The Devil's Sweetheart

The things we least expect hit the hardest in the unexpected moment. Francis stared at the thin paper presuming that it was a miracle, and the second he closed his eyes, his name would disappear. But it never happened.

\'\'Leena is my daughter!\'\' He spoke aloud to feed his brain of the unexpected truth, yet the DNA result was not registering into his brain. A few months back, he learned Heather was pregnant before marriage, and a few days back, he got to know Max is not Leena\'s father, and today, like it was a divine decree, he has become Leena\'s father. So, the blood test Heather made him undergo two days back was for the DNA test?

Was it that night? He had lost a little control over his body on that night, but that\'s all he remembers, and the next day he was burning with fever. So, the one-night stand was not with a random woman! Slowly realization started to dawn. It\'s Heather. \'\'It\'s my Heather.\'\'

\'\'Leena is the symbol of our love,\'\' Francis repeated the sentence over and over. He then right away dailed Heather\'s number. His whole body was trembling, and he wondered if he would be able to speak to Heather without stammering. He tapped his footrest under the table restlessly, waiting for Heather to pick the call. \'\'Lif the call, Heather.\'\' He has an inkling that she is purposefully testing his patience because every time he calls, she would lift his call in the first three rings unless she is inside the operation theatres. At the last ring, madam showered her attention to him. \'\'Tell me, Mr. Hayes?\'\'

Arrogant woman, can\'t she speak softly? It\'s their big day. Francis spoke in an undertone. \'\'Where are you?\'\' Out was his calm voice contradictory to his inner thoughts.

\'\'At a place where I was supposed to meet my daughter\'s father. Why?\'\' Francis heard her sarcastic reply. 

\'\'And where is that place?\'\' Francis chuckled lightly at her engaging reply. He rose up, straight away knocked on the executive assistant door, and went inside. The man stood up, bowing his head.

\'\'Didn\'t you say you were not interested in meeting him?\'\' He heard Heather\'s counter.

\'\'I am sorry, Heather. I should have known better.\'\' His contrite voice returned. \'\'Please tell me the place. I don\'t want to delay any more in meeting my daughter. And tell me does she know the truth?\'\'

\'\'\'Not yet..She is currently railing up on me...\'\' Complained Heather. \'\'I am at home. Don\'t delay anymore...We are...waiting for you...\'\' Francis could sense her throat blocking, stopping her in the mid-away every time she uttered a word.

\'\'I am starting right away.\'\' Francis ended the call. He hand gestured his assistant to take care of the meetings and turned his foot to the parking slot. All the way home, he couldn\'t help but imagine Leena\'s shocked face just like he had a while ago.

...

\'\'He is coming!\'\' Heather\'s happiness streaked through her like a comet. \'\'How did he react to the news when he first saw? Shocked? Fell off the chair?\'\' She wanted to witness his shocked yet happy face, but what is the thrill of knowing only of one person\'s. There is another time bomb with her.

\'\'Leena, come down.\'\' Heather\'s quickly called her daughter. Just like Francis, she made Leena undergo the blood test before revealing the truth. As stubborn as Francis, Leena refused to meet her father. Heather had a hard time convincing her, and at last, Leena agreed on the condition—that this would be the first and last meeting with him.

Heather promptly agreed, knowing that Leena would bite on her words once she saw him.

Hearing the sound of footsteps, Heather glanced up. Her mouth crumpled in a twist, seeing Leena in a loose black dress that would be worn at funerals.

\'\'What is this dress? I told you to wear something colorful. Are you purposefully doing this to insult the guest?\'\' Heather chided. She will regret it in another ten minutes.

\'\'Yes.\'\' Leena sat opposite her mother. She grabbed a magazine from the table to pass her time. Talking with her mother is the last thing she wants to do right now. She would start her so-called father\'s story, whom she doesn\'t recognize. Just because someone has donated sperm, and her mom has to give so much importance to him? What about her Francy? 

He raised me, gave me a perfect life. He has sacrificed his entire life to take care of me. 

She bet even her biological father would never have given the love her Francy has showered on her. Tears were welling in her eyes, but Leena refused to let them down. At least not for that man. Initially, Leena didnot want to meet him, but at the last second, she decided to meet him and show off—show him how happy she is.

Leena started at the wall clock. \'\'When is he coming? It\'s already twelve-thirty. He was supposed to be here by now. It looks like he has no punctuality along with responsibility,\'\' Leena grumbled, which made Heather laugh. In the nick of time, Heather suppressed and put on a serious face and said. \'\'He must be coming_\'\'

\'\'I had an important meeting with a client. I had to postpone just to meet him.\'\' Leena flared irritatingly to let her mother know how much \'interest\' she has in meeting this person. How awkward would it be to meet him after twenty-five years? She could already imagine. Like a grumpy kitten, Leena started asking questions. \'\'What does he do for a living?\'\'

\'\'Well, he is a_\'\'

\'\'What\'s his name?\'\'

\'\'It\'s_\'\'

\'\'Does he have a family?\'\' She questioned another.

\'\'He has recently_\'\'

\'\'Never mind.\'\' Leena interrupted her mother again. \'\'I am not bothered.\'\'

Will you let me completely answer one question at least, dear daughter? Let\'s see if you keep up the same face and momentum once your father arrives.

\'\'Don\'t give him a hard time, Leena. He is your...\'\' Heather trailed off as she saw Francis just entered home. Her eyes sparkled, and before she could scream, Francis shook his head, diffusely telling her to continue the act. 

Heather nodded.

Francis stood behind Leena\'s chair to listen to their conversation.

\'\'I know you don\'t like your father now,\'\' Heather started. \'\'But if you meet him a couple of times_\'\'

\'\'No way. I already told you this is the first and last meeting. I never considered him as my father and never will.\'\' The rush of adrenaline made her head hard to think. She couldn\'t stop her bottled emotions from flowing out. \'\'Why do we need him in our life, mom? We are happily living together. You, me, and Francy. I never asked to find my father. That stranger has done nothing to us. It was Francy who has been with us through thick and thin. Can you compare Francy\'s love with him? Did you realize how much you are hurting Francy by arranging this secret meeting without telling him?\'\'

\'\'A secret meeting? This I am not aware of.\'\'

Leena jumped out of the sofa in fright at the sudden intrusion. She turned her head. Moments later, she breathed in relief, seeing that it was Francis. \'\'Francy..when did you come?\'\' Oh no! What a bad time? Does she have to confront that man in front of Francy?

\'\'When you started complaining about me,\'\' Francis said.

\'\'It was not on you. Why would I ever do that?\'\' Leena quickly replied. \'\'It\'s actually...\'\' Leena trailed off. How Do I tell him? She hates to call that man her father.

\'\'But you did complain, baby.\'\' Heather joined Francis. \'\'Were you not whining that your Francy is not punctual, an irresponsible man?\'\' Heather slightly hinted at her daughter.

\'\'Hell no. I did it for_\'\' Leena trailed off and snapped at her mother in realization.

\'\'Your father is here.\'\' Heather gave her a knowing smile. \'\'Ask him why he is late.\'\'

\'\'Francy? My f_ather?\'\' Leena asked again for confirmation.

Heather promptly nodded her head.

Leena slowly turned her head. Nothing was entering her brain except for her mother\'s words that turned her world in seconds. When it finally dawned, Leena glanced up at Francis.

\'\'Are you not going to give your father a hug?\'\' Francis opened his arms wide, and that\'s all it took. Leena ran into his arms.. Words were not enough to express her happiness now.