32 — Hi, dad.

“Hi, Dad.” I say, walking out of the room, with the phone stuck to my ear, “Can you hold on a second, I'm in the kitchen…”
“Did something happen?” He asks, worried. It's unbelievable how he knows the timbre of my voice, how he's able to recognize my emotions by the way I pronounce words. It brings a warmth to my heart, to know that I'm loved in this way.
“I just want to talk…” I say, walking past the group that was probably the one talking about me. I cast a gaze over them, and they flinched, realizing they had talked too loudly… but just snort and walk to Julian's office, which I know is still empty — it's the only place I can talk openly with my dad right now.
Sitting down on the couch, I take a deep breath, “Okay… I'm in Julian's office.”
“Is Julian there?” My father asks almost disinterestedly.
“He's not here yet.” I stare at the floor, my cheeks taking on a rosy hue because my face is definitely burning. “He must be on his way.”
“Got it…” He mutters, still sounding disinterested, maybe looking at some documents because I can hear papers being flipped through.
“Are you busy right now? I can call later-”
“No, dear.” I hear a light thud; it sounds like he closed his briefcase or something, and even his voice sounds closer to the phone, “I'm here. Sorry, things are crazy because of the project.”
“Well, actually, that's the reason I'm calling…” I begin, fearfully. I'm looking at my slightly long fingernails, wondering if I should paint them, like Laura and other women in the company… “I've been thinking, maybe someone else should take over the project.”
I hold the air in my lungs when I notice that a few moments have passed, and he hasn't said anything.
“Dad, I really appreciate the opportunity. But this is a very important project… and I don't think I'm the leader this team needs.”
“Why?” My father isn't angry, at least doesn't sound like it. “You do a fantastic job, my daughter.”
“But Sarah has been here longer. Her dedication to this company is truly admirable. She's prepared for this position, not me.” I confess, throwing my head back, keeping the phone wedged between my ear and my shoulder, “I know you're trusting me, and I'm happy you put something so big into my hands, but I want everything to be perfect, Dad. I don't want a single detail to go wrong.”
“Angelee, there's no such thing as perfection.” Now his voice sounds serious, almost as if he's lecturing me, “But we can try to give as close to that as we can. And you're the hardest working, most dedicated person I know; that's why I gave you this role… because I know you could do it.”
I bite my lip, feeling a mixture of gratefulness, happiness, and apprehension.
“What does Julian think about that?”
Hearing his name escape so suddenly through my father's voice makes my heart miss a beat and speed up the next moment, so fast I feel it rise to my throat.
“H- He says he doesn't want to get involved… that I should talk to you first.”
“Typical. That sounds so much like him. Hah, honestly… if he acted a little more like my partner, maybe I wouldn't be in so much trouble.” I hear him sigh and whine, and I can imagine him putting his hand to his face, shaking his head helplessly.
“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bother you…” I mumble, immediately wilting on the couch.
“No, no, dear… You're not the problem here… It's Julian and his lack of commitment! Don't you think it's time for him to, I don't know, take a little more responsibility?”
I twist my lips together. “I think he's… pretty responsible. He does the job like nobody's.”
“He should be helping me, but he'd rather be the Project Director.”
“What should I do, then?” I ask, feeling my throat narrow, too uncomfortable to talk about Julian with my father. The fact that they're best friends, have known each other forever, shouldn't meet with the fact that I'm sleeping with Julian. Considering all these things together makes me suddenly feel fearful. “About the leadership of the project.”
“Oh, yes, of course.” My father is thoughtful for a few moments, making me even more anxious, “If you don't want to, there's not much I can do. I need to consider someone to replace you…. I'll call Julian and ask him to handle it. Since he's so committed to staying out of it, I'll make him do it…” He adds in a mischievous tone.
“Great, thanks…” I say, but my trembling lips reveal one of my biggest anxieties, the reason I wouldn't want to have to face this, “But… Aren't you disappointed in me? For giving up on the leadership of the project…?”
“Of course not.” He sighs, then his voice turns serious again, “Angelee, as your boss, I have given you a great opportunity. Many would simply take this without a second thought. Recognizing your weaknesses is also a virtue. This company isn't a jungle, and this project isn't a competition. I built a team, not a battle. And it takes a lot of courage to admit that you're incapable of something… You're prioritizing the company over your personal achievements, and as a boss, I like that.”
Here comes the *but*…
“*But* as your father, I'm worried…”
“There's nothing to worry about, Dad…. I'm fine.” I say, staring at the ceiling, now holding the phone tightly.
“I'll respect your decision, as a father and as your boss, and I'll give the leadership to someone else.” He pauses for a moment, “But it's no use asking, I won't give it to Laura.”
I give a somewhat sarcastic laugh, “Believe me, Dad… even if I were still her friend, I wouldn't ask her to be the leader. She's not qualified for that.”
… A moment more of silence makes me realize that I have ended up talking too much.
I close my eyes tightly, slapping my own forehead, running my hands up to my dark hair, messing it up.
“So something happened. I knew it… you wouldn't be avoiding me if it hadn't happened.”
“I didn't avoid you-”
“Yes, you did.” He sighs, “I'll try to come home sooner.”
“No!” I say loudly, too fast… and bite my lip afterward. Damn it, Angelee, what's wrong with you today? “You don't have to speed things up on my account, Dad. Take your time. It's okay, really…”
I see the door open, and my heart starts beating even faster.
“Julian's here, Dad! I'm hanging up, okay?”
“Angelee, wait-”
“You can't go back on your word. Call Julian!” I rest my eyes on him, who is looking back at me, confused, “I'll talk to you later.”
I hung up the cell phone, even though he was still trying to protest. My eyes are locked on Julian, who is standing in the doorway, holding the doorknob.
Julian looks back, noticing that there's probably no one around because he adds, “Missing me already?”
I give a dull smile, and as he steps into the room and closes the door, his phone rings.
Julian raises an eyebrow at me.
“Go ahead.” I encourage him, gesturing for him to take his phone out of his pocket.
He takes the phone and looks at the screen, lifting his beautiful green eyes up to me again, and a sarcastic smile breaks out on his lips. I know he's probably making some other plan to punish me — as if keeping me from satisfying this pressure on my entrance wasn't enough.
“Yes?” Julian asks as he answers the phone, his eyes locked on me. “Oh, really? She did that?”
I feel a shiver as his smile widens.
“It's okay, I can do that.” Julian says, still standing in the doorway with his eyes on me. “Does that mean I can use her?”
*U- Use me?*
“I need an assistant to help me directly with this project…. Since she doesn't want to be the leader, she may work directly under me.” Julian says slowly, making me swallow dryly and become suddenly shy. What the hell is he doing, using such a subjective tone to talk about me to my father?
“Don't worry, I'll take very good care of her.”
“Julian!” I say with indignation, yet lowly, feeling a chill in my stomach. My expression clearly says SHUT UP.
“Okay, I'll do that. Thanks, Mike.” Then he hangs up — still with his eyes on me.
I swallow dryly again.
“You naughty girl…” He starts to move closer to me, and I instinctively close my legs tightly, rubbing my knees together. “What am I supposed to do with you?”
“We're in company now.” I say with my voice almost failing, noting that the window isn't fully closed and that, if they look from the right angle, they will be able to see us properly.
Stopping in front of me, he crosses his arms, still wearing a wicked grin.
This makes me anxious and shy.
“If an extremely angry Michael didn't call me, yelling my ears off, I believe you haven't told him about how you're riding on me.”
“Can you stop talking like that?” I feel shame spreading across my probably very red cheeks. “Of course I didn't.”
I see his eyes grow more intense, and it steals the air in my lungs.
“And what's all this about an assistant, anyway?”
“You got out of leadership and was promoted to the Project Director's assistant. Are you happy?” He asks with a sarcastic smile, and I roll my eyes.
“You're an asshole.”
His laugh graces my ears, and he leans over me, taking my face in his hand, depositing a quick kiss on my lips. I push him across my chest, looking up at the window, at the part that's not covered by the curtain. “Someone could see us!”
“Maybe seeing you embarrassed is one of my new addictions.” He moves his lips down my neck, and I swallow a groan, fighting the shiver that threatens to spread through my body….
And I stand up quickly, disentangling myself from Julian's touch, which intoxicates me more than alcohol, “I need to go.”
“Go ahead and make good use of your last day as leader.” He winks at me, with a teasing smile, as he finally makes his way to the table, “After today, you'll only obey.”