Meet My Baby’s Daddy Again: Bittersweet Revenge.

KATELYNN

The sunset has begun to set over the horizon. Turning the once blue sky to an orange. It cast a golden hue over the tall building's wall. Mine was excluded. 

Months ago I would have said it was a beautiful sight but the past month has left me gloomy. No emotions. 

My father's death broke me. That man took a piece of me along with him to his grave. First, it was Mother now Father, was I the next in line? 

I assumed the position I had once dreaded all my life. A position that I hoped Father would stay on forever but if wishes were horses, beggars would ride. This was my punishment for the sin I committed. Father took the fall for it, at least now he is dining in heaven with Mother. I hope we all get to be together again. 

Although Luisa tries to mask her grief, I can see through the veil of her sadness. I can still remember her horrified face after the news was delivered to her about our father's demise months ago. 

 The door creaked open, shifting my attention away from the window to the door. My eyes met Richardo walking in with a pile of blue folders. 

"What are those?" I asked with knitted brows. I had just finished signing a few business proposals. Why are they more?

"Well, Good afternoon to you too, Miss President." 

I sighed, pinching my brows, "Sorry, I just have a lot on my mind." 

"I know. How are you?" He dropped the files on my table and paused. "Oh, Dear." 

He picked up my father's portrait that I had been staring at earlier. 

"Even if I resented you for always taking my best friend away from me…" He paused and chuckled, " I never hated you, that was just a joke."

I let out a small laugh.

"You should have been to lecture her ass, let me hate a little bit longer." he walked over to the shelf behind me, my eyes followed his movement, and watched him drop it safely on the wooden compartment meant for storing things. "Do you remember the first time he took you along for a business meeting?"

"As clear as day. I cried till the end of the trip. I wasted all your efforts."

"You did." He laughed, "And when you came back, you couldn't stop yapping about it."

"I did but it didn't stop. I should have been there for his last moments. What if he was scared? What if he had called out to me and I wasn't there to hold his hand?" my eyes began to well up, tears threatened to leak out of the sac. It blurred my vision.

"Don't say that. You being there wouldn't have made a difference. What about Luisa? What about me? I'm sure your dad died peacefully, knowing there he had a trusted heir. He probably died with a smile on his face."

I burst out in tears and started sobbing loudly. I felt Richardo's arms around me. Tears flowed out of my eyes controllably. 

Richardo began patting my head, "Never wish for death upon yourself. You have people counting on you. Luisa, the company, and most importantly, me." 

I laughed between sobs and stayed in his embrace till I had gotten a good hold of my emotions. 

"Sorry, I have stained your precious jacket with snort."

"Don't worry about it, darling. I can get another one but there is no other you."

"Thank you, Richardo."

"My pleasure forever, princess." He pulled away slightly. "Now if you will excuse me, your vice president has issues to attend to."

"Sure." he stood up and patted my shoulder. "Don't work late, I'm serious, don't. I will come to pick you up after I'm done with work. We party hard tonight."

"Richardo.."

"Shhh. We party hard tonight. Drown your sorrows in some fine liquor."

I sighed in defeat, "Okay, but we would leave early." 

He rolled his early, "Alright."

"Thank you." 

"You're welcome." He turned to the door and left the room. 

Adjusting my seat, I glanced at the analog watch on my wrist. The time was thirty minutes past six in the evening.

Hopefully, I will be done with this workload by eight.

Richardo returned in haste, "I forgot to relay the message. The private investigation is still ongoing, no news yet."

"Okay thank you." He nodded and left again.

No news yet?! I screamed in my head. My father was murdered, I am sure of it and the authorities are taking their taking with this case. He was a renowned citizen for crying out loud. Was it because he was killed outside the States? 

I rubbed my aching temples and focused on the pile of folders in front of me.

*****

Time stretched and contrasted and before I knew I was done with the workload. Richardo came in as he had promised on time and we both headed out to the club he had proposed. 

I didn't have time to change my work clothes because of Richardo. We arrived shortly at the nosy place and unlike the serene club back in Italy, this one was bustling. 

A loud music echoed from the surround-sound speakers in the club. There were a lot of sweaty humans everywhere, moving vigorously on the dance floor. I'm guessing this is how they do their style of dancing— rough and shallow.

No depth. 

We swam through the sea of sweaty humans to the bartender counter. My eyes caught Luisa already at the counter, gulping down drinks.

She saw me and muttered, "What?"

I shook my head and sat beside her. I was here for the same reason anyway. 

I ordered two shots of strong Vodka. Luisa was shocked by my request but didn't say anything as she watched me take the first swig.

Richardo grinned from ear to ear and applauded, I couldn't hear what he was saying because of the loud music, so I didn't bother to listen. 

The liquor burned my throat as it rolled off my tongue. It was as strong as I requested. I felt a burning sensation in my chest but I didn't budge, I needed it. I took the second swig and ordered more. 

The more I drank the liquor, the more lightheaded I felt but I didn't stop. Luisa and Richardo tried to stop me but I had gone way too deep to back out. 

As the last glass left my lips, I saw the world floating upside down. Everyone's legs were in the air. I could hear faint muffled screams and faces staring down at me but everything was a blur as the darkness crept in.