Car Key

As she took another scoop of food on her lips, she suddenly felt the eyes of her father. She lifted her head to stare at him before her gaze switched to the man by his side. 

"On the other hand, I can just ask the driver to drive me to the company." She turns her head back to her father. "Dad, I don't need to come with Shawn. We can just meet there at the office," I retorted after a long while. 

It was a good thing that she realized that she could actually say the words she wanted to say despite the doubts and fear forming onto the back of my head. 

Who knows if he might get infuriated by her refusal.

"Are you sure?" 

Ericka felt relieved when she noticed the reaction on her father's face. It was a good thing that it didn't bother him that she chose to refuse the offer of hitching a ride with that bastard. For one thing, it could be awkward for the two of them, and two, she just finds him weirdly annoying to a point that she'd like to avoid him no matter what.

A smile flashes through her lips before finally answering her dad.

"Yes, don't worry about me," she reassured. "I'm not going to run away or anything," she added which immediately brought a frown through the old man's face.

Wait, what is that reaction for? Did she say something wrong?

She immediately felt her heart racing as she noticed the reaction on her father's face. It seems like he is disappointed or something that makes her feel uneasy. 

"Dear, I didn't mean to sound like I wanted Shawn to guard you 'til you get to the company. I trust you a lot," her father corrected, which brought surprise on her face. "In fact, if you want to use your own car or order the latest models of vehicle you want, you can always put the bill on me," he added, which made her surprised yet again.

"No need to buy a new car, Dad. I can just use my old car," she replied immediately, refusing the kind offer. It was just shocking and sudden that she couldn't help but shake her head.

Just as they were talking among themselves, the chair suddenly screeches from the other side of the room and Shawn stands up from the table, his hand on top of the table as he pushes the chair back to its place.

"See you at the company," Shawn then said to which her father responded. 

"You're already done?" the old man said to the man. He turned his gaze towards him and nonchalantly nodded his head. 

"Yes, Uncle. I'll get going," he added, fixing the attire he was wearing. 

"Take care, Shawn and drive safely," her father said and with that, the man nodded his head as he left the words, "I will, Uncle."

Before he finally exits the dining area, his eyes manage to turn around to look at her one last time and immediately, once their eyes meet, she glared at him and roughly gazed somewhere else, ignoring him.

"Ericka, what happened?" Once the man left the room, the door closing, her attention switched back to her father with a worried look on his face. Just staring at those eyes that seem so caring makes her heart melt immediately.

"What do you mean, Dad?" she replied dumbfoundedly. She has no idea what her father is referring to.

"I'm talking about you and Shawn, my child. Why do I feel like you hate Shawn? Is there something wrong? Do you want to tell me anything, dear?" he asked one after the other, which made her eyebrows twitch.

It was unknown to her why her father is concerned of her relationship with Shawn but she made sure not to ask anymore.

She exiled a sigh before she talked. "It's nothing, please just ignore it," she said then took a glass of water near her food. 

"I'm not in the mood to talk about him," she added before drinking. This conversation was making her thirsty for some reason. 

The old man only shrugged his shoulders as an answer and continued eating his food on the table. As he scoops the food towards his mouth, the sound of utensils clatters through the four corners of the room.

After a short while, she couldn't help but break the silence looming around the place. 

“Dad, are you not going to the company?” she asked, lifting her head a little to look at him. 

He stopped himself from eating and then turned towards his direction to her before he replied. 

"No dear, it's been a few months now. I can just work from home," he explained. "Besides, my secretary can just come here if he ever needs me to sign anything related to the company," he added. "Lastly, you will take over my position someday so letting the employees see you often will help you engage with them."

Ericka's eyes widened from the words her father said. 

"Are you serious, Dad?" she said, still unable to believe what she was hearing. "Isn't it too much that I have no prior experience at all? I might just take the company to its doom if I take over it!" she retorted, disagreeing with her father's words.

She just couldn't help it. What if she makes a mistake that will cause the company a big strike? It might make her father unhappy and most of the employees unable to work. She could make the company loaded with debt with her inexperience.

"Don't worry, my child. Shawn is there to help you." Hearing those words didn't reassure her at all. For one, she despises the man all the way to her guts and two, why does it always have to be him? 

She couldn't help but clasped the utensils in her hand. 

"Why is it always that man?" She wanted to blurt out those words but she managed to keep it all to herself.

Biting her lips and unable to refuse her father's words, she just nodded her head as a response. She doesn't want to stress her father too much just because of what she wanted to ask. 

Once she had her coffee after a long while, she took the last sip of the drink and got up from the table. It was now time for her to leave. 

Just as she lifts her head to turn around and face her father, she notices him staring right at her. "Alright, I have to get going, Dad," she said and then walked straight to his direction. She gives him a peck on the forehead before a gaping smile flashes through his lips.

"Take care my dear and drive safely," the man whispered. 

Ericka only nodded her head. "Yes, Dad, I will." And with that, she was finally walking when she heard her father's voice. 

"Go get your car key to your Nanny Maria," he said that made her turn around curiously. 

She turned around, her forehead knitted into a thin line. Why would someone else hold her car keys?