father burrows inside your head to get to your deepest darkest fears and then feeds them to you. “I’ve probably dated your mother before.”
Myah looks like she’s ready to punch my father. And I want her to do it, but I can’t let her hurt herself. So, I finally speak up. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Chris takes a sip of scotch before answering me. “I need you to come with me to a work meeting tonight. It’s with my newest business partner, and I think you will like him.” By that, he means his creepy, perverted partners want me. What kind of father will pawn his own daughter for money? A fucking selfish asshole.
It’s not the first time he’s tried to make me go through this. I think I was fourteen when he brought me to this business meeting with a wealthy businessman. Dad had been trying to get that man to invest in his new venture. “He is finicky,” he mentioned in one of the few dinners that we had as a family. The next day, after school, my mother hurries me into my room and tells me to change into the new clothes that she’s laid out for me.
“But why,” I remember asking. But my mother just says that I need to help my father for my sake. My sake? I shake my head at the memory. That night has been part of my nightmares for a few years. Dad’s partner sat beside me, and from under the table, he began stroking my thighs. He even tries to creep his hand under my dress. I stare at my father, asking for help. But he doesn’t even bother looking at me because he is more concerned with giving the perfect pitch. So before his partner can do much more, I stand up and make an excuse to go to the ladies’ room.
I can still remember my father’s red face after we went home that day. Then, he slaps me. I remember the pain, shame, and distrust. But, more than that, I recall the anger building inside my chest that night.
I let my fury get to me now. I need it so that I can stand up to him for my sake and Myah’s.
“What makes you think that I will ever want to help you again? I don’t need you.”
Myah smiles at me in encouragement. And my courage starts to increase. I even begin to believe that I can get through this. Maybe today is the day that I will finally stand up against my father.
Dad shakes his head. “Well, because I am your father. And whatever I say, you do.” The darkness is back in his stare, threatening to engulf me. I look away and notice Myah’s face. She’s still smiling at me.
“No. The door is just behind me. Please leave now.”
Chris starts to adjust his suit. Then, he reaches for his phone and types something. Next, he lifts it up to me.
“I’m not sure that you understand where you stand, my child.” He shows me all my bank accounts and that he controls all of them. My brother warned me of this. Chris can freeze them anytime he wants.
I bit the insides of my cheek, my courage faltering. How is he still doing this? How does he get access to all of my accounts? If he freezes everything, I will have nothing. And he believes that it will make me crawl back into his control. And the scariest fact is I may.
“I’ll go,” I start, caving in, “but I need to get a babysitter for Myah first.”
Myah suddenly stands up and drags me to the kitchen. I’m starting to wonder who the adult is between us in this situation.
“Why are you letting that big jerk control you?” Myah snaps loudly. I think she means for my father to know what she feels about him.
I sigh. “I don’t know how he does it, but he always worms his way into my bank accounts. And now, he’s threatening me that he’ll freeze them.” And I need the money to get away from him, I add in my head.
