Why was I such a coward? I told my father I wouldn't betray him for Ty. But I couldn't tell Ty that.
Again, I hid the gift away.
The third day, I couldn't hide the gifts anymore. "Karen!" Olivia called out. "Flowers. Again. The fourth time today."
Bashfully, I descended the stairs to collect them. Olivia just shook her head as she walked past me. At least she wasn't judging me for all of this. This time there was an ornate fruit basket, complete with fruits I couldn't even name if you asked me to.
Taking it and retreating back to my room, I reached for my phone. I brought up his number, and my finger hovered over it for what felt like an eternity.
Not like this. I couldn't just call him, tell him we were through.
Even though we had only one date, and one night together, Ty wasn't typical. He deserved better than being broken up with over a phone call.
The doorbell rang again. I immediately knew that he had sent something else my way. He was driven on spoiling me rotten even if I was disobeying him. I made sure I looked decent, and prepared to go. The courier who sent me more than likely had orders to bring me to him if asked.
I had to face Ty. I had to tell him it was over. Then, maybe, after a few weeks of crying into a pillow, I could move on.
The ride to the top of the penthouse felt like it was going to take an eternity. The whole time my hand was hovering over the stop button, ready to request the ground floor and run away from all of this again.
I had to stand firm though. Continuing to languish in this purgatory state with Ty wasn't good for either of us, and it made me feel like kind of a bitch to be leading him along like this.
I reached the top, and I waited for the doors to open. He was there, waiting for me.
"Kitty, you've been a naughty girl ignoring my advances like that."
I couldn't look him in the eye, even as he approached me. "We can't do this, Ty."
He paused a moment. "And why not? You more than enjoyed my company. I could divine that much from the sounds you made."
"It's not me. It's my father."
He laughed. "Really?"
"Really what? He doesn't want me seeing you."
"I didn't think George would be so petty."
"He's blaming you for his troubles."
"George got himself in debt. I was buying his home to help him out of it."
"He still blames you. I'm sorry, Ty."
"Kitty," he started.
"I'm Karen."
"No, you're my Kitty. My beautiful, precious Kitty. I want you to ask yourself something. If the Daddy that spawned you won't let you follow your heart to a Daddy you love, is he really all that much of a Daddy?"
"It's not like that. I know sometimes emotions don't make sense. Like how I feel about you doesn't make any sense. I can't blame my father for thinking like this, but that's how he's thinking."
Ty moved forward, and pulled me closer to him. Despite me being there to put an end to our game, I didn't mind it. Not how my head was buried in his chest, and how he was stroking my hair as he talked. "So you love your father."
"Yes. He's never done me wrong."
He laughed.
"What's so funny about that?"