Seven

Violet and Mabel sat in the library, studying together.

"You mean your Dad refused to let you come to the party?" she asked.

"Yes, I told you he is a hard nut to crack," she said, her voice low. Mabel sighed, as she thought for a while.

"How about I follow you to your house and ask for permission from him?" she suggested, Violet’s face lit up with a wide smile, her eyes shining with excitement.

After school hours, the car drove in, and Violet and Mabel stepped out, Mabel’s eyes widening in awe as she took in the sight of the mansion.

"Woah! This is heaven on earth," she exclaimed. "I didn’t know your Dad is one of the top ten richest men in the whole wide world," she said, surprise.

Violet scoffed, her looks wry, if only Mabel knew the story behind everything.

"Come on, let’s go inside," She said, leading the way, with Mabel following behind her, and the guard bringing up the rear.

As they entered the living room, Mabel’s eyes widened in awe, enchanted. "Wow!" she exclaimed, staring around the room.

"Sit," she said, gesturing to the couch smiling sheepishly.

Mabel sat down, still taking in the opulence of the room. One of the staff came over and offered her a glass of chilled water. "Thank you,"She said, taking a sip. "Your house is beautiful," she said.

He face turned wry, her eyes rolling. "If only she knew," she muttered under her breath.

Just then, Shawn’s voice echoed in the living room as he came down the stairs, talking on the phone. Mabel’s eyes widened in awe as she took in Shawn’s muscular physique and handsome features. She was lost in him, her eyes fixed on his face, and didn’t even notice when Violet called out to her.

"Mabel, are you ok?" She asked, jolting her out of her daydreaming.

eah," she said,Her eyes snapped back to Violet, her face looking sheepishly, leaning closer to Violet. "You didn’t tell me your dad is this young and vibrant,"

"I won’t be saying that if I were you," she whispered back to Mabel, her voice laced with warning.

Just then, Shawn’s voice interrupted them.

"What is going on here?" he asked, as he sat down in his chair, looking at them.

"Um, this is Mabel, my friend from school," she said, her voice neutral.

Shawn’s eyes turned to Mabel, his face unreadable. Mabel’s face turned bright, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Nice to meet you, sir. I have heard so much from your daughter, although she didn’t tell me her dad is this young and handsome," she said, her voice bubbly.

Shawn was taken aback by her words, his eyes widening slightly at Mabel’s words ’Daughter and Dad’. Violet saw the surprising look on his face and she knew she was done for it.

"So, whose daughter are you, and what do I owe this visit for?" he asked, his voice firm.

"Well, I’m Mabel Mark, my family runs entrepreneurial businesses," she said.

"Mark? That name sounds familiar," he said.

"Mark Jones," she said, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm, and Shawn’s eyes snapped to hers.

"You are Jones’ daughter?" he asked surprisedly.

"His third daughter, actually," she said. She turned relaxed, "You know my father?"

"Yes, we are good business partners," he said, and Violet smiled, knowing fully well that he wouldn’t reject why Mabel was there.

"That’s nice," she said, and there was a quiet moment. She opened her mouth to speak, but Shawn interrupted her.

"I know why you are here, she asked you to come and seek my approval to go to the party," he said, his eyes knowing.

The two ladies exchanged surprised glances, and Shawn met Violet’s eyes, Violet quickly looked away.

"She didn’t ask me, I willingly came to ask for your approval," she said.

"She’s not going," he said, his voice firm, and Mabel and Violet exchanged surprised glances.

"I understand you are trying to protect her, but I promise to look after her and bring her back safely," she said, her voice reassuring.

Shawn stared at them, his eyes unreadable.

Later, Violet escorted Mabel to the gate, where her driver was waiting for her. Mabel’s expression turned grateful, her eyes sparkling with appreciation.

"Thank you for convincing him," She said, smiling.

"Well, I am happy he agreed on a condition that your bodyguard will come with you," she said, smiling.

"Yeah, I told him before, he refused,"

"Good thing he agreed," she said, smiling. "I must confess that your dad is extremely hot, but I didn’t see your Mom,"

"Well, my Mom is late, she died while giving birth to me," she lied.

"Oh, sorry to hear that," she said, with empathy.

"It’s ok, it’s been long anyway," she said, smiling weakly.

"Ok, bye," she said, smiling, as they waved at each other, and Mabel entered the car and drove off.

Violet returned to the living room to see Shawn dressed casually, ready to leave.

"Are you going out?" she asked.

"You told her, I am your dad," he pushed closer to Violet, and she reeled backward, avoiding his gaze

"Um, yes I did,"

"Excuse you! Do I look like your dad?".

"What’s wrong with that, what should I have told her, that I am your slave?"

"That will be better," he said, smuggling.

"You are old enough to be my Dad, saying you are my Dad is nothing to be ashamed of, Dad?" she teased,

Shawn’s expression turned annoyed, his eyes narrowing slightly, as he pushed Violet aside and left with his men. Violet stared after them, shrugging her shoulder before leaving for her room.