Down Under

“How was your senior year?” he asks.

“It was good.” I cross and uncross my legs. “I graduated with honors.”

“That’s my girl,” he says, though his pride sounds forced. Truth be told, I’m not sure if I was ever his girl, even when I lived with him.

Liz returns with a glass of water and a mug of coffee that she sets on the desk in front of my dad. “Shall I make a dinner reservation for you and Miss Clark tonight?” she asks.

“Sure, fine. But not too early. I still have a lot to get done.” He takes a long swig of coffee that looks like it hurts going down. “So, Ruby, what are your plans for college?”

“I’m, uh, not sure yet.” After months of back and forth, my mom and I decided it’d be better for me to take a year off to figure things out before I tied myself down to a program. Most of my high school friends have already packed up and shipped off to universities, boasting big, bright dreams for their futures. I honestly have no idea what I want to do with my life. Frankly, I think I’d prefer a do-over.

“Your mom said you were looking for an office job,” he says.

I wasn’t aware that my parents were even on speaking terms. “Yeah, that would be fine, I guess... When did she say that?”

“When she asked me to let you spend part of your gap year here.”

“Oh...” My mouth goes dry. This whole time, I was under the impression that it’d been my dad’s idea to have me live here. Now that I’m sitting across from him, with four feet of desk instead of an ocean between us, it’s painfully obvious that he doesn’t actually want me here.

I really should’ve known better. His invitation had come so out of the blue. Why would he suddenly want me in his life after years of ignoring my existence? I had hoped that maybe he’d missed being a dad and wanted to make up for lost time.

In the end, I guess I was the one who missed being a daughter.

“I’ll have Liz call you a car so you can unpack your stuff at the house.” He presses a button on his desk phone, not even waiting for a response. The man wants me out of his office—and probably his life—as soon as possible. “Liz, call Ruby a company car,” he says.

Her voice crackles through the speaker, “Right away sir. But first, Mr. Murdoch would like to see you.”

“As if I don’t already have a mountain of shit to deal with,” my dad grumbles. “Tell him I’ll be up in a sec—”

“Tell Mr. Clark I’m already here.”

A deep Australian accented voice caresses my ears and makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. My dad’s eyes widen like he’s realizing the gas he just tried to pass was actually quite solid. I look over my shoulder and am instantly caught in the gaze of the man leaning against the door frame with his arms folded.

Dark hair, dark eyes, dark suit...

“Mr. Murdoch.” My dad practically leaps out of his chair. “I was just about to call you.”

“Yes, I’m sure you were.” Mr. Murdoch steps into the room, never taking his eyes off mine. “Who might this be?”

“Ruby, this is our Managing Director and CEO, Brian Murdoch. Mr. Murdoch, this is my daughter, Ruby.”

I know I should stand, but I can’t bring myself to breathe, let alone operate my limbs.

“I didn’t know you had a daughter.” Mr. Murdoch offers me his hand to shake. I take it.

“She lives in California with her mother,” my dad says.

“I see. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Ruby.”

“You, too,” I croak, my throat suddenly gone dry. A sense of loss pangs me as he pulls his hand away. I have to bite my lip to suppress a whimper.

“What brings you all the way down here?” Mr. Murdoch’s suit clings to him like it was tailored to fit every inch of his large frame. Not large as in overweight, but large as in solid. From where I’m sitting, he looks like a real-life giant.

“Ruby’s spending her gap year with me,” my dad says. “I’m hoping we can find her an assistant job so she can get some real work experience before college.”

“I’m sure we can find a place for her.” Mr. Murdoch’s gaze appraises me, making the blood rush to my cheeks and other places where I didn't believe I could blush. I don’t think anyone’s ever studied me this intently. “And if not, we’ll have to make one.”

His mouth tips into a smile that makes my own lips quirk in response. I can’t stop staring at his face, and I’m pretty sure he hasn’t taken his eyes off me since he walked in.