SLEEPING NEXT TO A STRANGER

NINA.

"Hey Bryan, your phone is going crazy again," I muttered to myself, rolling my eyes and brushing through my damp hair.

“Don’t snoop around my phone!” He snapped from the bathroom and I reared back, offended as he rushed out to grab it. “I wasn’t even.” I said with a frown as he thumbed through it then sighed in relief before turning it off.

He turned to me apologetically and said, “Sorry.” Brushing my hair back, he asked, “Are you okay? You look down.”

I hesitated. "Yeah… just thinking."

"You’re too quiet," he said, kissing my shoulder. "Talk to me."

"It’s Mom," I said finally. "I’ve been thinking about her."

His brows furrowed. "Your mom? It’s been, what, years, right?"

I frowned at his tone. "Yeah. But sometimes it hits like it just happened. Audrey was so little, she barely remembers her. I had to step up. For her and for Dad. He nearly lost it when Mom died."

Bryan met my eyes in the mirror, wary and awkward. "You never talk about this."

"Because it still hurts," I whispered. "We barely got through it. We just managed to stitch ourselves together. And Dad buried himself in D'Atelier."

"But look where it is, right? Hell, I’m employed there, babe."

"Yeah. He built it from scratch and all. It’s huge now. One of the biggest fashion names in the region. Blah blah blah But…" How would I put this into words?

Bryan sighed, already sounding tired by the conversation. "Well, your dad remarried, didn’t he?"

"Carla," I said, almost spitting the name. "And she brought along her daughter, Susan. They’re... a lot."

Something flickered in his eyes. "Well, he’s not lonely, at least. You should be happy for him.'"

I scoffed, whipping around to face him. "They’re pretentious and fake, Bryan. They walk around like they’re royalty.” I sighed. “But as you said, if they make Dad happy, what can I say?"

"Hmm. Must be hard." He hummed, almost nonchalantly.

I frowned but shrugged it off. "You get used to it. I focus on work, on the business now. And it’s easy cause I love it. Fashion is in my blood. It’s the one thing Dad and I really share."

He tugged on my hair a little. "You’re…strong, Nina. Cut this shit out." The words felt a little awkward rolling off his tongue. Bryan wasn’t really a words of affirmation guy.

I let out a hollow laugh. "Am I? Because now he’s dying, Bryan. Cancer. Terminal."

His arms tightened around me, and it was silent for a long moment. Then he whispered, "You never told me that." His voice sounded genuinely shocked.

"He only told me last week. He’s got maybe a year and a half left. He wanted me to keep it secret, you know. So the family wouldn’t worry."

He turned me to face him, eyes wide. Something calculating ran behind his eyes. "Why didn’t you say anything sooner?"

"I didn’t know how to. I’m still processing it. And he made me promise. I’m breaking my promise to him for you." I grabbed his hand. “You can’t tell anyone, Bryan.”

He took a breath and nodded. "But…you’ve got to talk to him, Nina. About us."

"I know."

"When?"

"I don’t know yet." I whispered.

Bryan stepped back, frustration flickering across his face as all are wiped off his face. "You can’t keep putting it off."

"I won’t," I said quickly. "I promise."

He glanced at the clock. "I’ve got to run. But we’ll talk later?"

"Yeah."

He hesitated, then said, “Don’t disappoint me.” Then he hurriedly dressed and left.

I stood there, alone, and took a deep breath. No more breaking down. I had an engagement to announce.

---

The elevator bell rang as I reached the top floor of the D'Atelier office building. The personal receptionist, Esme, glanced up from her desk and smiled.

"Good afternoon, Miss Davies."

"Afternoon, Esme." I shifted the food bag in my hand. "Is my father in?"

She nodded. "He just came back from a meeting."

I thanked her and headed to his office, lightly knocking on the door before I heard his comforting voice say, "Come in."

Swinging the door open, I entered, surrounded by the comforting scent of leather and fine cologne. Dad's office was modern but comfortable—dark wood desks, bookshelves packed with business journals and biographies, a large window giving a stunning view of the city skyline.

Dad stood leaning against one of the bookshelves, squinting down at a book through his reading glasses. He looked up when I approached and smiled weakly.

"Hey, sweetheart."

"Hey, Dad." I leaned forward and pecked him on the cheek before crossing over to his desk, putting the bag of food on it. "I brought lunch." I stated and brought out my phone, quickly shooting a text to Bryan.

He chuckled as he followed me. "You cooked?"

I unwrapped the food containers, smirking. "Yeah. I thought you could use a good meal."

Dad sat down and took a bite. "Hmm. Do you want something? Name your price. "

I swallowed. "Actually… yeah, I do."

He stopped chewing in mid-air, his eyebrow going up. "Okay. What is it?"

Before I could answer, there was a knock at the door.

“Come on in," I said, my eyes still on Dad.

The door opened, and Bryan walked in.

I had just time enough to turn around and watch Dad gradually set down his plate, his chewing suspending itself. His glance flashed from Bryan to me, suspicion spreading across his face.

"What's going on here?" he asked warily.

I stepped over to the side beside Bryan, holding his hand. I held it up so that Dad could see my engagement ring.

"I'm getting married," I said, my tone firm. "To Bryan."

There was silence.Then, "This is not funny." Dad's tone was blank, his face impassive.

I frowned. "It's not a joke, Dad."

He turned to Bryan, his jaw tightening. "Do you work here?"

Bryan swallowed. "Yes, sir. I'm a driver. But most of all, I love your daughter. More than anything."

Dad stared at him for a whole minute, searching for something. Bryan squirmed under his gaze but did not retreat.

Then Dad breathed in deeply and turned to me, his jaw clenched.

"You will not marry him."

My heart sank. "Dad…"

“No," he said sternly. "No means no, Nina."

The hardness in his voice left me shocked and speechless. Dad turned to Bryan coolly and said, “You’re dismissed. Leave.”

Bryan bristled next to me before letting out a breath through his nose. Without saying another word, he turned and left, his movements stiff.

I stood there watching him go, a lump forming in my throat.

Then I turned to Dad, my voice hardly above a whisper.

"Is this how much you hate me?” I rasped quietly in horror and heartbreak.