I stood there a moment, observing him, his movements angry and sharp as he placed the pot on the stove, sloshing some over the rim and onto the burner. His expression pinched, and even from where I stood, I could make out the bloodshot eyes, the worry creasing his brow.
“Dad, what are you doing home so early?” I asked, my tone careful, like someone asking why they held a gun in their hand.
The creases smoothed before his gaze shot up to mine. “Hey, P!” he said, his tone forced. “How about spaghetti for dinner? You girls like spaghetti, right?”
“We had spaghetti last night.”
“Oh. Right.” His expression fell a little. “Well, we can have . . .” He glanced around him, looking lost.
“Spaghetti’s fine, Dad. It’s Sara’s favorite anyway, she’ll be thrilled,” I said, mostly because it was true, but also because I couldn’t stand to see his pained expression anymore or the doubt—or whatever emotion it was—clouding his eyes.
“Okay, great.” He shook his head, but he made no move toward the jar of sauce in front of him on the counter. Instead, he crumpled forward, placing his elbows on the counter, head in his hands.
“Dad?” I asked again, because now he was really scaring me. “What’s going on?”
“I let you down, P. I let both of you down.”
“What are you talking about? You could never let us down.” I moved closer until I was directly beside him and placed a hand tentatively on his back, afraid he might crack.
The gesture must’ve worked because a moment later, he sniffed and cleared his throat, then stood. “I lost my job, P. Fired.”
Shock reeled through me like a thunderclap. “What? But how, why?”
He shrugged and shook his head, ripping a dishtowel off the counter and threading it between his hands. “Elliot’s had some equipment go missing these past few weeks . . .”
My thoughts drifted as he spoke. Back to the night Topher and I went to the IRL concert and we got caught by the security guard outside his father’s business. That was his reason for patrolling the area, he’d told us as much.
And then it hit me like a ton of bricks.
I was the reason my father got fired.
“You have to believe me,” he went on. “I didn’t steal anything. Not one single thing.”
“Dad, I know.”
“The only things I ever took from that man without his explicit permission was the aching back I brought home every night,” he continued, his voice thick—a grown man nearly in tears at the thought of being unable to provide for his family. “I swear to you. You know I would never steal—”
“Dad, stop!” I shouted, clapping my hands over my ears.
He blinked up at me, a frown pulling at his mouth.
“It was me,” I said, my heart aching with the words.
“What do you mean it was you?”
I exhaled and ran a hand through the length of my hair. “I mean, not the stealing part. I didn’t steal anything, but it was me that got you fired. I’m the reason.”
Dad shifted on his feet, and I could all but see his thoughts churning, waiting for me to elaborate.
“Mr. Elliot, he warned me to stay away from Topher, and I didn’t listen.”
“What?” His face scrunched, clearly confused. “Why would he do that?”
“Because Topher wanted to go against his father’s wishes about something, and I agreed and encouraged him to follow his heart. I guess his dad didn’t particularly like that advice, and so when I saw him at his game that afternoon, he so much as told me that if I didn’t stay away from him and stop putting thoughts in his head that you’d find yourself without a job.”
“But that’s crazy. Even if that were the case, you only see each other at school. You . . .” His voice trailed off as his gaze flickered over my face, to the teeth currently biting my bottom lip, to my eyes surely clouded with guilt.
“We, uh . . . it was him I went to the IRL concert with. Not Scarlett.”
“You lied?”
I nodded, and my voice wobbled when I spoke. “The security guard at Elliot Landscaping caught us there afterward.”
When his eyes darkened, and I rushed to add, “We were only eating. We stopped there on the way home with our food.”
Dad’s cheeks reddened and he scrubbed a hand over his face. “I told you to be careful with the Elliot boy.”
“I know.”
“And you lied to me.”
My throat constricted. “I know,” I said, my voice thick, and I could practically hear the rest of his sentence—and as a result, I got fired.
“Go to your room.”
“But, Dad—”
“I said, go to your room!” his voice boomed through our tiny kitchen, and I flinched.
Dad never yelled at us.
I turned, swallowing back the lump in my throat and willing away the sting in my eyes. I could only imagine how upset he was. We weren’t exactly rolling in the dough, but at least he was able to provide a comfortable enough life for us. And now . . . And to find out it was because I didn’t listen. And I lied.
“And you're grounded. Until further notice,” he added to my turned back.
I paused, waiting to see if there was more and wondering why he didn’t just say that to my face. Maybe it was because he couldn’t stand to look at me. Or maybe it was because he had zero experience in such matters. Since Mom, I hadn’t so much as blinked in the wrong direction. I’d been the model child, if only to make his life easier. If only to please him.
When he said nothing else, I headed to my room, my pace swift. I closed the door behind me and threw myself on the bed, where I stared up at the ceiling.
My thoughts raced. What would Dad do for work? Would he find another job? Would we lose the house? His car?
Part of me was shocked Mr. Elliot made good on his promise. Then again, I should’ve known. With money came power, even if it was only over your own employees.
And then another thought occurred to me. Slowly slipping into my thoughts.
He wasn’t the only one that held power. Because with information came power, too.
And I knew a secret. Something only one other person knew—that he was having an affair with one of Lakeview Prep’s teachers.
TOPHER
I straightened my tie in the mirror. Dark blue with buff-colored stripes. Bucknell colors.
I released the air in my lungs and dropped my arms, staring at my reflection. The black suit. The crisp, clean white shirt. My blond hair neatly combed back from my face. In a matter of hours, I’d walk the grounds of campus alongside the recruiter.
I was ready, and really, this meeting was long overdue. It was about time I put my happiness into my own hands. Because no one else was going to, especially my father.
I took a final glance in the mirror, turned, and headed out of my room, down the stairs, and toward the front door. But when I headed into the coatroom and grabbed my keys from the dish, then turned around, my father was standing there waiting for me.
His sharp gaze took in the suit. “Where are you going?”
“A meeting.”
“Care to elaborate?”
I barely resisted rolling my eyes. Dad knew very well which meeting, but he wanted me to say it. “With the Bucknell recruiter. And you may as well know I’m probably going to accept their offer.”
For a moment, I wondered if he heard me. He didn’t so much as bat an eye, and then one corner of his mouth turned into a smug grin. “In what car?”
“What?”
“I asked, in what car?” he repeated slowly like I was dumb.
“Mine.”
“You mean the one I bought you. With money earned from my business. The one you take for granted. The one you want nothing to do with. Well, isn’t that cheeky?”
My cheeks burned. “Last I checked, it was a gift.”
“Maybe, but let’s get one thing straight. As long as you live here, under my roof, nothing is fully yours. Yo
u got that? Nothing.”
I swallowed, unsure of how to navigate this. Would he try to stop me from leaving?
When it came down to it, I was pretty sure I’d win if it came to a physical altercation. Years of water polo and long hours in the gym had chiseled my muscles. And I had height on my side. But as much as I resented my father, I didn’t want it to come to that. So like an idiot, I hoped I could reason with him.
“Dad, I’d be no good at running Elliot Landscaping because I don’t care about running my own business. I want a career coaching if I can have one, and this is the best shot I’m gonna get. It’s not like a ton of schools have water polo programs. So, if I’m good enough to warrant a scholarship at a good school, I’m gonna take it.”
“You think I run Elliot’s because of passion? You think I care about landscaping and pool care?” He laughed. “No, son. I do it because it makes me money. I do it because I have become the biggest company in the state. From taking on residential work to giant firms, earning huge contracts with businesses from here, to Chester, to Virginia Beach, with branches all over. I do it because it’s made us filthy rich. You think you can earn a good living as a coach?” He huffed a breath. “Well, that’s cute. Real cute.”
I gritted my teeth. He was such a condescending ass.
“Look around,” he continued, spreading his arms wide. “How do you think I got us here? It wasn’t on a coach’s salary, that’s for damn sure.”
“I don’t care. I’m not you.”
“You say that—”
“I mean it,” I snapped, grinding my teeth so hard I thought they might crack.
Dad’s eyes flashed an angry gray. “Come on. Let’s go. Do the smart thing.” He reached out and gripped my arm. “No woman is going to want you once you’re my age if you can barely afford to support her.”
I ripped my arm away from him and shouldered him out of the way. “I know for a fact that’s not true,” I said stupidly as my thoughts flashed to Penelope and Julie. Two girls who liked me for who I really was. Who saw me for me.
“It’s that girl, isn’t it?”
I frowned and turned back, confused. For a moment, I wondered if he could read my thoughts. “What girl?”
“The Ewe girl. She was at your meet a couple weeks back. She must be it, right? The reason you're so hell-bent on taking this scholarship? How sweet.” His smug grin stretched. “She convinced you this was a good idea, and you listened. Follow your dreams, and all will be merry and bright or some kind of fluffy crap like that.”
“No.” I shook my head, hating him for mocking her. Hating that he even knew she existed because he didn’t deserve to know someone like her. She was kind and strong and loyal and gracious. Everything good in the world, and everything he wasn’t.
“But of course she’d say that,” Dad continued. “And you didn’t even question it. Didn’t even bother to think of where she comes from. Her father works for me, and he can barely even afford the mortgage at their dump in Hillbrook, let alone in a decent neighborhood. She could give a crap less about making any real money because they’ve never had any.”
Anger burst inside me like fireworks, hot and bright behind my eyes until I could hardly see.
I stepped forward, barely able to contain my rage as I said, “Don’t you talk about her. Ever.” Another step closer and I was right in his face. Teeth clenched. Hands in fists.
“Touchy, are we? I don’t understand your fascination with her, but she’s a one-way street to nowhere, especially now that I fired her father. Screw her, get her out of your system, and move on.”
All the blood rushed from my face to my limbs. My muscles coiled and my heart thumped, a drum in my ears.
Is that what he was doing with Ms. Stone? Screwing her and getting her out of his system?
I wanted to say it. Wanted to spew the ugly words. Let him know I knew about the affair, that he wasn’t the pillar of society he made himself out to be. But then something else he said echoed through my thoughts. I’d just been too blinded by my rage to catch it the first time.
She’s a one-way street to nowhere, especially now that I fired her father.
“What do you mean, you fired her father?”
He shrugged. “Men like him are dispensable. Besides, he was due a raise sooner or later. Had been for a long time, really. It’s easier and cheaper just to hire someone new, some college kid looking to make some cash.”
My eyes widened, and if I ever disliked my father before, I hated him now.
I thought of all the things Penelope’s family had been through. The death of her mother. Her father scraping to get by. And now this . . .
My fist curled tighter until my nails bit into my palms, and just as I pulled my arm back, the doorbell rang, and he pivoted for the door. My arm trembled without a target, so I shook it out, ready to use his distraction and move past him and out the door when a familiar voice drifted toward me. “Mr. Elliot, I’d like to have a word with you.”
Penelope.
Chapter 25
PENELOPE
When Dad told me I couldn’t go to Sara’s game because I was grounded, I was shocked. I never would have thought he’d stop me from watching her play. But then I realized it gave me the perfect opportunity. I’d have plenty of time to confront Mr. Elliot and be back before my father got home. He’d be none the wiser. I just had to pray my timing was right and Topher had already left for Bucknell.
While my father and Sara were at her game, I snuck out of the house and headed into Lakeview and the Elliot’s affluent neighborhood. Their house was easily the largest among them, and when I pulled up to the giant monster, I turned off the ignition of my car, taking it in. The white brick exterior was pristine under the morning sun. Windows larger than whole rooms in my house showcased the front of the home, providing glimpses of the lavish interior, dripping with crystal chandeliers and oil paintings I was sure cost a fortune.
My stomach did a little flip as I thought of Topher. He grew up here. Lived here, still. And no matter how much he loathed his father, he was his family. And what I was about to do could potentially tear them apart while destroying his trust in me in the process. Whatever semblance of a friendship we had may as well be gone.
I closed my eyes, gathering my strength, wishing there was another way, but knowing there wasn’t. This was my fault. I did this, and now I had to fix it. Even if it meant hurting someone I cared about in the process, because if I did nothing, my family would be the one hurting, and I’d promised my mom. I’d promised her and myself that I’d always take care of Sara, that I’d be there for my father. Make his life better instead of being a burden, which meant I had no choice.
I forced my guilt away and the image of Topher from my head, thinking about how broken my father looked as he told me he lost his job. How he’d tried to explain himself while reigning in tears, when deep down, I was to blame. Simply because I had been a friend to his son. Because Topher had defied him instead of remaining his puppet.
A swell of anger rose inside my chest, propelling me forward as I got out of the car. I made my way carefully over the stamped concrete, stained a rich brown, and toward the front door where I rang the doorbell, unsure of what to expect and who would answer. A butler? A housekeeper? Mrs. Elliot?
The muffled sound of voices from inside stopped, and when the door swung open, his father stared out at me. Eyes wide with shock, it took him a moment to suppress his surprise before he smoothed a hand down the front of his crisp white shirt and opened his mouth to speak.
“You need to give my father his job back,” I said before he could get a word out.
He guffawed like this was some kind of joke. “You’ve got balls, at least. I’ll give you that.”
I shifted on my feet, determined to remain unintimidated. “I’m serious.”
“It’s too late. I’ve already replaced him.” He stepped through the doorway, closer to me on the stoop. “See, that’s how easy it is,” he said, his voice
dripping with condescension, “replacing people like you—nobody’s. You’re nothing. It’s easy as that.” He snapped his fingers.
Rage shot through my veins, boiling my blood and heating my cheeks. “Oh, I think you’ll change your mind.”
“And why’s that, hmm?” He shoved his hands inside the pockets of his slacks, so sure of himself, so confident I held zero power.
“Because when the whole school and the entire Lakeview community discovers you’re a cheater and a fraud, they’re going to want nothing to do with you.”
His eyes darkened, along with his smile. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“No?” I lifted my phone out for him to see the screen open to my exchange with Topher, where he told me about his affair with Ms. Stone. “I think Principal Bell would be pretty interested to see these. So would your wife. Then again, maybe I’m wrong.”
Gone was the smug smile. In its place, Elliot wore a murderous expression. A giant vein throbbed in his forehead, and the muscle in his jaw twitched. “You have no proof. A conversation with my son, who is a liar, proves nothing.”
“I have copies of the emails,” I lied, prepared for this argument. “All of them.”
Elliot glanced away from me, his hands curling into fists at his side before he turned back to me once more, his gaze steady on my face, cool and composed. “What do you want?”
“Just for you to give my father his job back and a raise?”
He hesitated, his jaw working.
“What’s it gonna be, Elliot? What’s your pristine reputation worth? Your marriage? Your business and your future career in politics?”
“You know . . .” he started, and I noted the flattening of his lips, the resignation in his eyes. “I do think I was wrong about the stolen equipment. Turns out, I’d sent it in for repairs. Silly me. I’ll call him and let him know, personally.”
I nodded, a smile curling the corners of my mouth. A small win and a short-lived one. Behind him, the door pushed open, and there, in the entryway of the Elliot’s magnificent home, was Topher, staring down at me like he would a stranger.
Hate Notes: A Sweet Enemies to Lovers Young Adult Romance (Lakeview Prep Book 1) Page 18