I want to see my dad!

6

Mia's POV

As Mommy knelt in front of me, she tucked a stray curl behind my ear, her fingers lingering on my cheek. “Be a good girl today, Mia,” she said softly, her eyes filled with a mix of love and worry.

 I could tell she was trying to be strong for me, just like I was trying to be strong for her. She kissed my forehead and gave me one last squeeze before standing up.

“Don’t worry, Mommy,” I replied with a smile that I hoped looked reassuring. “I’ll be just fine.”

 I watched as she walked back to the car, her gaze lingering on me until I disappeared into the kindergarten building.

 I knew she was concerned, but I didn’t want her to be. I wanted to show her that I could handle things, that I could be just as strong as she was.

Once inside the classroom, my thoughts drifted back to the plan I’d been forming ever since I overheard Mommy and Auntie Sarah talking about Ryan Ray.

Ryan Ray. Daddy. My heart fluttered at the thought. Could he really be my dad? Mommy never talked about him, and I could see the sadness in her eyes whenever she thought I wasn’t looking.

 But if Ryan Ray was my dad, maybe—just maybe—things could be different. Maybe he could help us, and we wouldn’t have to struggle so much.

I sat through the morning classes, barely paying attention to anything the teacher said. My mind was on one thing and one thing only—finding out more about Ryan Ray. At recess, while everyone else was playing outside, I stayed back and approached Mrs. Hanson, my teacher.

“Mrs. Hanson,” I started, trying to sound as casual as possible, “do you know anything about the Ray Consortium?”

She looked at me, a little surprised by my question. “Why do you ask, Mia?”

I bit my lip, thinking of a good reason. “I heard my mom talking about it, and I got curious.”

Mrs. Hanson nodded, seeming to accept my explanation. “The Ray Consortium is a very large and powerful company, Mia. It’s run by some very important people.”

Important people. I knew that already, but hearing it from Mrs. Hanson made it feel more real. I thanked her and went back to my seat, my mind racing. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I needed to meet Ryan Ray. I had to know if he was really my dad.

After lunch, while the other kids were busy with their activities, I made up my mind. I couldn’t wait any longer. I had to go see him today.

I asked Mrs. Hanson if I could go to the bathroom. She smiled and nodded, and I quickly made my way to the bathroom at the end of the hall. But I wasn’t planning on coming back.

My heart pounded as I pushed open the small bathroom window, glancing around nervously to make sure no one saw me. I wriggled my way through the opening, my hands gripping the window frame as I squeezed through. 

My heart raced with excitement and fear, but I didn’t let that stop me. I dropped down onto the grass below, landing with a soft thud. For a moment, I crouched there, holding my breath and listening for any sounds of someone coming after me. But everything was quiet.

Feeling a surge of victory, I darted toward the front gate, staying low and out of sight. Once I was on the sidewalk, I stood up straight and tried to look like any other kid on their way home from school. My heart was still pounding, but I felt a rush of excitement. I was really doing this.

I flagged down a taxi, my small hand waving high in the air. The driver, a kind-looking man with gray hair, pulled over and rolled down the window.

“Where to, little lady?” he asked, his voice friendly.

“Ray Consortium headquarters, please,” I said, trying to sound as grown-up as possible.

The driver raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by my request. “That’s a big place for someone your size. You sure that’s where you want to go?”

I nodded firmly. “Yes, sir. I need to see someone.”

He chuckled, but I could see the curiosity in his eyes. “Alright, hop in.”

I climbed into the backseat, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement. As the taxi sped toward the city, I stared out the window, my mind racing with thoughts of what I would say when I finally met Ryan Ray. Would he recognize me? Would he be happy to see me? The questions tumbled through my mind, making it hard to sit still.

When we pulled up in front of the tall, shiny building, my heart skipped a beat. The Ray Consortium headquarters towered above me, its glass windows reflecting the bright afternoon sun. I swallowed hard, suddenly feeling very small and unsure. But I couldn’t back down now.

I handed the driver the fare I’d carefully counted out from my piggy bank earlier that morning. He looked at the money, then at me, with a slight frown. “Are you sure you’re okay, kiddo? You don’t look like you should be out here on your own.”

I forced a smile, trying to hide my nerves. “I’m fine, thank you.” I climbed out of the taxi, my legs trembling slightly as I stood on the sidewalk.

As the taxi drove away, I took a deep breath and marched up to the front doors. The building was even more intimidating up close, but I squared my shoulders and walked inside.

The lobby was huge, with marble floors and high ceilings that made my footsteps echo as I crossed the room. My stomach twisted in knots as I approached the front desk. The receptionist, a tall woman with perfectly styled hair, looked down at me with a puzzled expression.

“Hello there,” she said, her voice kind but curious. “Can I help you?”

I nodded, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’m here to see Mr. Ryan Ray. He’s my dad.”

Her eyes widened in surprise, and I could see her trying to figure out if I was serious. “Oh, um, do you have an appointment?”

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “But he’ll want to see me. I’m his daughter.”

The receptionist blinked, clearly unsure of how to respond. She glanced around, probably hoping someone else would take over, but no one came. She leaned down slightly, lowering her voice. “Sweetie, I’m not sure I can just let you see Mr. Ray without an appointment.”

My frustration bubbled up inside me. Didn’t she understand how important this was? “You have to let me see him! If you do

n’t, I’ll tell him you were mean to me, and then you’ll be in big trouble!”