Nicole had turned twenty last May. She had long, straight brown hair that fell elegantly over her shoulders and back. Her light brown eyes held an innocent look mixed with a hidden cleverness. She liked wearing light clothing; a blouse and tight-fitting pants. That was how she was dressed when she arrived at a small commercial building on a wide avenue in Madison. She entered through the glass door and announced herself to the receptionist.
"Hi, Lynn. Tell my father I'm here please."
"In a minute, Miss Nachtnebel", a middle-aged woman in formal white clothing called on the intercom. Lynn announced Nicole Nachtnebel struggling to pronounce her German last name properly, and then told the girl she could go up. Nicole smiled and walked up to the last elevator. It ascended to the fifth floor, and she stepped out, walking down a long corridor. She entered a spacious office with a large desk piled high with papers and a picture frame displaying a photo of herself smiling.
"Hi, Dad. How have you been?" Nicole greeted a tall man who was sitting at the large desk and checking some papers. She did not sit down on the chair in front of her father's desk, but on a large blue cushion at the back of the room.
"You want to know how I've been, Nicole," he cleared his throat. "I am upset because I've just gotten your credit card bill!"
Nicole glanced at her father, nonchalantly and yawned.
"Sweetheart, you've spent
more
than seven
thousand
dollars!" The man announced angrily." Now, do you think I have a money tree growing in our backyard?"
"You're talking exactly like Fiona, Dad. That
horrible
woman says the same thing over and over again!"
"What do you mean?"
"She claims that I'm a spender all the time! You didn't complain about my spending before you met that witch!"
"Can you please show some respect for my wife?"
"I would if
your wife
showed some respect for
your daughter!
" Nicole put her hands on her hips and scoffed. "That stupid woman keeps filling your head with
crap
because she doesn't want me spending your money, which she thinks is hers!"
"You know that my money belongs to Fiona, too, darling," the man replied.
"It might belong to her, though it's mostly
our
money, Dad. That woman shouldn't stick her nose in it. You're the only one allowed to tell me how much I can spend."
"Yes, and it's me who's saying that you shouldn't have spent too much money!"
"Wrong,
papa!
" Nicole cried and crossed her arms. "That
damn
woman's got you acting like this, and you just think it's your own decision."
"Listen, Nick. I..."
"
Shut up
and listen to me, Dad! I don't understand why the hell you've got to be so devoted to that
bitch
when you're the one who keeps saying she's a lousy lover. I mean, you've been going on about how she's not even
satisfying
you!"
"It's true, but I should never have mentioned that with you. I beg you not to bring up this topic again."
"Oh, but I have to." Nicole came closer to her father and hugged him. "You're my Dad, and I worry about you. I want you to be happy and healthy, but that so-called woman doesn't give a