Train Me Daddy

Chapter 14

Olivia

It’s been a few days since I left the ranch. I had to get out of there. When I was in Houston with Isaac, I felt alive. I realized that there’s a whole world out here and I haven’t explored any of it. Luckily living on the ranch and being paid and having my meals paid for, meant that I was able to save. I managed to get a room, and I’m trying to find a job. There’s just one problem. Apart from my high school diploma I have no skills.

I need a job.

There’s just one problem - no one wants to hire anyone with ranch skills, not in the city. I knew that I would bump into Isaac sooner or later. I was walking past the coffee shop when I saw him.

“Olivia, I was hoping to see you again,” he smiles awkwardly.

I want to tell him that I’m busy and that I need to go. Out of all the coffee shops in Houston, why did I have to walk past this one?

“Come inside. Let’s talk?”

“No,” I blurt out. “I’m busy.”

“Well do you have a number I can call you on? I keep trying your old number, and it says out of service.”

I stand to feel as if he’s trying to put the blame on me.

“I got a new one because Neil kept calling me too.”

That’s the extent of people who call me. No one else is interested in speaking to me; it’s kind of sad.

“Do you have a new one? Maybe when you’re less busy, then we can meet up and have a coffee. On me. I’ll pay for your chai latte this time.”

He’s trying to be charming, and I hate it about him. The fact that he wants to meet up and talk to me. Didn’t he get his wish from our time together? Sex and money from Neil.

I shake my head and start to walk away, “Please Olivia. Let’s start again.”

I want to tell him, no, but then the moment I look up into his eyes I think that like the ranch I have no friends in the city. Realistically I have no skills either. Not for the type of jobs that the agency was talking about. Maybe one coffee and he can help, but then after that, I do not have anything to do with him or Neil ever again.

“Okay,” I say the number so fast hoping that he won’t catch them.

“Right, I’ll call you tonight and then we can figure out a time tomorrow.” He kisses me on the cheek, “I’m glad that you’re in the city.”

He walks away before I have time to respond to him. I forgot that he’s smart, of course, he managed to get all the digits. I wonder if part of me is in the city to be near to him when I should be as far away as possible from him and especially Neil.

***

All that time I was thinking that Neil was acting like my surrogate father and he was just using me. As for Isaac, I was just part of a business transaction. It’s as if they don’t believe in real people; they think that because they have money they can do whatever they want.

No!

Not with me. I may not have much, but one thing I do have is pride.

I wonder what would have happened if I hadn’t come looking for him in Houston? Would I still be at the ranch taking care of Neil?

I glance at my cell phone. I see that it’s time to meet Isaac. I check the address for the tenth time. I don’t know why and it irritates me so much that I decided to meet him. I certainly didn’t have to agree to it, did I? It also irritates me that Isaac has chosen the same coffee shop where we met the day I drove to Houston. The day I faced the murderous traffic on I-10 and then meeting Isaac. I’d never imagined traffic could be so bad. Of course, the traffic probably wouldn’t bother most people, but I admit it, I’m just a country girl who’s never seen much of anything which is why Neil chose me as an easy target.

Okay, so I did have a great time talking to him at the coffee shop and an even better time at the Space Center. But that was then, that was before I learned the truth about Neil and Isaac’s little plan. There’s been a lot of muddy water under the bridge since that day.

I check myself out in the reflection of the window. Why am I even bothering? I know I can never again trust Isaac. And the same thing holds true for Neil, the man I’d thought was the most trustworthy person I’d ever met.

I’m not sure meeting Isaac at the coffee shop is going to change anything. He used me, end of story! I take a deep breath as I walk into the coffee shop. I look to the rear knowing that he’ll be at the same table that we set for the first time.

I stiffen in surprise! Isaac isn’t alone! Neil’s sitting beside him.