Exposed Obsession

EW

ab

irs," my father's

of me. My father doesn't know it yet, but it's my first day of work. While most fathers would be

. My mother passed away when I was a teenager, which is why he can be so overbearing at ti

weetheart," Ir

le my father's assistant, Padgett Myer, stands at my father's side with a thick cigar rolled in his fingers. He offers me a k

alt and pepper hair that is combed back with too much grease. "Padgett just told me we have a clear schedule for

throbbing with pins and needles. "Well, there was s

me even while we're sitting. His presence is always thick and loomin

hing okay,

out, breathless already. "I ac

ut of the room at once. He shuts the double doors on his way out, leaving th

I should have a job, Father. It's important for me, too, because I want to have

nally leans back and forces a position of relaxation, I exhale, watching his hefty tobacc

des, you have friends from your school years," he claims with a nonchalant shrug of

I groan. "I want to be normal. I want

im but ultimately shakes his

excited grin. "It's at this beautiful hote

ument. "I will not have my daughter bartending in downtown New Orleans. I refuse to allow it. It's

"You aren't working in th

also how hard he denied my request. Having a job is typical for girls my age, bu

nown since my mother died. Whether he agrees to it or not, I'm going

till in a state of shock, while he comes to my side and flicks his cigar ash onto the edge of his desk. H

in a few weeks," he says, straightening up to take another inha

ere. "I will probably just m

sual. I feel a small pang of guilt already for lying to him, but his reacti

rs through my

Padgett asks from somewhere behi

r the rug and pretend he never asked in the first place. Either way, I know that I

. Your father has rea

gainst the doorframe. "It's a waitressing job at an upsc