Chapter 2 Repaid the debt

The driver arrived at their apartment building. As Katherine assists her father from the car, she nearly falls while shutting the door. As she approaches the building, she retrieves her key, unlocks the door. She knows that her only goal is to bring her father inside and feed him. As they ascended to the second floor of the apartment, Thomas headed straight for the couch and lay down. Once the door was closed, Katherine shook her head, went to her bedroom to put her things away, and then took a shower.

In their half kitchen, Katherine took out some ingredients to make Hangover Helper Ramen for her father that she finds online for his hangover. She grabbed a cutting board to chop green onions, started boiling water in a pot, added beef broth tablets, and then mixed in the ingredients. Like an obedient daughter, Katherine went over to her father, who was asleep. She shook him awake to ensure he ate, showered, and returned to bed.

"Dad, you should get up, shower, have something to eat, and then you can go back to bed."

Thomas just turned over and went back to sleep. Katherine knows this is going to happen. Therefore, she went into the kitchen to grab a bag of ice from the freezer. She smashed the ice with a hammer, added some to a bowl of water, and then surprised her father with an ice bath, which startled him awake.

"I won't argue with you. Can you please take a shower? I can smell the alcohol, I'm tired of looking after you. Ever since mom passed away, all you do is drink and gamble. I can't always take care of you, dad. I'm doing my best to provide for us, but it seems like you're neglecting yourself,"

He got up from the couch once Katherine walked away, going back to the kitchen to check the water and add the noodles to the pot. She didn't have to look over her shoulder, but she heard the bathroom door was closed. She put the bag of ice back into the freezer, just turned down the fire as she grabbed the towel from the closet to try off the wet spot on the couch. Katherine went to check on the food and add the green onions into the soup, grab bowls from the cabinet and forks out of the drawer. Katherine placed the meal on the table and patiently waited for her father to join her. Just as she saw the bathroom door open, her father stepped out, clad in fresh pajamas and drying his gray hair. He made his way over to the table and took a seat, ready to share the meal with his daughter.

"Dad, explain to me. Why did you tell Mr. Miller you are going to use me to get rid of your debt? How long this has been going on?" asked Katherine

For the past two months, I have been going to his VIP poker game, and I recently requested a $20,000 loan from him.

"If I didn't come and cover the payment. Where would you source the funds? Allow me to make a guess. Is it about robbing small stores or perhaps even banks?"

"I was thinking about it,"

"You still don't get it. People around this town talked about us, father. You don't see that every time I go to the store, I have people to follow me around the store thinking that I am going to steal or something. Do you know who how times we had to move because of what you do?"

"Since your mother's passing, I've been feeling disoriented and uncertain about what steps to take. We are used to being happy,"

Dad, I'm aware it has been three years. I believe it's time for you to focus on your recovery and find employment to assist me. "You know I can't handle everything on my own," she said, her voice filled with frustration.

Katherine and her father sat in silence, both consumed by their own thoughts as they ate their dinner. She poured her father some juice instead of beer, hoping to create a more peaceful atmosphere. Now, while she enjoyed her somewhat vacation, she also had to keep a watchful eye on her father. Thomas pushed his empty bowl away, satisfied with his meal. He walked over to the other chair, sinking into its plush cushions, ready to watch some TV and possibly doze off again. Katherine took out her cellphone and quickly researched Christopher Miller. She discovered he is a tall, 6'5 single male with a captivating presence. His honey skin, electric blue eyes, and black hair with red highlights make him irresistible to both men and women. With a net worth of 34 trillion dollars, he not only owns four companies but also lives in a penthouse alongside his single friend, Lucas Young. For years, those two have been inseparable, sharing countless memories and experiences. Katherine diligently reads more about Mr. Miller and thoroughly researches his company to determine if there are any job openings.

Something caught her eye Mr. Miller was looking for a private secretary for a food company, hear her father was snoring on the couch, might go back into her room to filling out the application on her phone. She rose from her chair and gathered all the soiled dishes, carrying them to the kitchen sink to be washed and placed on the drying rack. Now that the sink was empty. After grabbing her cellphone, Katherine quietly made her way over to the couch where her father was sleeping, determined to get him into his bed.

"Dad, I'm worried that if you sleep on the couch all night, you'll wake up with aches and pains in the morning."

Thomas sluggishly rose from the couch and made his way into his room, while Katherine switched off the TV, approached his door, and gently shut it before entering her own. Settling her phone on the charger, she retrieved a book to read until she fell asleep.

Christopher exits out of his office to head home for the day, Lucas locked the door for them to follow his boss out of the building to his waiting car that was outside for him. The guards bow to him as he was leaving; The driver opens the door for Christopher as Lucas got in on the other side of the car. Christopher crosses his leg and folds his arm to be surprised that his mate came to his office to save her father. He could still scent of mint chocolate, that brought a smile to his face.

"Lucas, I need you to find me a private secretary who can look over things for me while I am away from the office, and please do a complete background check, women and men must dress professionally if they want to work in my company. I will not tolerate bullies is my workplace and if anyone has a problem, they will get fired on the spot. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, sir,"

Before Lucas looked at his tablet that he brings with him, everywhere he goes. He unlocked his tablet to check any new applications, it's was over ten who want to work for him as Lucas hand his boss over the tablet to him.

"It's seemed that your mate, has to apply to your food company,"

Christopher took the tablet from his friend's hand and looked through the profile, pressed the approval of the application. He handed back the tablet to Lucas, his gaze drifting out of the window. The sight of his condo coming into view, instead of his cold and empty mansion, reminded him of missing something. Christopher only used the penthouse only for business. However, his parents, Anthony and Melody Miller, eagerly awaited their son's arrival, hoping he would bring his new mate home for them to meet her. The driver pulled up at the main door. Christopher and Lucas exited out of the car heading inside of the building to take the elevator to his private floor. Sometimes Lucas would cook or order takeout. Then suddenly it started raining again as Christopher went into his bedroom to get out of work suit and take a quick shower. As he walked past his balcony to see the rain hitting the door, just look at the view of the sun going down with the rain coming down. Just enter the bathroom, turn on water just thinking about his mate that woken up his dragon Blaze.

"Our mate is exquisite indeed. She will make a wonderful queen. We must bring her home,"

"I don't think if she knows what we are. I don't want to scare her away,"

"Just what these humans do, take her out on a date and get to know her first and when she is more comfortable, than we I mean you, tell her what we are even better, just show her,"

Christopher pondered Blaze's words, realizing that becoming her private secretary would provide closer proximity and allow him to better understand her preferences. After finishing his shower, he wrapped a towel around his waist to reveal his six-pack abs, dried his hair, and then went to his closet to change into boxers and sweats. The delicious aroma of cooking drew him to the kitchen, where he found Lucas setting the table, awaiting his boss's arrival for dinner.

"What are you making this time?"

"Baked Lemon Dijon Salmon with rice, you will love it. Question I want to ask you,"

"Go ahead, let me hear it,"

"If Katherine works at your company, the other female employees may become jealous of her because you favor her the most. It would be wise to maintain a professional distance from her for now."

"That is why I am going to give her projects that will keep her busy, but I keep my eye on her. Plus, I would keep busy with meeting,"

Lucas pours the wine into their glass with their dinner until Christopher's cellphone rings. As he went to answer it, he already knew who it was.

"Hello mother," said Christopher

"Son, when are you planning to return home?" Your father and I have a magnificent female dragon, and we believe she would be the perfect choice for you as your queen. Since we are not getting any younger and are eager for grandchildren, it would be best if you hurry. Your father and I are ready to step down from the throne,"

"Mother, I told you I will wait for my mate. If she is too young or deceased, then I would take a choose wife,"

"We will be waiting,"

"Talk to you later mother,"

Christopher hang up the phone and look at Lucas cooking dinner, his friend had yet to

"Is that Queen Melody?" asked Lucas

"Yes, she and my father want to choose a queen so they can stand down, my parents is going to have to wait longer until they meet her," said Christopher

The men are eating their dinner to see the storm is being mean today until Christopher felt pain in his chest pretend not to feel it. He entered her dream to see what was wrong with his mate. Why did he feel this pain?

"I am going to head to bed,"

"Do not worry, I clean up,"

Christopher took his half-glass of wine with him into the bedroom and sat it on the nightstand. By opening a portal to her place, he felt that connection he was surprised that it shows her room. As he stood though it, he could see his mate sleeping, step closer to her to see tears run down her cheek.

He used his finger to wipe her tears. He sits on the bed. The storm got louder; He just want to lay next to her. Then he see more tears coming down.

"Mom, please don't leave me," Katherine cried, tears streaming down her sleeping face.

"She's probably having a nightmare about her mother," Blaze said.

Christopher slowly lay down next to her and pulled her close to him so she could sleep peacefully without waking her up. But he knows that he can't stay too long before he goes Christopher give placed something delicately around her neck. He close his eyes while rubbing her back until she calm down and sleep.

Hearing footsteps in the hall, Christopher quickly slipped out of Katherine's bed, reopened the portal to his room, glanced at his mate, and stepped through before the portal closed. As he reluctantly departed, he left her a precious family heirloom. Slowly, Thomas entered his daughter's room in search of the backpack filled with money. Quietly, so as not to wake his daughter, he entered the closet and began to search for something. He check every corner of the closet, and it was nothing, just clothes, and more bags. Thomas began to suspect she'd hidden the bag elsewhere, somewhere he couldn't find it. Back into his room Christopher left the unfinished wine on his nightstand, not wanting to drink any more of it. He walked back into the kitchen and placed it in the sink before returning to his room for another shower. With a smile on his face, he tried to get some sleep, entering the realm of dreams. Turning around, Katherine saw that her closet light was on; she didn't remember switching it on. She rose from her bed, approached the closet slowly, and turned to find her father examining her belongings.

"Dad, I don't appreciate you rummaging through my belongings."

"The reason I'm in here is that I spotted a little mouse darting into a hole; I need to check for other openings in your wall."

"If I see anything, I'll tell the landlord. Now go back to your room and sleep."

Katherine followed her father from her room, closing the door behind her. She knew he'd been in her room looking for the backpack containing cash. A secret closet exists, unknown to her father. Returning to bed, she felt warmth on the other side, as if someone were sleeping there. She was likely dreaming of her mother beside her. Morning would arrive before she knew it.

The next morning Katherine hears the phone alarm went off, but she slept through it and woke up after eight o'clock. She got out of bed, grabbed her robe, and headed to the bathroom for a quick shower, planning to make breakfast before her father woke up. Katherine made breakfast in the kitchen with the hope that her father would come out of his room to eat.

"Dad, get up. Breakfast is almost ready, DAD!"

The bedroom opening and her father came out of his room to see his daughter cooking, running his hand though his hair was still half-sleep.

"Why are you yelling?" asked Thomas

"I wanted to check if you were awake, as you claimed to have seen a mouse run into my room and were searching for it last night."

"Yeah, and to be honest, my back pain meant a sleepless night, so I'm running on fumes."

"Seriously, you've been sleeping on that lumpy, uncomfortable couch again."

She made her father breakfast until her cellphone rang. She picked it up and saw that it was a Local Nutritious company calling, so she answered.

"Greetings." "May I speak with Katherine Smith?" the woman asked.

"Yes, this is her."

"Hello, I saw your application, and HR approved it. I would like if you can come in for an. Interview this afternoon around two?"

"Yes, two o'clock. Thank you so much,"

Katherine ends the call. She hopes to secure the private secretary job she applied for yesterday. She knows that her father is up to something, but she don't know what. Katherine loves her father, but sometimes wishes for a break from him, though she knows that's impossible.