Cruel and Unusual

When I was six I wanted to learn how to ride a bike, problem was at that point Jasper was busy with school and Mum was still working around the clock to support us. I decided I'd teach myself, I mean, people act like it's the easiest thing in the world. So, I borrow Jasper's bike, way too big for me, he's pretty lanky, and I hop on and desperately start pedalling. To my surprise, it actually worked, I was so pleased as I kept building up speed, faster and faster. The one thing I soon realised that I hadn't figured out. How to stop. Went face first into the hedge of a house down the road, some grazes and bruises, but no real damage.

You know what I thought then I got up? If I had a dad to teach me this'd be easy. Then I got angry at someone I didn't even know about for leaving us. Maybe that's why he's here now. You gonna teach me how to ride a bike, father?

"What's up, Mark." Lauren grunts, before walking past him to Moira's desk. "Client's on board, new girl here has the notes, and she got the reports done this morning. Basically our star employee now, you can say it at any point." She announces with a smug tone, raising her hand to her ear to listen out for Moira's reply.

"I told Sunny not to allow any disturbances." She answers flatly. She's got a Scottish accent, and her voice seems to be far louder than it should be for how little her mouth moves. I guess if you've got to keep Lauren in line you learn to project your voice. What am I doing? Ashley is stood right there! I look back to him, and to my surprise he's got a huge smile on his face, what are you so happy about?

Lauren scoffs at her business partner. "Funny way of saying 'you were right' but I'll take it." She decides, leaning against the wall. "This is Scarlet Cray, by the way, Jasper's sister, thought you should get acquainted." She continues, nodding her head in my direction.

Moira sighs and stands from her chair, making her way around her desk towards me, and extends her hand. "Nice to meet you, I'm Moira McGee, I look forward to hearing about your accomplishments." She offers in an exasperated tone. "When I'm not busy." She adds, looking to Lauren.

"Ahh, Mark doesn't mind, do you Mark?" She shrugs. "This one's Mark Gold, Moira's bloke, I'd say don't steal him off her, but I'd say he's not your type!" Lauren's joke would be funny, if he wasn't actually my father. Why are they calling him Mark? Why is he acting like everything's fine?

"Definitely not. You don't much look like a Mark." I state, trying to hide my anger. Maybe I'm mistaken, maybe it's not him? No, that face is burned into my memory. What's more his face drops at my otherwise harmless comment.

"Oh, I get that a lot, one of those faces, I suppose!" Ashley answers with a chuckle. Yeah, it's him, no doubt now, that voice echoed in my head for months. "I'm gonna shoot off, M, I'll pick up some dinner and we'll finish up at home?" He continues.

I can't just tell her, can I? Maybe she knows that's not his real name. I need to interrogate him, and I can't do that if he leaves here without a word. "Alright, it'll give me a chance to introduce Lauren to the meaning of tact. I'll see you at home." Moira answers, placing a quick peck on his lips before making her way back to her desk. I look to Lauren, whose eyes are rolling at the whole display. Wait. That's my chance.

"In that case, I'll see him out, give you time to talk." I propose in my politest tone of voice. Moira gives me the nod and I gesture Ashley to the door. I close the door behind us as we exit, and I lead him to the lift, we can't talk here, too many prying ears. I wait until we enter the lift, and the doors close fully. I shouldn't care, I should expose him, but honestly, it's not like I have evidence of real wrongdoing.

Finally, the doors seal and the lift begins going down. Ashley tries to pre-empt my questions. "I can explain, just-" He begins.

"Did we not make ourselves clear last time? A whole load of places to go on Earth, and I find you running some scam on my first day of work? Give me one good reason I shouldn't go back up and tell Moira the truth!" I bark, holding myself back from hitting him.

"It's not a scam, we're in love, and-" Ashley begins again, but I'm not in the mood to let him finish.

"No, obviously, when I love someone I give them a fake name and pretend not to know my own daughter. Let me guess, she doesn't know you have kids? I suppose you don't, really." I growl.

"Scarlet, it's complicated, if you-" He attempts once more.

"It's always complicated, isn't it? Everything's complicated, so fucking complicated, so many angles to consider. Except abandoning your children, that one's really easy, just walk on out the door, you even did it to Jenny. Tell me, how many more siblings do I have wandering around? What am I saying? It's not like you'd know. Nah, too complicated, you're-" I continue ranting.

"Scarlet!" Ashley roars, slamming the stop button on the lift. "I have been patient, I have been understanding, I have respected you and your feelings, now I just want to speak. I'm not scamming Moira, we're getting married, I changed my name because of some legal issues, I've told her about it, nothing nefarious. I haven't mentioned you because you've made it clear you don't want me to be part of your life. I didn't think I'd see you here, but I can't just up and leave her, so, I'm sorry, but I'm sticking around."

You know what's weird? That little speech is the most I've ever heard my father say. There's something about the way he talks, it's soothing, like he can explain all the things he's done, like it wasn't his fault, like he really does care. Maybe he's not so bad? I've learned a lot about forgiveness recently. If that's the scenario, then I could find a way to forgive him, couldn't I?

Shame that it's all bullshit.

"Legal issues, huh?" I repeat. "You know, I was bullied a lot, for years, you know what I got good at? Deciphering the innuendo. 'have an accident' meant I'd get beaten up, 'need a loan' meant give up my cash or I'd have an accident. Legal issues. Sounds a lot to me like you got caught out and needed a new identity, then you stumbled across a stressed out businesswoman who had the money to support you, so got in her good graces and boom! Instant sugar momma." I translate for him, hitting the button to restart the lift. "Let me make it easy for you. Leave or I tell her everything." I conclude as we continue our descent.

"Well, it looks like you've made up your mind." Ashley sighs. That translates to 'okay you've caught me' in bullshit-ese. "One day you'll meet the right guy, get married, and you'll understand why I can't just leave." He tries to rationalise again. Fuck that.

The doors finally open at the ground floor and I gesture for him to exit, which he begrudgingly does. "Thank you for visiting Evolution Marketing Solutions, we hope you have a great day!" I smile victoriously, pressing the button to go back up to the office. "Oh, and I'm gay. Motherfucker." I spit as the doors separate us.

I breathe out heavily and almost double over. I think the adrenaline was keeping me standing up straight, now I feel all of the emotions I've put off for the last few minutes. But it was worth it. He won't risk me exposing him, if I'm right and people are looking for him he can't afford the fuss.

I'm rid of him for good now.