CHAPTER 1.
Sheila.
I stood in front of my parent's house after exiting the Uber I took there, a melancholic feeling washing over me as I stared up at it.
I was thirty minutes late for dinner but that was on purpose. I wanted to delay any impending talks with my father until after dinner.
Sighing deeply, I eased into the house for the first time in eleven months and made my way to the dining table, following the clanking of cutlery on expensive china plates.
Immediately the dining table came into view, my little brother stood up so fast his chair almost toppled over.
"Sit down, Lincoln. You'll have time to talk to your sister after dinner," my father's voice boomed and the dejected look on my brother's face as he sat back in his chair squeezed my chest.
I smiled at him, my gaze lingering on him a little before I looked around, finding my mother next. She smiled up at me, tears springing in her eyes and I knew she wanted to launch herself at me as well, but she was keeping it together better than my younger brother.
Smiling back at her, my gaze moved to my father but the man ignored me. I made my way to an empty seat and that's when I saw the last occupant of the table. I don't know how I didn't notice him until now, because his presence was intimidating.
I stopped in my tracks as I wasn't expecting anyone else at the table apart from family. His eyes raked over my body and I blushed. He smirked as he stood up and extended his hand to me, "Dylan Knight."
I almost groaned out loud when he spoke. His voice was all male, deep and authoritative.
"Sheila Keith," I replied as I shook his hands. I took a plate and served my own food before taking the empty seat opposite him.
Arrogant. That was the first word that came to mind as I observed Dylan Knight as he spoke with my father.
Handsome. The second word that came to mind as I took in his muscular figure that filled in the blue Italian suit he wore. My eyes traveled upwards to his thick neck that was sadly hidden by the collar of his white shirt and the blue tie that was professionally knotted in place.
Blue. The same color of his eyes. Eyes that seemed icy with a layer of anger. The corner of his eyes were rimmed red. Was that as a result of sleepless nights or was it alcohol? Deciding not to dwell too long on that, my eyes trailed down to the next target.
His lips. Full red lips that moved as he spoke. I should be listening to his conversation with my father, instead I found myself distracted by the fine specimen in front of me.
"Miss Keith, do I have sauce on the corner of my mouth?" I watched as his lips stretched into a smile. Why does his smile look so sexy?
That was when my brain registered the question he asked. Wait, what? I forced my gaze upwards to his eyes and found them focused on me. Shit.
He held my gaze for a while before he smirked at me and leaned back into his chair. I quickly glanced at the remaining occupants at the table, hoping no one else heard the question.
It was wishful thinking as everyone was already staring at me. My mother's mouth was set in a thin line and I could almost hear her scolding me in her head, "Is that what I taught you, Sheila?"
My father's face was disapproving as he took me in, but then, when has he ever approved of anything I did?
The only person that seemed to find it funny was Lincoln, who was trying to cover his smile with his hand.
Groaning inwardly, I reprimanded myself. Way to go, Sheila.
"I believe I asked a question, Miss Keith."
I blushed from the embarrassment as I glanced back at the man I was eyeing just a few seconds ago. The little smirk still playing at the corner of his mouth told me he was pulling my legs.
He knew he didn't have sauce on the corner of his mouth and he definitely knew that I was checking him out. He had caught me right in the act.
I knew I needed to say something before he asked the question again, but my father beat me to it. "Forgive her, Mr Knight. It seems like she has forgotten her manners from the time she spent away from home."
How dare he? He had no right to speak about my time spent away from home. He didn't know what I have had to go through, what I'm still going through, just to survive.
Resentment coiled inside of me, ready to strike at any moment but I hurriedly stood up. "Excuse me, I need to use the restroom." I tried to sound pleasant as I spoke and I stormed off before anyone could say anything.
Slamming the door to the restroom behind me, I leaned on the sink and tried to regulate my breathing and stop the angry tears now rolling down my cheeks.
I thought my father had changed, even just a little. I thought he wanted to amend our relationship, but if this was the way he chose to go about it, then I think I'm better off on my own.
What am I even doing here? I thought as I splashed water on my face, my mind recounting what had happened today.
***
I had just gotten to my floral store in downtown Boston this morning when my father's call came in. I almost ignored it. Almost.
Unlike my mother who called me everyday and even FaceTimed me at least twice a week, my father and I had never spoken since he disowned me eleven months ago. I haven't been to my parents' house since then either.
"Sheila, we're having dinner by 7 tonight. I want you to be around." That was all he said before hanging up. He didn't even wait to hear my response.
My mouth was still ajar and my hands a little shaky when I walked into my office and started setting up for the day, waiting for the only employee I had–who happened to be my best friend–to walk through the door so I could rant.
I didn't wait too long because she entered some minutes later with her bubbly personality and two cups of coffee in her hands. Nora was a little taller than me with a body of a model and long strawberry blond hair.
Handing me a cup, she asked, "How was your night, She?"
"It was good," I replied curtly, my mind still on my father's call.
She suddenly narrowed her eyes as she took me in. "What's wrong with you? I can tell there's something going on in your head. You didn't even groan at your nickname today."
Her statement made me groan and we both laughed. I had hated the nickname right from the beginning and I groaned the first time she called me 'She'.
I think the fact that I hated it made her like it and it stuck. Even though I was starting to get used to the name, I still groaned whenever she called me She.
"My father called me today," I sighed as I told her.
"And is this a good or bad thing?" She asked cautiously. She knew talking about my family was a sore topic for me and she was the only person in the world that knew just how much I resented my father for disowning me.
"He wanted me to swing by tonight. Said they're having dinner and he wants me there."
"And do you want to go?" I didn't even realize I was shaking until she came closer to where I was standing and hugged me.
I pressed my face against her shoulder as silent sobs escaped my lips. She didn't say anything, just patted my back as she held me to her.
"I want to go, but at the same time I don't." She sighed and I knew she understood. That was one thing about Nora, I didn't need to talk about my conflicting feelings to her because she knew exactly how I felt.
***
My thoughts were interrupted by the knock on the door and I quickly wiped my face and hands, staring at my red eyes in the mirror as I sighed.
There was no way I could magically make them white, so I just shrugged and opened the door.
I was expecting to see my mother standing on the other side but I was shocked when I saw Dylan Knight casually leaning on the doorframe with his hands shoved casually in his pockets.
He turned to face me and we didn't say a word as we stared at each other. I made to step out for him to use the restroom but he pushed inside at that exact moment, making me step backwards to give him space.
He closed the door behind him and leaned against it, trapping me inside the restroom.
"What are you doing?" I asked. My mouth was dry at his closeness and I stepped backwards to give myself some breathing space.
"I wanted to check on you. You've been gone for quite a while and I just wanted to make sure you're okay, considering it was all my fault."
My eyes were wide in shock when he spoke. A handsome Greek god that knows how to apologize? Wow.
"Well, that's just one reason why I came. The other one is, your father wants to speak to us in his study."
My face was scrunched in confusion then. "My father asked you to come get me? You?"
I didn't know what Dylan Knight was doing at our house but I assumed he had some business with my father. But somehow, he didn't look like someone my father could order around.
I looked to see Dylan shifting uncomfortably on his feet, his hands rubbing the back of his neck. That was definitely a sight to behold.
"Actually, he sent your younger brother but I didn't want you to think of me as an asshole, so I offered to come and get you so I would be able to apologize first."
I nodded my head at his explanation, before gesturing to the door behind him. "Shall we?"
He nodded, peeling himself from the door as he opened it and gestured for me to go through. A gentleman as well.
I rushed through the door, taking gulps of air as soon as I escaped the enclosed space. My heart was thumping loudly as we walked to my father's study together.
Not good, Sheila. This is definitely not good for my poor heart.