"Did that help?"
"No." She pivots around, "You were joking, right, about what you said earlier?"
I allow myself a half-smile, "Do I seem as if I am joking?"
Her shoulders sag, "No." She raises a hand to her hair. "But marry you?" Her fingers tremble as she tugs on a strand. "It’s preposterous."
"You woman. Me man." I shrug. "What’s wrong with it?"
"Everything."
"Who cares? It will be an event your remaining parent will not want to miss.”
"One who’s been absent all of my life, who preferred not to tell us about his existence. Why would he care?"
I twirl a finger in the air. "Ring a bell, Sweetheart?"
"What? He wants to see the decor of this room?"
I motion with my palm.
"He wants to sit behind your desk?" She squeezes her eyebrows together.
"Go on."
"He wants a liaison with your company?"
"Not bad." I drum my fingers on my chest.
"He’s in debt, I assume?" She grabs a strand of her pink hair and brings it to her mouth.
Interesting habit, if a little weird for my tastes.The fuck do I care? I need her for as long as it takes to bring the old man to my doorstep.
"After the massive losses that his business suffered, he had to sell off his assets. He moved to the US."
Her forehead crinkles, "If you are aware of his whereabouts, why don't you take revenge on him?"
"What's the fun in that?" I widen my stance. "I want him to pay for his sins in the city where he instigated his crimes, in front of those who once knew him."
"You want to destroy him completely?" She locks her fingers together in front of her.
"Guilty as charged."
Her lips firm, "Why would he return?"
"A chance to redeem himself in front of his peers in his home country, courtesy of the contacts I'd introduce him to." I spread my arms wide, "It would be a wedding gift to my bride-to-be, to ensure her father is taken care of."
She flinches. "So, you’ll bring him here with the lure of money?"
"And a fresh start, not to mention the chance to be reunited with his daughters."
"What if he refuses to come?" She brings her arms down and tucks her elbows into her sides
"Oh, he’ll come all right."
Her chest heaves, "Why is that?"
"Because I'll be personally inviting him, to attend his daughter's wedding which takes place in..." I glance at my watch.