The Dragon King

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 keys and 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.

She knelt beside him and spoke softly, "Dad, you should get up, shower, have something to eat, and then you can go back to bed." Katherine's tone was gentle but firm, hoping he would listen to her this time.

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 left us, 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.

As Thomas sat down at the table, Katherine looked at him with searching eyes, her voice tense with a mix of hurt and curiosity. "Dad, explain to me. Why did you tell Mr. Miller you are going to use me to get rid of your debt? How long has this been going on?" she asked, her words barely above a whisper but heavy with accusation.

Thomas hesitated, running a hand through his damp hair, unsure of how to meet her gaze. "Katherine, I - I never wanted to involve you, but things got out of hand. I was desperate, and Miller offered me an out. I thought maybe, just maybe, if you got close to him, he might help us. But I swear, I never meant for you to get hurt." His voice trembled as he tried to explain, guilt and shame etched into his features. 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 divorce, 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 or you will end up in jail. "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 and might go back into her room to fill 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.