PIERCE
"Rachel, we need to talk." I force my voice to stay calm as I continue watching my daughter grind against a girl, whose tattooed hands are gripping Rachel's swaying waist like she owns her.
"Uh oh, what did I do now?" she responds with a giggle. I'm glad one of us finds this funny.
"Why is there a video of you dry humping a random girl online?" The video has terrible lighting, but I don't need clarity to recognize exactly what those hands are doing under my princess's skirt.
"Oh, you mean Ashley? Dad, she is my girlfriend." This girl is the spitting image of a bad influence, with dark eyes that look too familiar.
"Since when did you start dating someone like her? I'm worried, Rachel, we all know the world isn't safe anymore."
"Dad," my princess groans like a typical teenager whose father is scared for her, "Ashley couldn't hurt a fly."
"Did she pressure you to take those pictures on your Instagram?" I hear Rachel's sharp intake of breath. I'm praying that's a sign to lock up this girl and fling the keys into the ocean.
"Oh my gosh, Dad, stop stalking me, I'm an adult now." I keep daily tabs on my angel through her friend's account I had bought. That's right, call me a helicopter dad. I don't care.
"I know you think our relationship isn't deep because I'm so young, but I love Ashley." Love? This Ashley will destroy her when she is done playing her games.
"Actually, can I ask you a favor?" I know that tone. She uses it when she wants something I wouldn't give easily.
"What is it?" I ask even as I'm looking at a picture of a blindfolded Rachel wearing nothing but a thong while someone's inked arm that resembles Ashley's covers her breasts.
"First, promise you will agree." My baby's voice turns pleading, which tells me I'm about to get screwed.
God, every cell in my body is roaring at me to fly to UCLA and bring her home.
"I haven't heard the terms yet."
"Come on, Dad, stop being a CEO for one second. It's your prinny asking for help."
I take a much needed breath to calm my raging nerves. "Fine, if it is legal and reasonable, I will consider it."
"Ashley just graduated, and I was thinking maybe she could come work for you." The same btch who nearly gave me a heart attack a minute ago? Oh, hell no.
"Hiring people," I pause as I think of ways not to upset my angel, "based on personal relationships isn't good for business."
"You promised," she whines, and I can bet she is about to start fake crying.
"I said I would consider it, and I think it is a bad idea..."
"But you don't even know how talented she is..." There is a long silence on her end of the call.
"Sweethear..." A message pops up on my screen, and I open the attachment only to see different architectural designs fill my laptop screen.
I sink back into my home office seat and let out a slow breath. These aren't amateur works, which only confirms my suspicion that this girl is using my daughter.
Rachel's voice shatters the silence. "Are you looking at Ashley's designs?"
"Yeah, these are impressive," I admit even as I struggle to force the words past the lump in my throat.
"I told you! Can you set up a meeting with her tomorrow?"
I take another breath because heaven knows I can't say no to my daughter. "Fine, but I'm treating this like any other job interview."
"Yes!" she squeals, and I can hear her feet pounding the floor in the background. "Thanks, you're the best dad ever."
Well, damn, this btch has successfully manipulated my daughter into thinking she is her soulmate.
"Rachel?"
"Yes?"
"I love you. You know that, right?" I repeat the words that I have drilled into her pretty head since she could talk.
My daughter lets out a long exhale. "Of course I know that, and you're going to love her too, I promise. Night, Dad."
"We will see about that. Goodnight, prinny," I say before hanging up the call.
I recheck the tattoo around Ashley's wrist that says "Family first." It's the same tattoo from the arm that covered Rachel's breasts.
I drag my feet to the bedroom and slip beneath the sheets next to my wife, but my eyes stay open as I cuddle her because a part of me knows the storm has only begun.
