"Where have you been?!" He asked sternly.
"I've been waiting here for hours. Are you frolicking around, Natasha?!" He stood, every statement of his laced with anger.
At first, her lips were glued to each other. The words simply couldn't form. To start with, she wasn't expecting him to be around. He had completely caught her off guard.
"Natasha, I'm talking to you" He stated and that's when she knew she had to say something and afterwards, escape. 23rd September was certainly filled with so much troubles.
"Dad you could have called. I had no idea that you've been here" She avoided his gaze bending down to remove her shoes, hoping that was enough distraction. But nothing could confound a pumped up testosterone.
"I placed Alpha in your care but all you do is waste time on irrelevant things? Your negligence has resulted in a scandal you can't handle!"
"I had somewhere to go to. It was important and I'm already handling the issue with Evolve" She replied, with so much desire to disappear from his presence but she knew better than walking out.
"Samantha told me everything...you went to see the same man I've told you to stay away from." He further accused.
"I'm flabbergasted...Dad I'm old enough to make my decisions. Why else did you make me CEO if you think I'm still a baby?" Natasha rolled her eyes.
"What have you seen? What do you know about life? I still counsel you concerning the company. What do you know about relationships? Marraige?" Her father asked ticking off his fingers with each question.
"What annoys me is that after my candid advice, you're still seeing that bum. I trust you were the one who paid her bills!"
"That's simply not fair. She has a health insurance!" Natasha defended.
"There are better things to focus on, my dear...For example, Alpha. I do not want you running around with some blue-collar vagrant. We can't afford another scandal." Her father matched her tone.
"Dad is that all you think about? Alpha? Kingsley is..." She tried explaining.
"There we go again" He replied cutting her off as he walked towards her.
"Kingsley is NOT..." He shook his head negatively as he held her shoulders.
"Please I need some rest" She wriggled out of his grip, tears clouding her eyes.
"This is too much for me to handle" She whispered, picking her shoes and stomping up the stairs.
"Princess, listen to me. What about Williams? He's a perfect match" Mr Barnett stated behind her.
Natasha didn't look back. She wondered what her father saw in him. Though Williams was the one who oversaw the UK branch, the brain behind signing some major deals that brought promotion and growth to the company, yet, that wasn't a prerequisite for marriage.
Once, at their annual dinner the previous year, she tried engaging in a conversation with him to see where it was going to lead. Truthfully, he was successful and highly intelligent just like her father claimed but she also noticed something else...
He walked around with an air of pride like he owned the place. Some people mistook it for confidence but to Natasha, it was plain arrogance.
As she removed her clothing, her phone beeped. It was a message from Katie asking if she had gotten home. She hissed and headed into the shower immediately.
A maid came in afterwards with her dinner, served in plates.
"What is your name?" Natasha asked, noting her face was unfamiliar.
"Cynthia" The young girl stammered, hoping she wouldn't be asked to pack her bags.
"Is my daughter around?"
"Yes ma'am. She's in a discussion with the Chairman"
"Call Samantha on your way out"
"Alright ma'am" The girl replied and bolted immediately.
"Who is the lady that just served me?" She asked as Samantha made her way in.
"You fired Mercy two weeks ago and told us to get a replacement"
Natasha nodded and started eating. For some reasons, the food at Evening Heavens wasn't tasty.
To provide further distraction, she flipped through some movies. As none was offering any comfort, she immediately went to bed.
Early the next morning at 8, Natasha walked into Alpha, apprehensive and uncertain.
Luckily there were no reporters present to crawl on her skin and for that she was grateful.
Immediately she headed for the exclusive elevator to her office, hiding behind her smiles, the real thoughts that clouded her mind.
She hadn't yet recovered from the discussion she had with her Katie and her father the previous night. It still lingered, presenting scenarios she clearly wished to avoid. Now that she recalled it as she took the short walk to her office, she felt nothing but irritation.
"How could he recommend Williams of all people?!" She asked out loud as Ruth rushed in alongside with her, looking apprehensive.
"What's wrong, ma'am?" The latter inquired with concern.
"Nothing to bother about. What do we have this morning?" Natasha plastered a smile on her face as Ruth dropped her coffee.
"The meeting with Evolve at 10am"
"I'm prepared for that" She replied taking a sip of her mocha latte.
"A brunch with Alpha higher ups by 12.." Ruth continued.
Natasha choked on her drink, stupefied.
"Oh no! Who planned that? I wasn't informed" She asked with raised brows.