literature

Corruption - Chapter Seventeen

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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Gloria came and got me out of the storm when it started to lightning. I didn’t want to go, but there was no use in staying here in the park. There was nothing for me there.

Gloria was back into her maid uniform and tending to me in my room.  When I had gotten home and saw my bed, I had suddenly felt exhausted.  I sleep for two days straight after that.

This morning when I woke up, I felt better than I had in months. I flipped the covers off of my well rested body and took a quick shower, getting dressed in a matter of seconds. I ran down stairs and almost skipped to the dining room.

My Mom and Dad were discussing something quietly in their usual spots at the table. They looked up to see me in the doorway. They both seemed very surprised to see me, but didn’t say much about it.

I sat down in the chair opposite my Mom and started to pile food onto my plate. I was starving. I hadn’t eaten anything solid for about two days.

My Dad read the news paper, obstructing my view of him. My Mom pushed her food around on her plate with her fork, occasionally looking up at me with a sad stare.

I ate as much as I could, filling my stomach with the delicious food.

My Dad got up from his chair and kissed my Mom on the head. “I should go to work. See you when I get back?”

She nodded and stood up to give him a light hug.

He looked in my direction and smiled. “I’m glad you are feeling better Candace. I’ll see you when I get back.”

I stood up and before I knew it I was speaking. “Can I come with you?”

My Mom couldn’t help but gasp. I rolled my eyes at her over dramatic reaction. Was it so hard to believe that I wanted to see my dad at work? Apparently it was…

My dad stood there frozen in his tracks, looking at me. I froze as well, not knowing what to do next. We stood staring at each other for a few moments before I broke the silence. “If you don’t want me to come that’s fine. I just thought I could see where you work.”

“Of course I want you to come.” He said a little hurt by my accusation. “I was just a little shocked, that’s all.”

I smiled brightly. “Good, let’s go.” I pushed my chair in, kissed my mom on the cheek, and followed my dad outside to the front where Charles was waiting.

Charles gave me a light hug before I went inside the limo. “Good to see you Miss Candace.”

“Good to see you too, Charles.”

Charles closed the door behind my dad and started the engine. As we pulled out of the driveway, my dad wouldn’t stop starring at me. I assumed he was trying to figure out why I was here with him today.

If I was lying to myself I would say that I wanted to spend more time with him. But that was no where near the truth. After I thought over the memory, my anger had come back. It wasn’t as strong as it was when he left, but it was still there. Even if I told myself that he didn’t do it to hurt me, nothing was going to change. I would still feel like it was me he was targeting and it was me alone that he hurt.

It seemed selfish to think like this, but this was how I felt. I did forgive him for what he had done, but I would never forget. It will always be in the back of my mind.

My dad’s voice brought me out of my thoughts. “Candace?”

I looked up at him and smiled weakly.

“Can I ask you a question?”

I nodded.

Purpose seemed to be a distant thought, hidden behind a mask of fatigue. He shifted in his seat as he thought about the question he wanted to ask me.

I waited patiently for him to ask, but inside I was writhing with anxiety. I was no more comfortable with him as he was with me.

“That night when you came back from camping…” he started, but stopped. I knew where this conversation was going and I didn’t want it to end up there.

“I know, Dad.” I reassured him.

He leaned toward me a little. “I meant every word.” He said softly.

“I know.”

“I do love you Candace.”

I inhaled deeply. This wasn’t as awkward as I thought it would be, but it was getting there. “I know Dad.”

His phone started to beep and he looked away from me, releasing me from his stare. Before me looked away, I almost said I love you too, but I couldn’t do it. I did it only a few days ago, but now that I had the memory of him leaving fresh in my mind, I couldn’t do it.

He flipped open his phone and answered it. “Hi Cliff. No…yes. I guess we could do that. I’m almost there…yes. No I don’t think…alright I guess we could do that too. But we need to…right. Ten minutes.”

He put his phone back in his pocket and watched the trees go by out the window. I stared at the TV in front of me. The screen was blank, but I wasn’t really looking at it. I was thinking.

Why had I come here? That’s right, I remember. It was to get my mind off of my old life so I could start a new one. I was done with all the heartache and every little thing getting me upset. It was time to move on and away from all the drama. Maybe I didn’t need Mike, maybe I didn’t need Aden.

Who was I kidding…of course I did. I was hopelessly lost without them both. I needed them both. If one was gone, I was sort of lopsided. It was uneven. I would have to find something to make me even again.

The car stopped and a few seconds later, the door opened. My dad got out first and waited for me on the sidewalk in front of a large building. I got out and followed my dad inside where we took a elevator up to the thirteenth floor.

My dad explained that each floor had a purpose. The first few were the kitchens and the waiting rooms. The sixth and seventh were the writing floors, and the rest were mainly different sets of some kind for shooting movie and shows.

We went down a long hallway and through a small door at the end. The eruption of noise caught me off guard. There were about twenty five men and women huddled around a table, screaming at each other. When the saw the door open, they all quieted down.

My dad calmly went over to empty chair and sat down.

Everyone was staring at me standing in the door way. My dad smiled at me and got back up again. He went to the other side of the room and got a chair. He brought it back and put it next to his. He sat back down and patted the other chair.

I went over and sat down, all the eyes still on me.

My dad saw the tension and cleared his throat. Everyone went back to their argument, pretending I wasn’t there.

I watched as my dad calmed everyone down and explained that they had a week to finalize the script so there wasn’t a big rush. If the writers wanted a day off, let them have a day off.

Once that was settled, another argument started about the first set not being done for shooting yet, or the cast has even been selected. He also reassured them that all of these problems would be solved in no time.

I watched in amazement as my dad work with the other people in the room, making plans and crossing out others. Everyone listened to him and everyone agreed with him. I had not known that he had such power. I didn’t think he was such an important man with the movie process. Now I knew I was dead wrong.

He was the person that counted the most. If this was the government he would have been the president.

Four hours went by like they were minutes, and everyone went to lunch. Only two people stayed in the large room with us; a man and a woman. They were the ones that did most of the arguing and yelling.

The man came over to me and introduced himself. “Hi, I’m Cliff. This my wife, Helen.”

I shook both of their hands. Cliff and his wife were larger people, but they looked happy. Helen had mousy brown hair and kind eyes. Cliff looked a little scruffy with his plaid shirt and ripped jeans. “I’m Candace.”

“My daughter…” my dad added in.

Cliff raised his eyebrows. “Really? She does look like Julie if you look hard enough I guess..”

I smiled at him and his wife before I got up from my chair. “Can we got and eat lunch Dad?” I didn’t want to sit around in this room all day. I felt like doing something.

He gathered his papers into his folders and stood. “I guess that would be a good idea, wouldn’t it?”

He patted my shoulder and led the way down the hall and into the elevator. Cliff and Helen followed us inside and sat with us at the table.

Helen wouldn’t stop talking about how pretty I was and how much I looked like my mom. My dad and Cliff talked business as Helen talked to me.

“So do you like it here?” she asked me for the second time.

“It’s okay. I still like Georgia though. Hometowns always seem to be better than any where else.” The first time I answered her questions, I had one word answers. Now for the second round, I answered fully. I guessed she asked again because she wanted me to talk more. That is what she got.

“And your mother is doing fine? We haven’t seen her around for awhile.”

“She’s good. Kind of grouchy sometimes, but other than that…she is doing okay.”

Helen took a large mouthful of hamburger that was on her plate. “School? Does that start soon?”

“In a few weeks.”

“Are you excited?”

“As excited as anyone would be for school to start, I guess.”

She laughed loudly at that and took another bit of her hamburger. My dad laughed too, but it wasn’t from what I said. It was from my expression. I was dead serious about what I had said and Helen laughing at me must have given me a weird expression.

I laughed too, joining in on the fun. I couldn’t help it.

Once we had all settled down, Helen went right back into her question.

“So do you have someone that is waiting for you back in Georgia?”

My face fell. She hadn’t asked this one before. My mood was brought down from escalated to depressed in a matter of two seconds. Now I didn’t want to answer any more questions.

I slumped in my seat, looking at my feet. My dad and Cliff were now listening to our conversation.

“Does that mean yes?” she asked excitedly.

I looked up at my dad to see if he was looking at me. He was. His expression was unreadable. He seemed to be a little upset by this question.

“It does mean yes!” she cheered. “How cute! So do you talk to him often?”

“There is no guy waiting for me in Georgia.” I mumbled.

Her face fell, but lit up again in a matter of seconds. “So you have a boyfriend here then? What is he like? Is he cute?”

I sunk even lower in my seat. How could this day go from best to worst in such a short time? “There is no guy.” I started glumly.

I looked up at my dad and sighed. His expression was readable now. He was confused. He thought I was with Aden. He liked Aden. He wanted me to be with Aden. Aden’s family was rich, kind, and was very noble. This was the perfect guy for me in his eyes.

Perfect guy for me in my eyes.

Helen sighed. “You are such a pretty girl! You should get a guy. It won’t be that hard, I’ll help you if you want.”

I ignored he offer and stood up from the table. “Will you excuse me for a minute?” I asked. My dad nodded, but didn’t take his eyes off of me. Now he knew why I was sick for the past two days. Now he knew what was going on with me. Oh joy.

I almost ran past the table out of the cafeteria door. I had to get away. I had to get away to calm down. Maybe I could explore the building, that right, explore the building. I sprinted down the hall and into the elevator.

When the doors closed, I pressed myself up against the back wall. My breathing was heavy from the running, but that wasn’t the only reason I was breathless. I couldn’t believe that this had happened. I came here to get away from the drama and heartbreak. It followed me every where!

I suddenly felt faint. I slumped onto the cold floor of the elevator. “I can’t believe this!” I yelled, still breathless.

Tears were forming in my eyes and I could stop them. Sobs were creeping up my throat and I couldn’t bring them to a halt. I lay on the tiled floor of the elevator and cried. I tried to stop myself but every time I tried, it got worse.

I curled up into a ball in the corner of the elevator and sobbed. I don’t know how long I was there, but it felt like an eternity.


My dad was the one that found me on the elevator floor. I had stopped crying by the time he had found me, but I was still a mess. My hair stuck to my face from my tears, my ears were blood-shot, and my whole body was shaking from the sobs that were trying to escape from my resisting body.

He helped me up and outside to the limo. Charles looked concerned when he saw me, but didn’t ask questions. My dad laid me down on the car seat and got in himself.

“You need to go to work Dad.” I grumbled, barely audible.

He didn’t answer me. I don’t know if it was because he didn’t understand or if it was because he knew I was right.

We rode home in silence, giving me unwanted thinking time. I couldn’t believe that I had broken down at my dad’s work. Even if that women brought up bad memories. They weren’t that bad. I shouldn’t have practically fainted because of them. I was just overreacting. My body had overreacted. There was no reason to just sit around and mop all day long.

I sat up slowly, my dad’s hand on my back for support. “I’m fine Dad.” I reassured him.

He shook his head. “No you’re not. You need to go home.”

“And you need to go to work.”

“Work doesn’t matter right now.”

“Yes it does.”

“Why—did that happen?”

I laughed lightly. It was too tense in the car for my liking. “It was nothing Dad.” That sounded so weak and feeble that I laughed again. He was never going to believe me.

“That has got to be the biggest lie I have ever heard. Why don’t you tell me?”

I sighed. “‘Cause it was nothing.”

“It was what Helen said.” It wasn’t a question. It was like he was telling me.

I kept quiet, trying to forget about what had just happened.

He continued. “I thought you were with Aden. If you still are I don’t get why you would lie to her. Aden is a fine boy and you shouldn’t be ashamed of him.”

Was everyone out to torture me?

“Helen doesn’t even know the boy. If you would have told her about him, I am sure she wouldn’t have stalked him or anything.”

“Dad please…” I begged.

“I was just saying that there is no shame in having a boyfriend.”

That was the last straw. “So I guess I have shame because I don’t have a boyfriend Dad!”

His eyes widened. I had answered his fears from earlier. I was telling the truth.

“What do you…?”

I scooted farther away from him on the seat and looked away. “Forget it Dad.”

“Candace…?”

“I said forget it.”

He watched me the rest of the way home, not bothering to hide it. I felt tired once again. My body felt like I hadn’t slept in days. It came on like a wave, but didn’t leave. The waves kept coming until I could hardly keep my eyes open anymore.

"I thought he was such a good man. Why did he do this to you?"

"He didn't so it to me Dad." I sighed.

"I thought I knew him." he went on.

"You don't know anything about him Dad."

"I know plenty."

"No you don't Dad."

"Fine, why don't you tell me about him then."

The had stopped and the door opened. "Why don't you go watch Buffy. Maybe you will get it then."

I got out of the car myself and told him to go back to work. He hesitated for a moment, then got back into the car and Charles drove him away.

I stumbled up the front steps and up the stairs to my bedroom. Gloria was waiting for me there with Cass in her lap. Cass jumped down and raced over to me, jumping up and down only getting a little below my hip. I scooped her up and brought her over to my bed with me.

I got under the covers with my clothes on, not bothering to change. Cass scurried underneath them as well, settling next to my stomach. Gloria watched me like a hawk, but didn’t move from her spot on the couch. Her eyes were boring into the back of my head, but I ignored them.

It wasn’t hard to fall back asleep again, knowing it would be dreamless like it had been these past few days. It was nice not thinking about anything for hours, forgetting everything that had happened. Sleeping was the best thing I had going for me right now.
So the next two chapter are going to be a little confusing to you people. Just hold on for the ride and I will explain as we go...hope you like it!
© 2008 - 2024 nighthunter098
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mirrored-disgrace's avatar
Most buildings don't have a 13th floor... superstitions and all that jazz.

And you said her "ears were bloodshot" lmfao.

Damn, I am seriously pissed atm with her being so alone... Probably because I know exactly what it's like.