Belinda smiled up from her chair and squeezed my hand. “Thank you. It’s probably what I should do; it’s for the best really. What should I tell the clients when they come in?”
“That’s up to you. You can tell them the truth, or if you think its best, tell them that you’re not well and that the doctor has told you to take it easy for the next few days. I’m sure they’ll understand.”
Standing up, Belinda took me in for a hug. “I actually have a new client coming in shortly. I suppose I had better go and find someone else to look after him.”
I was about to ask for more details, but a knock on the door interrupted us. “Come in!”
The door opened and behind it stood a timid-looking man of around seventy years old. “Miss Murphy?”
I looked at him in confusion. “Yes.”
Coming through the door, the gentleman quickly marched over to me with something in his hands. I didn’t know what it was until he held out his hand to me.
“Mr. Belatoni sent me to get your ring size. May I?”
Shaking my head towards Belinda, I reluctantly gave the guy my left hand. He tried three different ring sizes until we found what seemed to be the perfect fit.
“Very well,” was all he said before he marched back out the door.
“I can’t believe that man!” I was beyond exasperated already.
Belinda laughed and headed towards the door. “I’ll come speak to you in a bit.”
After a few minutes of shaking my head, I decided to get on with my work. For a couple of hours, I buried myself in emails and correspondence, which needed tending to. I dealt with a few bills and made a couple of calls.
I was just in the middle of needing a break when a knock at the door sounded. I knew for a fact it wasn’t Luca because he never knocked.
“Come in!”
It was Belinda. “I took care of that appointment. He’s actually here now with Melinda.”
“Okay, great. What’s this new guy like?”
Scratching her head, she looked away for a moment. “He looks to be in his early to mid fifties, dark blond, greying hair. That’s not the worst part, though. The worst part is that he’s a vicar.”
I shook my head. “Sometimes, they’re the worst.”
She started laughing. “Yeah, I know. And the weirdest part of all is he that has your surname.”
Stiffening, my head snapped up towards Belinda. “What’s his first name?”
Sensing my anguish, she started to look panicked. “Michael. Michael Murphy.”
I slinked back in the chair and closed my eyes. I couldn’t believe that of all the people in the entire world, my father had to be the one to come here.
“Does he know about me?” More sternly I asked, “Does he know?”
Shaking her head, she shut the door behind her. “No, I never said a thing. What’s the matter? Who is he?”
Slamming my fists into my desk, I shot up. “Fucking arsehole!”
I raced to the door and had a very panicked looking Belinda behind me. I was halfway up the stairs when I felt an arm wrap around my waist. I didn’t even realise I was crying until I turned to find a blurry looking Luca.
“Shh, baby. I got you. It’s all taken care of.”
Wiping my eyes, I glared at him. “Let me go, Luca. I’m not fucking around this time. I need to see. I need to see!”
Luca pulled me against his chest and held me tight. “Stop fighting me. Don’t do this to yourself.”
Wriggling and writhing underneath his grip, I screamed, “Let go of me!” Pure adrenaline-fuelled rage ripped me apart from the inside out. I had to go see for myself. I had to see what it was my father was doing now after all those years of beating me fucking senseless because I was the one who was the sinner. ME!
Spinning around to Luca, I glared one more time. “If you don’t let go of me, I will never forgive you.”
Seeing I meant business, Luca dropped his tightened grip. “Baby, please. Don’t do it. Don’t do this to yourself.”
I wasn’t listening. I was off running up the stairs towards Belinda’s room. I took the special key card I had, which opens all of the doors, and I placed it in the slot. Once the light turned green, I pushed the door open.
No daughter ever wants to see her father lying on a bed being fucked into oblivion. The fucker wasn’t even aware I was there at first. His moans and groans underneath Melinda made me feel sick. Melinda noticed straight away and mouthed the words, “What’s wrong?” as she was riding him.
I just stood there, as still as a statue. I couldn’t think, couldn’t move. All I could do was stand there and watch as my father got his jolly’s off.