Ana's Daddy

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

I'm sitting on the hood of the car, waiting.

Donald Campbell is an older man, and he is kind and funny. My first impression of him didn't tell me that. He is like a bulldog, looks grumpy, and barks like a dog that would attack at any moment. Don is not like that; he is so kind yet suspicious. I guess by nature, he is a private investigator, after all. It's funny how most fear him, and I know he secretly enjoys it. I remember how fearful I was meeting him the first time, going to his office for a job interview. I am confident in my abilities; I have learned much from my parents. After we got to know each other better, I know it gave him pleasure to tease me for my sassy nature, and I, for him being a bulldog, all bark, no bite.

There he is in his old, beaten-up car. Just the thought of when I told him that once makes me smirk. It's like I offended him and told him his baby was ugly.

Here we are outside the college in the parking lot. In the hunt for Ana Davis. Poor woman, I don't know if she has done anything wrong or why Don needs to get hold of her or get all the information we can get. I guess it's not my job to think too hard about it. The assignment is to find her and all the info we can gather. I know that Don is not telling me every detail about this job, but I also know from working with him that he has his reasons, which are usually reasonable.

I greet him, and we walk to the school building. We go our separate ways. I have a few girls on my list to talk to. We had divided the people we were supposed to talk to. Don will be talking to a few guys from Ana's classes.

One class had just ended, and I asked the professor for the girls I needed to talk to, and I showed her the short list with four names. She pointed them all out for me. It made my job so much easier. I was about to talk to them; it looked like the four women were all friends. I see a beautiful, redheaded young woman. She is eye-catching, such a beauty. I'm not into girls, but man, she is hard not to notice. I let her go with my gaze and searched for the woman I needed to talk to, but they were gone. I looked at their schedule, and it seems they won't have a class for another 30 minutes. I walk to the cafeteria to get some coffee and cake. Maybe I can use the time to catch up with some of my schoolwork. I am behind in Mathematics, so I need coffee and cake. I hate Math. I stand in line to get my coffee; I see some chocolate. I can't help but get some and my coffee and cake. I find myself a table and pull my books out of my bag to get started.

Twenty minutes into my struggles with math, I forgot about the coffee. I looked up and took a sip of the cold coffee. It tastes horrible. A man approached my table with two cups of what looked like coffee.

"Hey, pretty angel, how about some fresh coffee?"

"Oh my God, thank you!" I'm beaming with appreciation.

"Would you mind if I take a seat?"

"Of course not. Please take a seat. Sorry for my bad manners. I'm Elinor."

"Nice meeting you. I'm Elijah, but you can call me Eli; everyone does."

"Elijah, I love your name. It's as handsome as you."

Oh god, how cheesy that sounded. I'm embarrassed. He really is handsome, and I do love the name. I am not here for a date, but he is hot.

"Thanks, babe. I love your name too. Just as stunning as you."

"It makes me sad that I have to go; I would have loved to keep talking, but how do you feel about forward girls?"

"I love them."

"Elijah, can I have your phone number? Maybe we could meet up and talk sometime."

He smiles from ear to ear and hands me a napkin but doesn't let go of my hand. He looks me in the eyes and then kisses my hand. Then, let my hand go. I have a slight blush. I had no one treat me this sweet before. All men treat me like I am their enemy because of my job.

"Thanks, how about your number?

"Babe, look at your napkin."

I am now blushing visibly. I look down at my feet in embarrassment.

"Babe, I love to make you blush it makes you look so adorable. I'd be a gentleman and will wait patiently for you to text or call. I hope to hear from you."

I leave Elijah by the table. I take two steps away, and he grabs my hand and says,

"Babe, don't forget your books."

"Thank you." That is all I manage to say.

I walk away after grabbing my books. I don't dare to look back at him. I would surely trip and fall on my face. It would make me even more flustered.

I left the cafeteria, turned right, and found a hallway with no people. There, I could breathe. It felt like I held my breath when being in Elijah's company. All in a good way; I never felt anything like this. I closed my eyes and took a few deep and calm breaths to calm my racing heart. I started to feel like my sassy self again.

I found myself outside the door to an auditorium where the girls would have their class; I decided to sit in to listen and watch the interactions. I am the last one to enter. The only available seat is next to a man with a kind expression. I'm not focused on the lecture or the professor, who happens to be a woman. I have the girls in perfect sight from my seat. I hear some of the gossip, but not all. It's about the professor, her husband, and her boyfriend. From what I can tell, it sounds like a big deal and shameful.

A guy two seats from me says,

"Baby, long time no see."

The voice gives me shivers to my core. I look, and yes, it's Elijah.

"Hi there, I didn't think I would see you so soon."

"Neither did I, but I must say I am happily surprised."

The man next to me looks at me with tons of questions written on his face. Yet he only says,

"Elijah, nice you met a friend, but some of us need to hear what the old hag is saying."

It made me gasp, mostly out of surprise. Why would he call a professor an old hag?

Elijah started to laugh and then looked at me.

"Don't worry about it. She has earned the name Hag, if not worse. I would gladly explain it. We will talk late, babe, right?"

"Sure we will."

It's all I could get out. His friend looked sour.

I would love to see him again or even talk to him.