Arch

Chapter 40

Saying goodbye to Ryder is getting harder, but I actually have to work this week. Apparently, my parents are going to be home. I want to talk to them about Ryder, and I want to come out to them. I hope they will understand.

I give them a wide berth when they get home late Sunday night. They've been arguing. I know they hate each other. Father fucks anything that moves that is half his age, and Mother, I'm not sure if she does or if she just numbs herself with all the prescription meds.

I wake up the next morning, and I'm ready for work. As the car drives us, Father doesn't speak, so I keep my head down and think about how I'm going to come out to my father and how I'm going to get myself out of the life I have here and into the one I want with Ryder. I want to make a go of it, and I want to go back to university. I want to be an architect. I don't want to follow in my father's footsteps. I don't want to be married to someone I hate, with a kid I ignore, and a business I don't like just because it's what my family picked out for me.

My father goes into his office and shuts all the blinds, which means he's unavailable. But as I'm in the office next door, I can see through the crack in them, they never quite close properly. He's sitting at his desk scrubbing his hands in his hair when there's a knock at his door.

"Come in!" he shouts, and the door opens and closes. It"s Tracy, one of the lower secretaries from the lobby. Father sits up in his chair, removes his tie, stands, and unbuttons his trousers.

He mumbles something, and she nods, walking towards him. She lifts her skirt, slides in front of him and bends over the desk. He slaps her arse and then moves her pants to the side before slamming straight into her. He grabs a handful of her hair and rips her head back, snarling down at her. He thrusts into her, but they don't look like they're enjoying it. Her face is screwed up in pain, and he looks like he's ready to snap her neck just for breathing near him.

This clearly isn't the first time this has happened. She knew the drill and bent over and took it, but I wonder what she's getting in return,

I sit at my desk and put my earphones in. I can't bear to hear the grunting and slapping noises coming from my father's office, and I bury myself in work. I'm starting to do more day-to-day running now, and I wonder if my father is gearing up to retire sooner rather than later, as he's pushing me to take on more responsibilities.

My door pushes open. It's my father, and I pull the earphones out. "I'm going out for lunch. I will see you when I get back."

"When will that be?"

"When I'm done!"

He walks out of the office, and I shake my head. That's the most he's said to me since he got back. Father doesn't come back, and when I make my way down the stairs to the lobby, the driver is waiting for me out front.

"Have you seen my father?"

"He's in a meeting. He will be home later."

I sigh. I know what that means. He's somewhere fucking a different slut, some young, deluded girl who is hoping to snag him as a husband or father for a child she thinks she can trap him with, without knowing that he won't give a fuck about either of them, and he's probably had a vasectomy on the quiet so people still think they can snag him. He's wealthy and powerful, but he's also a disgusting human. He ignores me and my mother and sends her to doctors who shoot her full of prescription meds, only to parade her around at functions. She's like the fine china you only bring out at Christmas and special occasions, but Father has a whole variety of crockery he uses daily, fucking everything in the vicinity. I'm so fed up with his bullshit that I snag my phone and text Ryder.

Arch:Can you come over for the weekend? I want to come out!

Ryder:You serious? That's a big step, princess.

Arch:I need to tell them. I want to start being me.

Ryder:I will support you with whatever you need.

Arch:Call you later.

When I arrive home, no one's around. I head to my father's office, but he's not there. I head to Mother's room, but there's no answer, so I head to Father's, and there's no answer there either. I sigh and text the group chat.

Archibald:I have an important announcement to make. I will see you both on Saturday for dinner. 7 p.m. sharp.

They both see it. I know they do, but neither reply. I don't know why I allow it to bother me, and I don't know how to get over it, but I sit in my room and think about everything that I will need to make it on my own if, after I come out, they disown me. I'm not sure it will feel any different than it already does; maybe it will just be less uncomfortable.

I message the kitchen staff and tell them what I want for Saturday. I want this to be special. I want them to see I'm genuine and love Ryder. I want to be able to live a life I plan out for myself.