by Dukey, Ker
The only way to get what you want out of life is to beg, steal, or borrow it.
Speaking of, I have to leave so I can get to LeeRoss Industries.
Packing up my bag, I slip out of class and straight out the exit before the lunch bell has time to shrill.
Everyone is once again whispering about me in the halls, but it’s that I’m the daughter of a murderer now.
It doesn’t matter that Fred isn’t my real father.
No one cares about facts when there’s gossip to spread.
Gemma Rodes hasn’t returned to school, and Reese has been absent now, too.
His friends are saying he took a bad fall, and won’t be returning to school for graduation.
Gossip around the school says his father pulled strings to get him into college, and has already shipped him off.
Must be nice having parents to step in for you so you don’t have to put the work in.
* * *
My feet ache by the time I reach the tall glass building with their logo on the front in huge, metal lettering.
I pull a brush from my bag and put it through my hair a few times before stashing my backpack in a bush on the side of the building.
I step inside and feel a little overwhelmed.
The foyer is huge, tiled floors alerting everyone that someone has entered, causing eyes to lift from the reception desk.
A well-dressed, good-looking Asian man standing with a couple of other men looks over at me as I enter, making me squirm.
They seem to be talking business and lose interest in me quickly.
The receptionist is a pretty red-head who offers me a warm smile.
“Hi, I’m here to talk about a college scholarship?” I pose it as a question, knowing I look meek and like an idiot.
The woman frowns and looks at her computer like it has the answers to the questions clearly racing though her mind at my inquiry.
“I’ll deal with this, Karen,” the Asian man tells her, coming to stand beside me.
He offers me his hand, which I take with an awkward smile.
“I’m Mr. Lee. Let’s take this to my office, shall we?”
My mouth wants to tell him it’s Mr. Ross I’m supposed to meet, but my lips won’t move.
I follow him to an elevator where silence cloaks us like a thick fog, suffocating me.
My confidence is at zero, yet I need to sell myself to this man as a confident, bright student, worthy of this lifeline if he’s willing to invest in me.
When the doors open it’s into a huge office, my mouth dropping open at the view.
This must be the top floor.
It’s stunning.
The office is bigger than our entire house.
“Please take a seat. Would you like something to drink, Miss…?”
“Young,” I offer. “And a water, please?”
He grins at me and slips his jacket off, hanging it on a hook on the far wall.
He goes over to a cabinet and opens it to reveal a fridge.
Pulling out a bottle of water he hands it to me over his desk, and I offer him a tight smile, taking it from him. “Thank you.”
Uncapping the bottle I take a swig and squirm a little at his scrutiny of me.
His eyes track over my form, lingering at my tits before resting on my face.
“So, this isn’t the way we usually pick our recipients.”
I take the seat he gestures to with his hand. “How did you hear about our program?”
Crap, this is why I needed to see Mr. Ross. “Actually, a friend told me about it. She applied before and knew my circumstances are well… To be honest, Mr. Lee…” I say, knowing a blush is crawling up my neck. “Desperate.”
He rests an elbow on the arm of his office chair and places his chin on a propped fist.
Keen eyes once again crawl over me.
I know he likes what he sees, and this may turn dark.
Why can’t I just meet a man who isn’t a fucking pig?
Oh well, if it gets me what I need.
“It’s warm in here,” I chuckle awkwardly, biting my lip while slipping off my jacket.
The buttons on my blouse are low enough to offer some cleavage, and he doesn’t prove me wrong.
His eyes move there like a magnetic pull.
Shifting in his seat, he smirks at me, the asshole.
“Our company’s scholarship money has all been allocated already, I’m afraid.”
I deflate inside but offer him a nod of my head. “I understand,”
Getting to my feet I begin to unbutton my blouse.
Mr. Lee’s eyes expand and he holds up his hand, but doesn’t get up to put any effort into stopping me.
“What are you doing?” his breathing is labored already, and I can see his dick thickening in his slacks.
“Maybe you would like to offer me a personal scholarship?”
I make my words purr, and his brow pinches as he watches me push my skirt down my legs, leaving me in just my underwear and knee length socks.
I was going for the catholic schoolgirl look to appear innocent and worthy, but it works for slutty and desperate, too.
“I’m married,” he quickly barks out.
I blink at him, and bite my lip to stop from laughing. He’s loosening his tie as he speaks.
“I…don’t usually do this.”
“Neither do I,” I lie, pushing my panties down.
That’s all it takes for him to be out his chair and bending me over the desk.
* * *
I feel dirty, and my gut hurts from the edge of the desk.
Mr. Lee’s wife must be holding out on him because he was done in under a minute.
Fastest two thousand dollars I’ve ever made.
The doors to the elevator open, and I step inside, giving Mr. Lee a finger salute before the doors close. Pervert.
When it stops on the next floor, my cheeks burn.
I know no one knows what just happened, but the shame is there on my features all the same.
Keeping my head low, I smell the fresh scent of linen and rainforest.
The figure doesn’t step in right away, so I look up, my eyes slowly trailing up his form.
A fitted suit, surely tailored to fit him like a glove, broad shoulders, a thick neck, and a prominent Adam’s apple bobbing makes the slut in me bite my lip.
Before I reach his face, he steps in and moves behind me.
Every sense in my body is hyper aware of him.
My pulse quickens, and my mind races as we descend to the foyer.
It’s unnerving, this intense sensation taking over me just by this guy standing behind me.
So close.
Am I imagining his breath on my hair? The subtle weight of him shifting closer …
The doors open, and I step out, taking a deep breath as though I’d been starved inside there with no oxygen.
I turn to look at the person who evoked such a reaction, but the doors close, and he doesn’t stop them.
Why did he not get out?
Seventeen
Chapter
ERIK
Frantic.
That’s the only way to describe my mind when the doors opened and my Alice was inside my elevator. She could have only been coming from Lee’s office.
She looked flustered and then seemed even more so the longer we were alone together.
You wanted me, didn’t you, Alice? You sensed who I was, and it thrilled you.
I bet your pussy was soaking, begging to find relief.
I take the elevator all the way up to Lee’s office and find him sitting behind his desk.
His eyes widen at seeing me in here.
Our friendship is strained these days, and I usually do everything through his assistant.
“The girl,” I say, and he blanches.
“I’m sorry, what girl?”
Is he being a dumb fuck on purpose?
“The one who just left your office. What was she here for?�
�
As if just remembering that a girl left his office mere fucking minutes ago, he waves his hand in dismissal.
“She was a student looking to join our scholarship program.”
“And did you hear her out?”
He raises an over plucked brow.
I bet he gets his balls waxed too, the fucking queen.
“Do you know her?”
“No,” I sound defensive, even to my own ears.
“Well, the scholarship money gets allocated months before students even graduate. And students don’t come here to beg for the money, it’s awarded by a board,”
“I’m taking some time off,” I announce, changing the subject.
“What, why?” he huffs, picking up a pen and weaving it through his fingers.
“Because my brother in-law was killed in a hit and run, my sister needs me,” I grunt.
He sits up straight, fidgeting at hearing this, then he grimaces. “I’m sorry. I had no idea, and if there’s anything I can do...”
Yeah, stay away from my fucking girl.
Eighteen
Chapter
ALICE
I remember once a girl asked me if I’d ever had the feeling like someone was watching me.
I crinkled my nose up at her.
Who the hell could feel eyes on them, I’d thought at the time.
But right now, as I walk, there’s an echo of my steps. Only it’s not an echo.
I feel it.
Eyes on me, tracking my movements.
It’s not the first time either.
I could have sworn someone was following me a couple of weeks back, but I had brushed it off as paranoia.
When I’d turned to confront whoever it was, I found a guy just walking in the same direction before splitting off across the street.
Was he actually following me?
My chest tightens the closer the steps sound.
It’s still light out, so I shouldn’t need to feel wary and scared, but the fear trickles into my veins anyway.
A million flashes of news articles race in my mind, making sickness stir in my gut.
Checking the road for cars, I take off in a jog across it.
Clouds darken the sky, blotting out the sun, sending chills crawling up my neck.
Once I’m safely on the other side, I stare back to see if the person followed me across, but there’s no one there.
I know I’m not imaging this.
Racing inside the Anonymous building I shuffle nervously from foot to foot.
I’m not sure if this is allowed or frowned upon, but I need to see Ebony.
I need to tell her what a piece of shit Mr. Lee is and that I didn’t get to meet Mr. Ross.
A flamboyant boy struts towards me with a pretty smile on his lips.
“Hello, can I help you?”
Squirming a little I say, “I’m here to see Ebony.”
Sadness erases his smile, and he holds his hands together at his chest like he’s praying.
“I’m sorry, she’s unavailable right now. Can I help you with something?”
Folding my arms, I look behind him at a girl swiping a tear from her eye.
“Is Ebony ok?” I find myself asking. The whole place reeks of misery.
A scowl tugs down his brow as he comes closer to me, ushering me into a corner.
“Ebony has had to take some personal time. Her husband was killed in a hit and run, and she’s just devastated, as can be expected.” He raises his eyes to the ceiling and becomes animated with his hand movements.
“It’s just terrible, and Ebony is…”
Before he can finish, I’m backing away, my breathing heavy, and hands beginning to shake.
My mind races, and sickness burns up my throat scorching a path in its wake.
Placing a hand over my mouth I force it to retreat.
How the hell can this be?
Coincidence. Maybe it’s a different hit and run victim.
“Miss?” The boy calls out, but I’m running, pushing through the doors.
I don’t stop running until my lungs burn and my feet scream for relief.
* * *
Asher is sitting at the breakfast table when I make it back home, the soles of my feet screaming for me to kick off my boots and submerge them in cool water.
I should have taken the bus, but once I started running, I couldn’t stop.
This all seems so fucking weird.
Of all the people Fred could have hit in his car, it was Ebony’s husband?
“Hey,” Asher grunts without looking up from the stuff he’s reading.
“What’s all that?” I ask, out of breath and sweating profusely.
“Lawyer shit, and bills, and insurance forms. I think I’m going to have to ask my aunt for help paying for a decent lawyer.”
“Maybe you don’t,” I say quietly.
Green eyes look up at me, crinkles marring his forehead.
“What the fuck does that mean?”
Pulling out the chair, I sit and hold in a sigh when my feet thank me for the reprieve.
“He killed someone Ash, someone’s husband.”
Screwing up his beautiful face, anger flickers in his gaze aimed at me.
“Since when do you have morals? He’s my dad. He might be an asshole, but prison? He’d never survive it.”
Shrugging, I shake my head.
“I don’t know Ash.”
I get to my feet and open the fridge. There’s a brown bag in there, which I know will have a sandwich inside from my favorite shop.
“Thank you,” I grab the bag and turn to go up to my room.
“Your welcome, and I fed your mother for you, too,” he shouts, scolding me.
When I open my laptop there’s a message from Ebony.
Before I see the words, my stomach hits the floor. Does she know?
Hey Alice.
Did you call in to see my brother at LeeRoss Industries?
He hasn’t mentioned seeing you.
I’m sure he will be willing to help you out.
Think about it.
All the best,
Ebony.
Oh my God, this woman is a saint.
She’s just lost her husband, yet she’s still concerned about me? She clearly doesn’t know the connection we have now.
What will she think when she finds out it was my stepfather who is responsible?
I re-read her message and smile. She dropped the fact that Mr. Ross is her brother.
Deciding I need to find out more about her.
I type her name into Google and get thousands of hits.
Urg.
I need to narrow this down.
I type in LeeRoss Industries and my heart flutters when a picture pops up on the screen.
Mr. Ross.
He’s stunning. Young, really young for someone who is so well established.
Why haven’t I Googled him before now?
I expected him to be a middle-aged hard ass, but he’s beautiful.
Dark eyes that peer into me from the screen.
Brown messy hair sitting askew over his forehead. Straight nose. Full lips.
He’s not smiling, and it makes him look so intense my body trembles.
Mr. Ross.
It’s so nice to finally meet you.
Nineteen
Chapter
ERIK
It’s driving me crazy that Alice hasn’t replied to the email I sent her a few days ago.
Does she think she can hide from me? Put me in the dark?
She’s inside me, my elixir, and I’m inside her, too.
You’re mine Alice. You can’t out run me, I can smell your fucking scent. Like a wolf, I’ll hunt you down and devour you.
“Thank you for coming,” Ebony says, taking the hand of one of Richard’s work colleagues. The last place I need to be is here, at this idiot’s funeral.
No one needs to hear hymns or some stranger talk about how wonderful Richard was
.
He wasn’t.
He was a piece of shit, and in his death it shows.
The place is barren.
The only thing offering Ebony any solace is the fact that they caught the guy who killed him. Or so they think.
She will never have to know the truth.
She’s free now.
Thanks to me.
* * *
Maggie has been lingering like a bad smell.
I hadn’t realized how overpowering her personality can be.
I’ve never actually spent this much time with her before.
She’s become skittish around Ebony, like her sorrow is a disease she may catch.
When Ebony talks about Richard, Maggie sighs, like it’s a burden to listen to her.
It makes me hate her.
Apparently the idiot was so drunk that night, he doesn’t remember not killing someone.
He couldn’t have made it easier for me to frame him.
There’s no wake being held for Richard.
Not enough people to even host one. It’s pitiful, much like his life.
I bring Ebony straight home after she thanks the last person for coming.
She’s been quiet, but coping.
She’s strong and resilient, she’s had to be.
“Do you want me to go out and get something for dinner?” Maggie offers, but Ebony shakes her head and goes straight up to her room.
“Me and you then?” she’s desperate to get back in my good graces despite it being me who upset her in the first place.
How low must her self worth be to be this pathetic?
“I actually have to go out, so if you can stay, just to keep an eye on her...”
Her heads nods repeatedly like she’s one of those dashboard dolls.
“Of course.”
* * *
Alice, my little ray of sunshine in a gloomy world.
If only you knew the hell of a week I’ve had.