Daddy's girl is back

The following morning, Dulce woke up with a splitting headache and the sun rays shining brightly upon her face. She placed her hands over her face, blocking out its rays the best she could. 

“The hell” she cursed as she sat upright on the bed. She looked around her, seeing that she was in an unfamiliar environment as she tried to pinpoint where she was. 

She tilted her head as she couldn't seem to remember anything from last night. Looking beside her, her hands flew to her mouth as she saw that there was a mysterious man lying on the bed beside her.

Thankfully, he was still asleep. She thought. She could proceed now with her grand escape. But what had happened? 

Dulce looked down at her body and gasped as she saw herself partly naked.

“Are you for real, Dulce Florencia?”. She scolded herself while tugging her hair. She just wished the ground could open up and swallow her. 

First, let's leave here. She thought as she stood up from the bed, searching fervently her clothes.

She couldn't quite remember what she came in with, but she knew that any female-like dress she saw was hers unless they'd encountered a threesome last night. “We didn't, right?”. Dulce said, questioning her thoughts. 

She wasn't sure what she was capable of anymore. She'd always known that it was unlike her to sleep with a random stranger, but now, she couldn't be further from the truth. 

Picking up the red gown from the floor-which she wasn't sure was even hers as she saw how short it was- Dulce quickly changed into it, searching around to make sure she wasn't missing anything before taking her leave.

When she'd stepped out of the building, Dulce looked back to see where she'd just come out from and as per her worst nightmare, she'd confirmed that she had actually slept with a random stranger in a motel. 

Swept around with embarrassment, Dulce quickly hailed for a cab as she headed straight home. When she'd arrived, Dulce paid the cab driver as she made her way into her house. 

On walking in, she saw her father, Theodore, and her stepmother, Karina in a heated conversation. 

“I'm home”. Dulce said, grabbing their attention. 

'You!”  Theodore cried out loud with wide eyes as he made his way towards Dulce spanking her. “Where have you been since?”

“Father, it hurts”. Dulce cried, caressing her arms. She turned to face Karina for support, as her father always listened to her. “Please stop father”.

But before Karina could speak up to stop Theodore, he'd spoken up.” As it should!”. He barked, “Do you know worried I was? I called you nonstop, but you never picked up. Not even once!”

Dulce quirked her brow, confused. “You called me?”. Did she leave her phone back at the motel? She thought.

“No, she didn't have anything of her belongings on her back in motel, and it was more frustrating as she could only remember being saved by a stranger man and taking her to a club for a drink to cool down before going home, and why didn't she take a look at the man again before secretly leaving the motel?” She cussed silently.

Karina had stood close to Theodore, trying to calm him down. “Your blood pressure will rise at this rate”. She said, doing her best to calm her husband as a loving second wife. 

When Theodore seemed to have calm down, Karina turned to face Dulce. “You know just how much your father loves you, don't you? He and I were worried sick about you, and you weren't picking up either.” She wiped her cheeks as tears, she didn't know were falling, rolled down freely.” Can you imagine how we must have felt?”

Dulce moved to hug her father and Karina. “I'm really sorry for scaring you both”. Refraining from them, she said. “About my phone, I can't remember much, but I think I lost it” 

“You lost your phone?”. Theodore repeated not believing her words wholeheartedly. Could it have been stolen? He thought.  

“Yes”. Dulce said. “I know you must have questions, father, but I just want to go to my room and rest. Could you please let me?”

“But…” Theodore started, but Karina had interrupted him. 

“Let her be now, Theo”. Karina said. “Dulce is home now, isn't she?”. 

Theodore nodded his head. “You're right”. He turned to face Dulce. “You may go up to your room now” 

“Thank you, father”. Dulce said, placing a soft peck on his cheeks and on Karina's too. 

As Karina watched Dulce retreating back, she knew Theodore wouldn't be at rest until he was sure that Dulce was alright, so she'd decided to go check on her. 

Karina rapped twice lightly on the door before walking In. She plunged herself down on the bed beside Dulce. “Do you want to at least tell me where you were? It will be between us” 

Dulce let out a deep sigh. “That's the problem, Karina. I can't even remember what happened last night. This morning, I just found myself in a-”. Dulce kept shut. She didn't know how Karina would view her after finding out that she had slept with a stranger. 

“In a?”. Karina probed as Dulce chuckled awkwardly.  

“In Gezelle's house. You know Gezelle, right? My best friend” 

“Ah”. Karina said, nodding her head in realization. “Anyway, should I get you anything? Ice tea? Water?”  

Dulce nodded her head. “Water is fine”. Karina nodded her head as she stood up from the bed, about to leave when Dulce called her back. “Karina?”

“Yes, sweetie?”

“Thank you. For everything” she said with a smile as Karina flashed her best smile at her. 

“No swear love. What are families for?”. With that said, Karina left Dulce's room as she went outside the house verandah. 

When she'd confirmed that she was out of ear shot, she brought out her phone, and dailed someone's number, angrily waiting for the receiver to pick up.  

After the third ring, the receiver picked up as she immediately gave her an earful. 

“What happened? Did you change your mind and get her back?”. Karina questioned harshly. 

On the other hand, of the receiver, Gezelle, Dulce's best friend, puffed heavily on her cigarette. “Say actual words I can understand, lady”

“Dulce. She's here at home rather than to the men we sold her off too”

Startled, Gezelle jumped up with a start.” What do you mean, 'she's at home'?"

“I meant exactly what you think it means”. Karina sift her hands through her hair.