Beneath His Obsession

Life is so fucking cruel. You can want so many things, dream so hard, but never get any of it. It sucks.

I never planned to live like this. I didn't choose this path, yet every single day I find myself stuck in it, again and again. Like a cycle I can't break.

When I was little, I dreamt of being so many things. I had wild illusions about the future: freedom, love, success, hell, even peace. But this? This life I'm living now? This was never part of the dream. If someone had told me back then that this is how things would turn out, I'd have laughed in their face and called them delusional.

I sigh, dragging my feet to my father's office. I don't know what he wants from me. Today was supposed to be my off day, my one day to be human, to do the things I love. Unless... No. He can't know my secret. I can't let that happen.

I'm 24 years old, not some little kid he can push around anymore. But who the hell am I kidding?

This man would walk through fire just to make sure I'm under his control. Always playing his twisted little mind games. That's why I never call him my father. To me, he's just a sperm donor, and he'll never be addressed as anything more.

I knock twice on his office door.

"Come in," he growls.

Pushing the door open, I walk in. He's already staring at me with those cold, malicious eyes.

"You can have a seat," he says, motioning toward the chair across from him.

"I'm good standing," I reply flatly, arms folded.

"Fine. Stand like the fool you are. I don't care."

I scoff. This grumpy bastard...

"Why am I here? Today's supposed to be my off day," I state, arms still crossed.

"How is that my concern, mister?" Ugh. This son of a bitch.

"What do you even do with your off days anyway?"

"None of your business, Mr.," I snap, eyes narrowing.

"Don't you dare talk to me like that!" he barks, slamming his hand on the desk as he stands up.

He throws a file at me. "I want you to go to the BDSM club and get information on this guy." He points at a picture on his desk. "No questions. Do as I say. Now get the hell out of my office."

I sigh, snatch the file, and walk out into the corridor.

The moment I shut the door behind me, I pull out my phone and dial Amanda.

She answers on the first ring. "Hello?"

"Hey. You busy?"

"Not much. Wassup?"

"I need your help. My father wants me to go to a BDSM club to get information on some guy."

"Oop! Are you scared of going to a BDSM club all by yourself?" she teases.

I keep my face as neutral as possible. "Shut up. Don't make this harder than it already is," I say through clenched teeth.

She bursts into laughter, like I just said the funniest thing ever.

Sometimes I wonder how she laughs like that, so freely. Will there ever be a day I'll laugh like that?

"Alright, alright. I won't tease. I promise," she says between giggles.

"Just get ready. I'll pick you up in five."

"Okay. Bye."

"Bye."

I walk to my car, throwing one last look behind me.

I don't live under my father's roof anymore, and thank God for that. But somehow, he still manages to control me.

Every. Single. Time.