Chapter 20
1150 Words
"I'm glad you remember, Charlotte." He laughed with his perfectly flushed lips.
He was clad in a flannel-print suit, with slick-back hair. Suddenly, I felt overwhelmed and underdressed.
I was only wearing blue jeans, a shirt and a pair of sneakers. And oh, count on the flannel around my waist. I didn't even bother straightening out my hair. I just pulled it in a ponytail. At least you put on make-up.
I thought since it was outdoors and farm-themed, what I’m wearing was appropriate.
"Yeah, me too," I looked everywhere except his intimidating stares. He always looked like he was better than me. His towering glance didn’t help, either.
"What are you doing here, anyway?"
He smiled sickly sweetly. "Oh, my mom's throwing this big party."
So his mom owns the company my dad is working for? I think I'm going to ask Daddy to resign very soon.
"Is that so?"
"Yeah, I even helped with all those preparations."
"I didn't know your family owned this company."
"That's because we don't, darling. My wife's the event planner. The company belongs to my wife's friend," another voice joined the conversation. Then I realized that it was the same man daddy was talking to.
"I'm Junior Hastings, Kenny's father." He stuck out his hand for a handshake and I took it. But it took me a moment for all this to sink in.
"You're Harry Smith's daughter, right?"
"Umm, yes. My name's Charlotte—Charlotte Smith."
"Kenny, do you mind if I talk to your friend here for a moment?"
Kenny left with a deathly stare lingering on us. What's his problem?
"Is Kenny troubling you in any way, Charlotte?" He asked when Kenny was out of earshot.
"Not that much, Mr. Hastings." I stifled a giggle. Even his dad was against him.
He chuckled. "That's good to hear."
He went silent for a while and we stood there awkwardly. Then he spoke again. "Listen, kiddo, I didn't come here to chat about Kenny."
I gave him a confused look.
He sighed.
"Your father's a very good friend of mine. We work on the same floor," he chuckled. "Charlotte, your father's a hardworking man and we, at the company, all know that. But there's this one little problem with him."
I felt intrigued but at the same time indignant. Here he was telling me about how good my father is, and he still has a problem with him.
"He's too good," I was left gaping at his words. I was preparing myself to hit this man, then suddenly, out of nowhere, he complimented dad again. "He's getting a promotion on Monday. He doesn't know it and I'd like to keep it that way."
"Then why did you tell me?" I gave him an 'are-you-serious' look.
"He's going to New York as soon as he's informed of his new position. We have our main branch there. Also, I need you and your mother to—"
"Hold on, are you sending my dad away for Christmas?" The 'hit him' feeling is back in my guts.
"No, not until Christmas. Just a couple of days. But he will be based in New Year when work officially resumes."
"Sir, I don't wanna break your heart, but my dad's not working in New York," I told him, finality in my voice.
"Charlotte, this is a huge opportunity for your father. His work is very convincing. He'd do good in NY." Mr. Hastings tried convincing me.
But I don't have any of them.
I walked back to my father, who was talking to some of his colleagues. And even if he was in the middle of a conversation, I hugged him and buried myself in his chest, sniffling.
"Sweetie, what's the matter?"
"Daddy, promise me you won't ever leave us," I muttered, but it didn't come out clearly.
So, instead, he ignored what I said. "You want to go home, sweetheart?"
I shook my head and composed myself. I don't want to ruin this day for dad. I'll just have to suck it up and forget about Junior Hastings. Dad would never leave us for some work.
"Dad, do you want to dance some more?" I offered.
I'm not the best dancer, but dancing is fun, especially when you do it with someone with the same lack of dancing skills as you. Like my dad.
"Charlotte, you're still not tired from all the dancing we did?"
I didn't answer him and responded by pulling him to the dancefloor. A cowboy song was on and I pulled all my weirdest stunts. Dad laughed at me and started dancing some crazy s**t as well. I got all this weirdness from him.
"Sweetie, weren't you getting us drinks?" Dad asked in the middle of a Little Mix song. Who knew dad's company liked funky music?
"Oh yeah, I left it on the table," I shrugged. "Never mind those, dads."
"Hm, Charlotte, I'm parched. Do you mind getting me a drink, baby?"
I nodded even if I didn't want to leave his side. I never know when a certain hosting might come out of nowhere.
I got dad juice and rushed to where he was. He waved at me and I smiled back. But of course, everything doesn't end well.
Kenny's face took me by surprise, which caused the drink to spill a little on my arms. Darn it.
"Charlotte, hey!" She grinned at me and took one of the drinks.
"Kenny, hey," I faked a smile. "It's nice seeing you again, but I've got to go." I walked away, leaving him in a state of shock.
"Charlotte! Wait, wait, wait," he called after me.
I'm so not in the mood for your face, Hastings.
"I'm sorry if I called you stupid the other day." What? But he didn't call me stupid.
"Or was it lazy? I don't know. But I'm sure it's one of the two," he smiled sheepishly, and I felt even more insulted than I had been the other day. The nerve of this guy.
I took a long breath and shut my eyes closed for a moment before facing him again. He looked drunk. He was holding a glass of wine and there was red lipstick smeared across his bottom. His cheeks were also flushing red and his eyes couldn’t focus on one thing. Did he just come from making out with someone behind a tractor? Or fall down the side of the hill? Because he sure looks like he did one of those two, if not both.
"Kenny, just forget it, okay? I don't care." I dismissed him as I leaped to my dad's side. I can't wait to go home and be miles away from anyone named Hastings.
"That was pretty strange," dad commented as he sipped his juice. "That was a Hastings, wasn't it?"
I nodded. "He’s a pest."
"And so is his father."
- Writer
