"Hi! This is Sonny. To whom am I speaking with?"
"Hey sweetie, it's your old man. Remember me?"
"Yes...hi, Dad. What do you want?"
"Why do you always think I want somethin'? Maybe I just wanted to say hi. I hate how you're always accusin' your old man of stuff."
"Dad. I'm busy. I have to go. If there isn't anything that you need then-"
"Hold up there, sugarplum. Is it your mom? She's always been such a hag with a stick up 'er ass. Pressurin' you and makin' you do all that hard shit. It ain't fair. You're a kid. You deserve to be a kid and live how you want, y'know?"
"Please don't talk about mom that way."
"Ah, fuck it. She's done her brainwashin' bullshit on you. You gotta break free, cupcake."
"Yes, dad. Alright, sure. What is it that you needed again?"
"Don't use that tone with me, Allison. I'm your old man. Show me some respect."
"Sorry, father."
"Anyways, your dad does need something, sweetie."
"What is it this time?"
"One grand, tonight. Latest, tomorrow morning."
"A thousand dollars? Why do you need so much this time?"
"Daddy's gotten himself into a bit of a pickle. Y'know. But I can rely on my little princess to help her old man out, can't I?"
"Dad. That's a lot of money. I'm not sure I can get all of it by tonight."
"Tomorrow morning, then. I need it ASAP or my neck's on the line. You don't want that, do you?"
"...No. I'll do my best."
"Of course you will, sunshine. I'll meet you at the regular place?"
"...Yes."
"You love your old man, don't you, Sonny?"
"I do, dad."
"Always, sweet cheeks?"
"Always, dad."
"I'll talk to you later, kiddo. Remember, tonight."
"Tonight. Bye, dad."
She sat quietly in her room, flipping through photo albums of her family when she was only four. It had been her mom, dad and herself. Just them, one happy family. She was smiling in all of the pictures and her parents always looked as if they emanated nothing but love. These pictures had been taken only months before her mother had taken over as CEO of a company she had basically founded. Her father had promptly lost his job and, in the face of such power from his wife, resorted to gambling and drinking as a hobby. He felt like a nothing compared to Connie Munroe, and hated himself for it. Soon, he took up drugs as well.
That was the breaking point. Connie Munroe wanted a divorce. And not only that, she wanted to isolate her daughter from his bad habits. She didn't want his influence on Sonny and was successful in receiving full custody. However, she had not been able to cut off his visitation rights and every couple of weeks, Sonny had to meet with him for two hours.
It was then that weird things started happening. The Munroe household started to receive death threats, usually aimed towards little Sonny. Ms. Munroe quickly moved with her daughter to a more modern home with greater security. She hired servants and butlers who also served as bodyguards. As Sonny grew up, though, she had to hire actual bodyguards in order to protect her daughter fully. The threats would pile up at times and dwindle out at others.
Sonny sighed, trying to bite back her tears. Although she had been so young when this happened, she remembered things well. She had loved her dad and at the time, she was confused as to why she had to part with him. Sometimes, she just wanted to go back to the simpler days.
Wiping a rebellious tear, she put away the photo album and walked over to her bedroom window, leaning lightly against the sill. She looked out at the twinkling stars and for some odd reason, it was then that her emotional dam broke loose and she was overcome with sobs. The pressure of being a perfect daughter for her mother was growing on her. Although she was happy a lot of the times, it felt like more weight was being added to the ever larger list of expectations.
And to top it all off, her dad had called earlier that afternoon asking for money again. It wasn't the first time and it most definitely wouldn't be the last. He would incur debts from his gambling, drinking and drug fests and then call her secretly in dire need of quick cash. She had started a private fund just for him, putting away money for whenever he called upon her. No one knew about it and she had to keep it that way.
Where was she going to come up with the money she needed now? She had to get one thousand dollars by the morning. She felt overwhelmed and the tears streamed down her pale cheeks.
She heard a creak at her door and had only a moment to try to compose herself before the door swung open.
"Sonny?" It was him. The one person she didn't want to have see her like this. Her eyes felt puffy and she knew she looked like a mess. The new bodyguard was the farthest thing on her mind right now. "Sonny? Is everything okay?"
She managed to swallow her pride and look him straight in the eye, "Chad? What are you doing here?"
"I...felt like something was wrong. I heard something and just wanted to check in on you. Make sure everything is alright. Have you...been crying?" he said, watching her intently. She felt nervous in front of him, especially like this.
Furrowing her brow and trying her best to look natural, she said, "What, these? No no, just allergies. Pollen, you know."
"Funny, your mom didn't say anything about allergies to pollen when she was listing what you were allergic to." She watched him go over to her nightstand and take a tissue, walking back over to her and offering it. "Here you go, madam." A cocky smile graced his face.
"Th-Thanks," she stammered, taking the tissue and blowing her nose. She hated him looking at her when she felt so wretched. "You can go now."
"Why were you crying?" he asked, ignoring what she had said. "What's wrong?" He sat down across from her.
"I don't want to talk about it," she answered simply. She looked back out the window, praying he'd take the hint and just leave.
"Come on, we've known each other for awhile now. Tell me." He was being an annoying bug on the windshield of her life.
"No. Leave."
"Tell me now."
Before she knew it, she was spewing venom at him that was uncharacteristic of her. But right now, her emotions had been brewing and exploded in an uncontrollable geyser of unprecedented rage. "No. You're not my therapist, Chad. I don't need you to baby me. You don't know anything about the complexities of my life. You don't get what it's like to be me. You don't understand the pressure I'm under to be the perfect little daughter my mother needs me to be. You don't get anything. In fact, you're just paid to sit around and 'guard' me when in fact there's no danger whatsoever. I'm capable of defending myself. I don't need you." She regretted the words the second they left her hurtful lips.
She could see that she had wounded his ego. "I'm not your therapist, true. But I was trying to be your friend. Friends tell each other what's on their minds. I was only trying to help. But my apologies, ma'am, I won't overstep my boundaries again. As your bodyguard, whether you like it or not, I will be here to ensure your physical well-being." And with that, he stormed out. She stood up and slammed the door behind him, locking it quickly and leaning against it.
She couldn't believe what she had said. Those hateful words were so unexpected. It wasn't like her. Immediately, a feeling of guilt twisted up through her stomach and to her chest. For a minute, she considered opening the door and running after him, apologizing avidly. But, collecting herself, she knew she didn't have the time.
She went under her bed and pulled out a metal box. Taking out a key from a jar she also kept hidden, she unlocked the box and pulled out her money. She had saved up about $750. She needed $250 more.
Standing up, Sonny started tearing through her room. She was hoping that she might have stored money elsewhere. She flipped through some old books and found a couple of dollars. She tore through her closet, checking pockets for any cash. She uprooted just about everything, only to come up with about $50 and some change.
A feeling of panic started to consume her. She needed more - but how? Growing more desperate, she got out her jewelry box and sighed. Maybe the men who were holding her father responsible for the money would accept her necklaces and bracelets as a compromise for the last $200. It was the only way she was going to be able to come up with the money. It was her best shot.
Grabbing her least favorite pendants and accessories, she stuffed the money and the jewelry into a satin satchel. She went through her closet and pulled on her coat, grabbing her house keys and the bag, leaving quietly through her private set of stairs.
Her heart was racing as she sneaked out of the house and through the backyard, making her way to the back entrance of the estate. She crept up to the back gate and glanced at her watch. It was time.
"Dad?" she called out in a harsh whisper. "Dad, are you there?" She waited a few moments in silence. Then, she heard the soft crunch of gravel as footsteps drew closer.
"Cupcake, where are you?"
She heaved a quiet sigh and stepped closer to the gate. "I'm right here."
Within moments, she was face-to-face with her father. He was a tall man with dark brown hair like her own. She glanced up at him and gave him a small smile. Whenever she looked at him, she remembered what he had been like before the drugs and alcohol. He had been a kind, funny man who was passionate about life and incredibly intelligent. Since she was little she had secretly admired him; now it was strange seeing the man before her and knowing he wasn't the same. He was not the father she had grown up with as a little girl.
"You have the cash, sweetie?" he asked calmly.
She nodded and stuck the satchel through the gate in her tight fist. "I could only come up with $800, dad. I'm sorry. But I brought some gold jewelry and things that should make up for the last $200." She searched his face for his reaction.
"$800? I need a grand, princess. I told you that. I need the cold, hard cash. Not some cheap necklaces your mom gave you," he frowned, taking the bag and opening it up.
"It was such short notice, I-"
"Don't you love your dad, Sonny? This...it might not fly with the people I'm dealing with. This isn't good. When I tell you what I need, I mean it exactly!" he spat, shaking his head and tying up the bag again.
She furrowed her brow and bit her lip nervously. "I'm sorry, I only saved up that much. It...was just so much this time. Usually you only as for a couple hundred."
There was a low beep. "Hold it," her father coughed, taking out his phone. He turned his back to her and answered quickly. "Hello? No...I wasn't. I have $800 and some jewelry, though. I know, but it was short notice, sir. The jewelry will make up for the missing cash. Yes sir. I know. I'm sorry. Yes...of course. Thank you." He hung up and turned around again. "You're lucky, princess. My boss'll accept this. But next time, do what I tell you and give me exactly what I say." He stuffed the bag into his pocket.
Sonny looked down and nodded. "Alright. I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry next time."
She nodded again.
"Hey, come on. What's wrong kiddo?" He reached through the gate and grabbed her hand, squeezing it lightly. "Cheer up, just next time listen to me. That's all. It's okay. Smile, babe."
Sonny tiredly looked up and forced a smile. "Okay."
"You and me, kiddo?"
"You and me, dad."
"Atta girl," he grinned and released her hand. "I got to go," he said, turning and walking off.
"Will I see you soon?" she called after him.
He simply raised his hand in response and left.