Daddy looks up at his boss, who nods.
"Come into my office once you're done with the tour," Ethan says.
When Ethan and Conrad finally leave us alone, I turn to my Daddy. He towers over me, and I have to look up at him, but I don't mind. I like being at his chest level. It means I'll get the best cuddles.
He's staring at me like I'm a ghost from his past. In a way, I am. But I don't want him to see me as someone from his past. I want him to see me as his future.
"Should we start?" I ask.
"Yes. Yes, of course."
He glances around, as if only now realizing where he is. I like this unnerved version of him. Only because I'm the one making him feel like this.
The first floor has changed since I last saw it three years ago. Black tiles trimmed in gold, crimson couches, handcrafted wooden tables, and light that glitter like stars. The bar is a work of art, glossy black streaked with veins of gold. I can't wait to work there.
"So," Daddy clears his throat, "this is the main floor. It's where most of our members come for a drink or a dance."
"I like the colors. Dark, mysterious, and passionate."
"Yes. They're nice. Follow me. We'll go to… um, the next place."
Oh, how I'll enjoy this.
The BDSM paradise of the Vicious Vines.
I wonder if Daddy has ever used anything here. He'd better not. I'll have to ask Ethan later.
Daddy leads me down a dim corridor that I know leads to the second floor. But he stops halfway and turns to me.
I don't like the pained look in his eyes. Not one bit.
"What's wrong?" I ask.
He ruffles his perfectly styled hair and sighs. "I just… I can't believe you're here."
"I hope that means you're happy to see me." My voice stays calm, but inside, my heart is racing.
I never imagined my Daddy wouldn't be happy to see me.
My face falls, and I look down.
"Hey, I'm happy to see you." He touches my arm, and I look up. "It's just a shock. You left so suddenly, and now suddenly you're back."
I press my lips tight before they start trembling. I didn't want to leave him, but I had no choice. What matters is that now I'm here, and nothing and no one will take me away again.
"I'm sorry I left when you needed me the most," I whisper.
He shakes his head. "No. It wasn't your job to be there for me. I understand."
"Iwantedto be there. I just couldn't."
Daddy looks at me like he's searching for the truth in my silence.
"You were there," he says softly. "You kept me sane and supported me. If it wasn't for you… I don't know where I would've ended up."
I smile at him softly, but it's pained. Both of us know what that one month looked like. I hated seeing him so broken. I fucking hated it.
"Anyway," he says, clearing his throat, "let's continue our tour. I need to go see our boss after that."
