Our Sick Inheritance (editing)

Chapter 5 - Game On

"You're up late Daddy, especially for someone who only sleeps a few hours a day." Anna noticed.

"Oh, I sleep more than that now, since age had demanded it to be so." Colin replied in a proper tone making Anna giggle.

"Daddy, you aren't even old enough to make that statement yet. I just didn't know you were here. Our trip isn't set until next week." Anna said and smiled.

"Do you not want me to be here?" Colin asked suspiciously causing Anna's face to flush again. She laughed nervously.

"Daddy, please don't be mean. I'm pleasantly surprised. I wish you would come home more often. I just thought our communication was better." Anna smiled throwing out the guilt card as she flipped her cloth napkin out to lay on her lap.

"I thought you were going to be gone for another week. You usually hold weekend competitions." Anna stated innocently enough.

"Nope, not this weekend. I needed a break. I got in early this morning and had such a long drive that I was a lump of drooling mush once I hit the pillow. I slept in much longer than I wanted to." Colin busied himself with his napkin, avoiding her stare.

"I truly have missed you. I am glad you are home. I just wish you would have said something. I like to know what is going on, just as much as you do." Anna said then was angry that she could have used her father as an excuse to get out of Bryce's party tonight.

Christine brought their lunch of salmon salad and sandwiches of tender shredded steaks with melted cheese over mushrooms. Their genius chef Caesar took great care with seasoning the meal perfectly. They ate in silence as words weren't yet necessary, even if they had the self-control to stop eating to speak.

After a polite proper belch, Colin studied his daughter. Anna smiled but it felt like fairies were tearing at her insides trying to find a way out. The thought that her father might have come home early because she was out drinking was starting to squeeze the air out of her lungs. Anna cleared her throat trying to breathe deeper but not be obvious about it. She had woken up this morning glad she had a week for the bruise on her face to heal before she saw her father again. Now she was doing everything she could not to let panic take over. Anna was frustrated that she had to be on alert constantly, so he wouldn't notice or ask about it.

Anna was only seventeen and her Dad had rules with severe punishments. Her appetite suddenly lessoned. If it weren't for the delicious aromas she would have pushed back her plate. Sweat threated to form on her forehead. Anna tried to remain calm and focus on her food which now felt like cotton in her dry mouth. Colin watched Anna try to swallow her food down with water and almost choked.

"How was your week?" Colin asked staring straight at her while he sipped his tea.

"Uneventful really, as I spent a long week reworking my columns on my web page. I have a much stronger following because I've been listing fashion shows that are going on in our region. It is amazing how quickly people need information." Anna said. Colin laughed.

"The photos of Harmony are finished and perfect as always. We've hooked up with a modeling agency that is getting us in touch with local designers and stores for Harmony to model the clothes. We have a team of twelve girls now. This way, people get to see what is in for the season. It's cool because Harmony and the girls get exposure for modeling contracts, and I get recognition for the pictures so that my online magazine hooks them in. I've also just put in a section for people's opinions and ideas so people could interact. I wish you would look at it Daddy, I am proud of it." Anna said with a shine like the Devil's in her eyes. She knew she was talking fast but couldn't help it.

"Actually, I have. I look at it every few days. In all my resorts, people are encouraged to check it out. Those posters you and Harmony designed are still up in the lobbies. Bored little girls who would rather hang out by the fireplaces than ski in the cold snow usually spend time on their laptops. They order hot chocolates and feel grown up. Many have found it informative and interesting according to the survey you have listed on your site. I think it is more than an excuse to play online during work hours but even the staff have taken interest."

"Thank you so much Daddy, I love you. That makes me so happy!" Anna smiled excited that her father recognized what she was doing and noticed her progress to success. She wanted him to take her seriously.

She was going to be eighteen soon and wanted to travel for fashion. Anna hadn't yet told him her plans because she had to have a full game plan first. Besides, she knew her plans to move was going to upset him. Anna talked non-stop about what she had been working on mostly to avoid bringing up Friday night. It was wonderful to have her father respond thoughtfully with business ideas.

"Well that sounds excellent Anna. I am proud at what you've accomplished. I barely could get around the computer, thank God for assistants." Colin flashed a beautiful perfect smile which quickly encouraged one back from Anna.

"What have you been up to Daddy? How is business?" Anna asked to figure out why her father was a week early.

"Oh, well there have been some changes. There are going to be changes here as well." Colin said before he shoved his mouth full of the brownie topped with ice cream that Christine replaced his half empty lunch plate with. Anna filled her own mouth with the sweet flavor of Chef Caesar's magic touch from her own serving.

"That reminds me Daddy, the security cameras were off last night on the whole back side of the house."

"I'll be sure to check on that and make sure the timer wasn't played with by accident like the heat sometimes is." Colin spoke quickly.

"Ok, good. I like to feel safe and if there is a way to keep them on permanently, I think we should do that." Anna replied digging into her own dish.

"As you wish, but why were you checking security cameras in the first place?"

"I try to do things to help Christine out and it seems there is stuff missing from the house which I can't exactly point out, but it feels and looks different. I know redesigning is going on in your resorts, but are we going to get stuff from them as well?" Anna glanced at her father but continued without his answer.

"I just want to make sure stuff isn't leaving the house without permission." Anna said to avoid telling him she was swinging in the dark of the early morning hours to cool off the heat of her face from being assaulted.

"Well, how very generous of you, but I am sure Christine would be well-aware if things were missing without her permission Anna. Stuff is being moved around yes, everything needs a fresh look." Colin replied before filling his mouth and taking time to enjoy his food.

"Ok. The strange thing is Daddy, I've asked Christine about when stuff was coming to the house as replacements, but she claims to know nothing. She said she would keep a closer eye on information. I'm worried about her. It seems she is really distracted lately for it is hard to sit her down for a real conversation." Anna said watching her father eat.

Colin's neck started to redden that reached up to his face. Anna was right, she knew something was going on that she wasn't being told.

"Well if you want to be paranoid I'm all for it." Colin said.

She watched her father's face for any sign that he had heard anything about her drama at the club last night. Nate being home scared Anna because he could have easily been spying on her. It wouldn't be the first time he had spied on her at a bar, for which she was much too young to be at. Her stomach tightened at the thought. Anna quickly mentally ran through the pictures she might have taken on her phone and wondered if Nate had been in any of them. She couldn't recall.

It wasn't often she was able to go anywhere alone unless she was skiing on the close mountains or down with Nate in California. If Nate told Daddy she was at a bar, she wouldn't be able to go anywhere alone again. There was no way she was going to let Nate in on her private meetings, especially if his witch of a girlfriend Kayleen knew anything about it. She'd never get a boyfriend. Anna just hoped she had gotten home before everyone else. After being slapped by her date's girlfriend, she wasn't in the mood to continue the night. Ryan left immediately to most likely make up with his girlfriend. Anna felt so humiliated.

"Here is a penny for your thoughts Anna." Colin said after he had been watching her expressions while chewing slowly.