4.
On Daddy's desk was a twelve-inch meatball sub with cheese and onions, a Mr. Pibb and cookie. God it was good to be the daughter of the colonel. I planted my less the happy butt on the couch in his office and began to inhale the sandwich as if I had not eaten in days, weeks even! While I ate said sandwich I could hear Daddy outside speaking with people.
It was amazing, I was a grown woman, pregnant with my own child and I still looked up to the man, who wasn't even my biological father, as my father. Which was the exact reason why I wouldn't marry Charles. Which was probably nonsense, he would be an amazing father no matter what our living arrangements were, but in my crazy head I couldn't see him being a good father if we were married, just like my fathers.
The office door opened and Ryan informed Charles, "When I'm done."
"Well when will that be?"
Before he closed the door he informed my boyfriend, "Don't you worry about Victoria. I'll make sure she is safe."
The door was closed and in came Colonel Ryan, Colonel Daddy. With me face stuffed full of food and Mr. Pibb close by my side he waited until I was finished eating, knowing how difficult it was for me to eat and talk. So he pulled a chair from in front of his desk and sat down across from me. When I was finished and had some Mr. Pibb and asked, "How are you feeling?"
"Pregnant," I hissed which made him smile.
He then handed me the two same pictures that Charles had faxed me. I wiped my fingers clean and took them.
"This was the man you had the restraining order taken out on?"
I nodded, "Yeah. It wasn't re-issued though since he hasn't bothered me since I had it taken out. He didn't fight it or anything."
"I wouldn't expect him to. Where did he first approach you?"
God, now I had to think. I rubbed my neck and looked around the impressive office. "School. He caught me after class one day. Asked me out…so I went out with him once…maybe twice, until I realized he was more interested in you and your exploits. After that I broke it off with him and he got weird. Went into total stalk mode. So I took him to court…he never showed, but the judge issued the order."
Thoughts raced through my dad's eyes.
He then showed me the other picture and I shook my head, "No."
I sipped more soda.
"You were living in the same apartment? With Sarah?"
I nodded and then paused, "I should call Sarah."
"You should call Sarah. I'll be right back." At that he stood and kissed the top of my head. I watched him walk out and then I grabbed my cookie. Smelled my cookie, which was far too sweet. The hormones did not like the smell of said cookie.
The office door opened and I pulled my feet up underneath me. Grabbed my purse and dug around for my phone. I needed to warn Sarah. Expecting to see dad come in with another question or comment, I was pleasantly surprised to see Charles.
"You're going to get in trouble," I sang, flipping my cell phone open and typing up a message to text to Sarah. Her phone was permanently attached to her hip.
"Bite me," he sang back, plopping down beside me. He kissed my stomach and then my lips while I attempted to get a message done. Which wasn't working very well so I pushed him back for a moment. "I have to send Sarah a message, so be calm Romeo."
His chin fell on my shoulder and his eyes watched me text.
Once the message was sent I looked at him, "Didn't my dad tell you to vamoose? I'm pretty sure I'm safe here in this building, of all buildings." The look he gave me worked like charm. Like it had the first time we met. I let the phone drop in my lap, "What?"
He shook his head and kissed my cheek. Then he began, "You know, if we…"
"We're not getting married."
Charles was not amused and I didn't care. "Victoria."
"No, this is not up for discussion."
"Look…"
I glared at him, "If you keep bothering me I'm going to stay with dad. I'll even give him strict orders not to let you in the house." At that his eyes narrowed. He could narrow them at me all night long. If he thought he could intimidate me just because he was one of the Army's most elite Special Force Operators, he was sadly mistaken. So sadly mistaken! "You're being impossible," he spat.
"Then you should have dated a groupie but you didn't," I snapped back, reaching for my soda. He quickly grabbed it from me. "I didn't want to date anymore groupies. And if I remember correctly you came onto me."
I reached for my soda but he wouldn't give it to me. Bastard. "I did not, and what were you doing in a Officers Lounge to begin with?"
There was silence and I grabbed my drink back. As I untwisted the cap and took a long sip. Only to hear, "Should you be drinking soda this late? Especially pregnant? That can't be good for my child."
Oh my God that was enough! I stood up, capped the bottle, and threw it at him. He was driving me up the wall and I was going to kill someone. I could probably get off on a hormonally imbalanced insanity defense. I grabbed my purse and got up, storming toward the door.
Charles was at my heels, "Victoria, Colonel Ryan said…" I turned and belted him with my purse. Then hissed in a dangerously low voice, "Don't talk to me right now. Now is so not the time to be talking to me at all. Or I will kill you with these here bare hands."
The office door opened and my father strolled in. Papers in hand and guards behind him. At the sight of Charles he sighed, but closed the door. Without looking at him he looked to me, "I want you to go to my house and get some sleep. These two men will go with you and stay there until I get off."
"I can go with Victoria," Charles spoke up.
"No Grey, I need you here for the moment.
In an act of utter maturity I stuck my tongue out at him, then kissed my father and stormed from the office.
