Chapter 6

Jessica's POV.

“Jessica, you better watch your mouth!” my father barked.

I ignored him, eyes pinned on the wench like they were . “If you had any manners of your own, you wouldn't have turned my father against us.” I snapped, rising to my feet. 

For many years, my father was not the man I knew. He looked at me and acted like I was a complete stranger.

When I was younger and asked for my college tuition from him, even after he left us, he kicked me out.

Instead, he spent his money on her daughter, Mina. 

What was worse was that Mina was not his biological daughter. He was taking care of another man's daughter while his children were left to fend for themselves.

And he expected respect from me. Lies!

I too had shut him out. He stopped being my father a long time ago. The man standing before me now was like any other ordinary man right there.

“Honey, do you hear what she's saying?! How can you just stand there and let her speak to me that way!”

My father jumped to his feet like the puppet he was. 

“You will accord my wife respect or I will punish you. Say sorry now!” He thundered.

I bit down on my lower lip and looked away, that most had angered him enough.

Before I could blink again, a hand flew across my face. It was unexpected, I staggered from my chair and fell backwards.

“Rafel, it hasn't come to this!” Uncle Tony yelled from the other side of the hall. He hurried towards me, while he walked, my mother got off her chair.

“How dare you touch my daughter?! Have you gone insane?!”

“She deserved it.” Elena mocked, laughing. I was almost blinded with anger.

Losing my temper completely, I got up from my chair, picked up some dishes and then started throwing them at my father. 

No. He didn't deserve to be called my father.

No. I threw the dishes at him. The monster who picked a woman over his daughters and his wife. 

Their clothes were stained and I smirked when I noticed him shooting daggers at me.

“Why… you little—” father tried to hit me again but Uncle Tony caught him before he could swing at me again.

“Enough of this!”

“You're such a horrible child. What kind of a daughter attacks her own father?” Elena mocked.

Aunt Janice and my mother pulled me to their sides.

“You started this so don't act innocent. Couldn't you get through the evening without asking for trouble?” My mother said,

“I can't believe I have a daughter like you.” My father spat on the concrete floor before me.

I rolled my eyes to the pack of my head. We were even now. I couldn't believe how much splashes of liquid drinks they had stained on their dresses.

They deserved it.

I was almost applauding myself but my heart sank when I realized Alex was still here witnessing all the drama my family was causing.

I wish he wasn't there.

I wished he wasn't there to see how fucked up my family was.

I was starting to feel embarrassed so I whispered to my mother. “Mommy, I have to leave.”

I didn't ask her to ask me questions when I snatched my purse and bursted through the gates.

The bitter chilly wind assaulted me immediately as I walked outside. 

My family was still in there, arguing and I didn't want to go back there so I wrapped my hands around myself and kept standing by the sidewalk, waiting for any empty taxi to board.

Half an hour passed and I still couldn't find one.

By then my cheeks started to burn and tears formed in my eyes.

I blinked rapidly, fighting them back along with the thought of breaking down to sob so publicly.

I did not regret what I did tonight– no, I wasn't going to be intimidated by my father's family.

Memories of Elena yelling and her daughter scratching in the air flashed in my head. I liked that I put them in their places but I couldn't help but feel sad about it.

A part of me wished everything was back to normal before my father left.

I wished my family was different and my life was better.

At that moment, a tear dropped to the floor. I sniffled like a baby, wiping gently at my eyes and cheeks.

My feet started to hurt from standing in heels for so long. 

I thought to myself, when was life ever going to end?

After minutes of waiting, I pushed my thoughts away and started to walk, hoping to find a taxi down the road when suddenly, a car halted beside me.

The car window lowered and when I poked my eyes through to have a look, I saw him.

Mr Alex.

I frowned.

“Get in.” He ordered.

Get in? Why?

I bit down on my lips to seem tough, I wasn't back in the company, I didn't need to take orders from him.

And even if I wanted to, how could I after what my family and I displayed at the birthday party.

“It's not going to be easy to get a cab from here and from the looks of things, no one will be coming out of that hall for a while.” he insisted.

I sighed, flared my nose higher and kept walking. I expected him to leave.

But he didn't, his car rolled slowly behind me.

Seriously? What did it take to have this guy disappear?

“As much as I would say it's none of my business and let you walk back home, I'm only saving you. It's been said on the news that eight murders have been committed along this vicinity and the murderer is yet to be found. He targets young women walking on lonely paths. Just like you are right now.”

Fear shot at the back of my throat immediately. I remained calm, but my eyebrows ached in horror.

“Are you getting in or not?”

And when I didn't respond fast enough, he offered a polite smile and sped off.

“Oh no!”

I should have gotten into his car.

I should have swallowed my pride and not acted like a proud billy, especially when I didn't have a car of my own!

My life was miserable but that didn't mean I wanted to die, I still liked waking up to a beautiful morning sun and my favorite chocolate slice cake.

Oh goodness!

Just before the turn on the hill, I watched his car abruptly stop. He paused for a while and began rolling back towards me again, then he stopped when he could see my full expression.

He didn't have to say a word this time. I dashed to the passenger's seat of the car, slammed the door and hastily grabbed the seat belt.

I chose not to look at his face, I was sure he was smirking at my desperation. I didn't care.

“Where are you headed?” He said in a low tone.

“123 Hardington Street, PA.” I answered. 

He inputted my address and started along the GPS route.

The drive on our way was as quiet as a graveyard.

I placed my hand on my cheek again after it started to sting again from the slap my father gave me.

I couldn't believe his wench told him to hit his daughter and he did.

The car stopped in front of a familiar building before I could think deeper about my father and his shenanigans.

“Thank you, Mr Alex.” I said to him with a practiced smile as I gently unwrapped the belt and opened the door.

He smiled back. “You're welcome. I wouldn't want one of my employees dying when we still have a lot of work to do.”

My jaw clenched painfully.

Couldn't he just be polite about helping me and not make a nonchalant joke out of it?

“You don't have to worry.” I said after I got onto my sidewalk. “I plan on living the best of my life for the remaining years I have on earth. You should too!” I slammed the door in his face and walked away.

He sped off quickly, even before I could reach my front door.

So uncultured and so annoying.

Yet he was so handsome.

I exhaled when I got into my apartment. Finally, peace and quiet but I couldn't stop myself from thinking.

Why have a handsome face with such a mean personality?