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"Alexa, we need to talk "

Urgh! Not again! 

I brush past him with a nonchalant expression and head straight to my room. "no we don't."

"Yes we do! "he grabs my arm to keep me from walking away.

I turn around with a grunt and pull my arms out of his. "what do you want Andrew? "he winced, as if I'd clawed his hands away. 

He's dark brown eyes stare at me with some sort of expression that i can't decipher. He digs his hand into his messy black curls and ruffles them. "have dinner with me. "

My eyes went bulging out of their sockets. The only time we had ever had dinner together was when i was seven. His family came over and had dinner with us. And if my memory serves right, then i remember he and mum ended up in a full blown fight after they were gone, with me crawled up behind my room door bawling my eyes out, because i just wouldn't understand why mummy and daddy won't stop screaming at each other. 

A sudden anger began to build up inside me. "I've already had dinner. "

He accesses me from head to toe for a while before speaking and his eyebrows carve in a deep frown, with another unreadable expression flash in his eyes. If i didn't know better, I'll say.... Concern. 

"No you haven't " before i could open my mouth to deny it he begins taking again. "i know because i know you Alexa, you may think i don't but i do.... "

"You don't... "

"You used to have a lot of life in you, but now you've lost a lot of weight, you look hollow and you're always wearing a scowl on your face except when that kid is around. "

I felt stunned. He was speaking with so much sincerity and seriousness it almost made it feel like he had been paying attention to me.

"You've probably worked yourself out and even forget to have dinner, you always do that. "his frown deepens. 

"Don't act like you care now! "i snap. 

A pained expression passes his face. "i do Alexa. Believe me i do. "

Those words only spike up the anger in me and i can't stay here and listen to his shit anymore. 

"Look! I've just had a really long day and i don't have time for this Andrew" i say hoping to end the conversation and turn back to walk away again but he grabs my arm. 

"Have dinner with me Alex "he said staring into the depths of my eyes. His brown ones pleading and begging me not to walk out on him again, this time. 

I huff out a breath giving in and pull my hand away then walk over to the kitchen. I hear him let out a sigh of relief as i scan my surroundings. 

It's just as its always been. White walls like the rest of the house with an arrangement of red cupboards above the kitchen slab where mum's little special waffle maker still lay with signs that say 'i haven't been used in a really long time and need some serious cleaning.'

I smile at the thought. Mum used to make waffles almost every day for breakfast, always forcing about three down my throat and rap a few to go with before i leave with Kyle in his old truck for school. And they were amazing, but i didn't fancy it much and especially hated carrying a lunch box every day but Kyle was always there to down it for me. Now i find myself regretting those moments, regretting not eating those waffles and savoring the taste like i should have because now I'll never get to taste them again. 

She was an excellent baker with a new recipe for cakes and sweets every day. I remember coming home to the sweet smell of strawberries and banana flavoring every day, i became addicted and couldn't go a day without having at least three of her wonders. 

The thought brought my gaze to the huge multi purpose oven by the left side of the extra spacious kitchen. I felt a tear trying to drip down my eyes so i quickly blinked it away. 

The place smells of shrimps and curry. I then noticed the still steaming pot on the burner. 

Turning my gaze to Andrew who had been watching me intently, i lift a brow. 

"I cooked "he answers my silent question and I'm quite shocked but don't say anything and just take a seat at one of the slab stools. 

In a few seconds i have a stemming plate of fried rice and shrimps in front of me with Andrew at the opposite side purring two glasses of... 

"Wine? "he asks handing me a glance. 

I look at him with a lifted brow. The first and last time i ever consumed alcohol, it didn't end well for me. I ended up having a drunken kiss which led to a relationship i thought was the best thing i ever had, and then woke up with a splitting headache and my bathroom smelling like a baby's diaper.

"It's fruity and zero alcohol "he smiles and i take it. Sipping a little bit of it. It tastes like grapes, i like it. 

After a few spoons of the surprisingly good rice and a whole glass of wine, i finally decided to melt down the growing awkward silence between us. 

My day just keeps getting more awkward. 

"So what did you want to talk about? "i ask. Whatever it is, it's something big and important for him to go all out and wait for me to get back and make me dinner. "surely it wasn't just to eat and down expensive wine was it? "

His expression changes from the calculative one he was having before to something darker. "i don't need to have a reason to do something like this for you Alexa, you're my daughter"

"But you do! "i point out ignoring the last remark. 

He sighs not bothering to deny it. 

"I don't like that you keep working late out at night like this, especially in a bar. "

He's statement caught me off guard. The anger I've been burning inside for this man spikes up again. 

He doesn't like? How dare he tell me what he likes and doesn't? 

"You don't like? "the anger evident in my voice. 

"No "he states with a straight face. 

"Maybe we haven't been clear about something Andrew, but I'll have you know, i never asked for your permission and I'm not asking! "

"It's dangerous Alexa. Young girls shouldn't be walking alone at night "his voice cool and void of any emotion. 

"That. Is. None. Of. Your. Business. "i spell out slowly for him with an accusing finger pointing at his face. 

"It very much is. What kind of father would i be to let my daughter staying out like that? "

Father? 

Daughter? 

A dry and bitter laugh escapes my mouth and i shake my head furiously as i stand up for my seat "daughter? "i scoff "a few years ago i was the daughter of a whore who fucked some random shithead right? "i yell 

He swallowed hard. 

I was nearly on the brink of tears. again. Memories of the same man yelling at mum and calling her a gold digging whore flashed through my head. Memories of this man hitting and slapping the woman he swore to love and cherish, telling her to go and find the father of her bastard child. Blaming her of sleeping with someone else and stringing him down when she found out she was pregnant. That same man sitting before me and claiming to be my father. 

"Alex --"

"A few years ago you didn't have a daughter right? " hot tears pull down my eyes and i hate it. I hate that he has to see that this affects me so much. Memories of my small child hood self trying to get daddy's attention only to have him shut me up and send me away wondering why daddy hates me so much. Memories of my childhood self watching other kids showing off their amazing dads, teaching them how to ride the bicycle and giving them hump back rides and having nothing to show for myself, wishing some day daddy would stop being so cold to me. 

I angrily wipe the tears off my eyes. "you're worthless Andrew! "i state "i don't know why you are trying but you are not! and would never be my father! " i stump out the room heading for mine. 

"Alexa! "he calls grabbing my arm again for the third time this night. 

"Don't touch me! "i scream and slap his hands off mine. 

"Listen to me... "

"No you listen! "i hold up a hand to his face. "i don't ever want to see you again. I don't ever want to hear your voice again, and i don't ever want you butting into my shit again! "I'm breathing hard "the best thing you could do right now, is carry your dusty ass and go home to your sluty gold digging girlfriend !"

With that i storm out, not bothering to register the slightly mad, slightly shocked expression on his face. 

Of course he'll be shocked! 

He had no idea i know he's been seeing that girl. 

What was her name again... Brittany Raies. Sleeping with a man twice her age, I've always had my suspicions about her from the first time i set eyes on her. Sure she's pretty and has the face of innocence, but i know better, what other reason would she want to be with Andrew for except to rub him off his fortune. 

And the fact that right after mum died, after he killed her, he went right back to whoring around, not that he ever stopped, and finding himself a new lover. A girl that's just three years older than me. It makes me mad, it makes me hate him even more. Not to mention he is too high up his horse to even mention a word of it to me.