“Say whatever it is you have to say. I have an appointment”

Her lips pursed, she waited for him to speak. She was used to him staring her down as if she was going to suddenly break and start rambling nervously. Though she was only 16 and a half, being treated as an adult was something she started experiencing before she turned 12 due to the great expectations everyone had of her.

“Is that any way to speak to your father?”

In response, she rolled her eyes so hard that they almost got stuck in her eye sockets.

“If this is your version of some stupid family time or bonding or whatever else, I’ll have to pass because the clock is ticking”

Tapping the face of her watch which could very conveniently buy a house in the middle class area of their city, she raised an eyebrow at her father who remained unbothered by her behavior.

“I’ve received reports about you”

At his words, her eyebrows scrunched together as she thought about the direction he was headed towards.

“Reports?”

The word left her lips before she could control it. As that happened, she cleared her throat and sat up straight to give off the air that she couldn’t care less about whatever stupid reports he was talking about.

“You have been crossing way too many boundaries and stepping on one too many toes. Just this afternoon, you had a teacher fired. What’s all that about?”

His questions weren’t what she was thinking about. No, not even in the slightest was she bothered about that. What she was concerned about was how he was getting information about what she was up to. The teacher incident had happened less than an hour ago. How had he come to know of it and then instructed her driver to get her for him to sit her down and question her? Just who could the idiot that was feeding her father information about her be?

“Sonia!”

Her father called when she didn’t give him a reply. Like he was the one at fault and disturbing her, she settled her gaze on him with an irritated look on her face.

“Yes, father?”

Anyone who saw them would have thought that they were more employer and trusted employee than father and daughter.

“I asked you a question and I require an answer”

Her father was a very handsome man so she could understand why her mother who was one of the greatest socialites in the history of the country had decided to settle down with him. He didn’t look a day over 30 even though she knew that he was well over that age.

“You’re having wrinkles, Father. Trust me, it’s not cute. You’d have to get Botox if you continue scowling”

Blowing off imaginary dust from her nails, she picked up her purse that she had dropped on the table when she came in and got to her feet.

“If that’s the reason you disturbed me, I’ll be taking my leave now. I’ll forgive you for this just because I’m in a good mood for the fashion show I’m attending”

With a kiss blown to him, she turned around to head out the conference room. What greeted her ears was the sound of a chair scraping backwards so forcefully it sounded like a screech. It was so loud that it made her wince.

“If you take one more step, I’d cut off your allowance and leave you to fend for yourself”

A gasp escaping from her throat, she whirled around which was a surprise and a great skill to pull off given the shoes she was wearing. With clenched teeth, she faced her father.

“Father, no, you wouldn’t dare”

“Don’t push me, Sonia”

Feeling anger about to bubble out of her in waves, she forced herself to close her eyes and take breaths through her nose and mouth in order to calm down.

“Well, Father, we both know that you’re bluffing so why don’t you stop this whole facade that you’re putting up and continue with the meetings I’m sure you have scheduled for the rest of the day, hm?”

Her father shook her head at her and wagged his finger in her direction.

“You’ve been too spoiled. You don’t even know how to apologize when you’re wrong”

Sonia’s face was like she had eaten something sour that she didn’t care for anymore.

“What do I have to apologize for? I didn’t do anything wrong”

She shrugged, her face the image of innocence.

“You fired a man just because he wanted you to go back to class. That is wrong, Sonia and for that, I’ll be cutting off your allowance. You need to learn to work for things and not just have them handed over to you like they’re your birthright”

Silence reigned between them for a moment. Taking steps towards her father, she moved her purse to her elbow and stopped just before him. He looked down his nose at her, given that he was inches taller than her.

“Well, Father, in case you do not realize it, I am your heiress which means that it is indeed my birthright. If you want to cut off my allowance, be my guest but know that it won’t make a difference to me because my mother has my back and will take very good care of me”

Standing in her tiptoes as best as she could, she gave him a peck on his cheek and then used her pointer finger to wipe away the lipgloss that stained his cheek.

“Take good care of yourself, father. You've added some belly fat compared to the last time I saw you”

Turning around, she walked to the door and with her hand on the handle, sent him one last look.

“I’ll see you when I get back from Paris. Please tell mum to activate the other account for me. Bye, father”

With those words, she power walked out of the office, her two minions falling into place behind her as she headed for the exit eager to catch her flight and not miss her appointment at the fashion show.