by Ana Slash
Bella
My stepfather has been amazing. He has taken a liking to me, and now I am having a hard time believing what the guys say about him.
He’s a nice man. I’m seeing another side of my mother, I didn’t know existed. She seemed to have a drinking problem, and even worse, she is having affairs with different men behind my step Dad’s back! But then I recognized her yoga teacher, Mario. I guess that part of my memory still exists!
Mario, her yoga instructor, always hangs around the mansion whenever my step Dad steps out of the home. But then when I question my mother, she laughs and says, “Oh your step father knows all about my relationship with Mario. But my dear, I’m glad you are getting your memory back.”
That’s the moment she instantly placed her hands on my face and kissed my cheeks.
“Well, on the positive note you are starting school today,” she said.
I smiled and responded, “it will be great to know who my true friends are. There’s this one friend Susan, everything seems to work out fine for her. But I don’t know what it is, mom, I sense she acted differently in the past.”
My mother folded her hands and, “oh?”
She pursed her lips and made a face.
She said, “oh you mean Susan, well she really isn’t from your social standing so it does not surprise me. I don’t know why you were friends in the first place? You ought to be friends with girls from your elite class. Yet you picked her and I guess that’s just the way it is.”
I looked at my mother and said, “perhaps that’s just your impression, mother, but she seems really nice. Plus, she’s been very helpful trying to help me with my memory.”
Mom said, “I watch as I were you.”
I shrugged and turned around to pick up my things for school.
That’s the moment my stepfather walked into the room.
He smiled and said, “all ready for school? I’ll take you there today.”
Surprised by his kind gesture, mother turned around.
She looked at him and said, “Well darling, that’s really nice of you, I’m impressed, this is the first time you have offered to drop her off at Wexley.”
He smiled and said, “It’s the least I can do. Bella’s gone through a lot lately and now that she’s getting some memory back, we must encourage her in every way possible. I just want to make sure she gets to school on time, that’s all.”
My mother teased his arm and said, “I knew I could count to you darling, you are the best.”
And with that, she kissed my father’s lips.
I coughed.
They turned to me and smiled.
For a moment, they looked like the ideal couple meant for each other.
But it was all a facade, and they knew it too.
“So shall we?” My stepfather asked.
I nodded, ready to return to school.
I said to him, “yes we shall.” And with that, he placed the tender arm on my back and ushered me to the car.
We got into his beautiful driverless Maybach and headed to my school.
As soon as I got to my school, I got out of the car, leaned over the window, looked in and said, “Thanks.”
He said, “Not a problem.”
I wanted to walk in and act like I knew everyone there, even though my memory still seemed foggy.
I walked into the hallway, and I noticed his girls looking at me with menacing eyes.
I wondered what was going on with them?
Why are they looking at me that way?
I clutched my book bag and kept on walking, trying not to pay attention to them.
But then a girl who looked like she had a few silicone enhancements stepped in front of me and said, “hello there I’m Jessica I heard you lost your memory poor thing.”
I forced a smile while wondering, are they friends of mine?
I said to her, “Jessica, nice to meet you, what are we friends?”
She laughed wickedly and said, “I guess you can call it that if you consider someone who tried to take your boyfriend a friend, then maybe we are friends in your world, not mine.”
Stunned by her words, I winced.
I shook my head and said to her, “I won’t do that?”
“Sure that’s what they all say, hmm but you did anyway.”
That’s the moment Susan walked up to me and said, “Jessica, leave her alone.”
Then she said, “I’m so glad to have you back in school we missed, I missed you.”
She held me close and ushered me away from Jessica’s presence.
We walked down the hallway, when suddenly a lady I assumed was the principal stopped us.
She said, “May I have a word with you, Ms. Bella. I’m surprised you’re back in school. We have issues with your tuition.”
I raised an eyebrow and looked at her.
My friend Susan did the same.
“Hmm, problems with the tuition?” I asked.
She nodded and said “yes apparently you’ve not paid ...”
Suddenly she got interrupted by a familiar male voice.
I beamed.
I felt a pair of hands on my shoulder.
I turned around to see my stepfather.
He squeezed my shoulder slightly and said in a deep voice, “I think there must be a misunderstanding.”
The principal looked a little shocked.
She said, “why yes sir, I guess there was a misunderstanding. But I thought...”
He cut her off and said, “whatever you thought Miss Bryan, I understand you are new here, so you misunderstood everything. I paid my daughter’s tuition."
Principal looked confused. She ran her hand through her hair and pushed up her glasses on her nose.
She said, “I guess it was a misunderstanding, sir. But It's handled now. Oh and welcome back Bella. The rest of you get to class.”
She walked away nervously.
I turned to my stepfather and said, “thanks Dad or do I call you Dad?”
He smiled and said, “you can call me Daddy anytime.”
I noticed Susan looked upset.
He turned and looked at her, and she averted his gaze.
I wondered why?
I had bad dreams involving them, but I thought it was just a nightmare, something that had to do with that rainstorm the other night?
“Well, my darling, have a good day today and will see you when you get back.”
And with that, my stepfather slid back and walked away, but not before turning around and stealing a glance at Susan.
Susan shifted uneasily.
I looked at her and then turned to my stepfather. He smiled and walked away stoically like he ruled the world, which he probably did.
I turned to Susan and said, “what was that all about?”
She shook her head and forced a smile.
Then she said, “oh it’s nothing, nothing at all the worry about it.”
I nodded.
She placed a hand on mine and said, “We really need to get back to class. It’s great to have you back.”
And with that, we walked into the classroom.
The moment we stepped in, all eyes turned towards us.
I glanced at the corner and there he was, handsome Maxim.
I turned to look the other way and noticed Killian and Matteo.
I smiled and slid my hair behind my ears and twirled my pen, waiting for the teacher to walk into the room.
And when he did, he had a stern look.
He said, “no you almost at the end of the year I think you know what that means exams, exams graduation and hopefully you will all get into an elite university but you must work hard because things don’t come easy.”
And with that, I heard some girls laughing.
He turned around and looked at them and said, “is there a problem, Ms. Samantha?”
The girl called Samantha that shook her head and said, “no no problem at all, sir Jeffrey.”
It seemed a little sini
ster for her to speak to the instructor that way.
What the hell was going on in the school?
I remember everything that had to do with my studies, yet I just couldn’t remember much of what happened that night or my social activities. I guess I have selective memory. I took a deep breath and exhaled. I looked up to notice Maxim.
And he smiled at me, and I smiled back at him.
And then we started focusing on the task ahead, when suddenly the class got interrupted by a man who looked like an officer standing next to the principal. Everyone looked up, stunned to see a member of the law enforcement in their class.
The principal said, “Mr. Maximilian, where are you? We must have a word with you.”
I turned to Maxim, and he looked back at me. He shook his head and frowned.
His facial expression read, “what was going on here?”
I started looking around the class, everyone started mumbling amongst themselves, and that’s when I realized this does not look good for Maxim.
9
Maxim
When they walked in, I knew exactly who they were here for, me. I shook my head and thought this truly cannot be happening, but oh yes it was happening. I turned to look at Bella and smiled. She glanced back at me with a concerned look. I clutched and clenched my fist and got up the moment they called my name.
The officer said, “Son, we need to have a word with you at the station. I nodded, knowing my rights. I asked to see a lawyer and that I would need representation. I asked if my father was aware of this.
They said it would just be an easy discussion and after all you are an adult, you should be fine. Killian and Matteo got up in protest, they said they wanted to come along but the principal said no, you two must stay, This does not concern you for now. You must all focus on your studies. You all need to graduate soon, the school depends on you all to keep the name. Top schools only.
And with that, I turned to look at Bella. She looked at me teary eyed, still not understanding what was going on and why I was being led away. I watched as she murmured silently, “It will be okay, I am here for you.”
I nodded and smiled at her.
And with that, the officers led me to their car. I immediately sent a text to my father letting him know I was being taken away for questioning. He sent a response:
“What? I will be there, son.”
“What’s up with the darkened skies?”
An officer remarked, “Something eerie must be on the way, the cloud is dark and that crazy storm the other night seemed so bizarre I wondered what happened.”
The other officer remarked, “well whatever it is, I hope it will never happen again. The last thing I need is something delaying my vacation.”
“Do you really think the kid tried to kill her?”
“How the hell should I know, with wealthy folks I wouldn’t put it past them. They might seem to care, but in reality they don’t.”
I couldn’t believe they were talking about me when I was right there behind them. I thought about Bella and how my father’s best friend and her step father planned this, but I had no proof it was my word against his.
There was nothing I could do about it. I got ushered out of the car and into this room.
The investigators tried to talk to me, but I held back and asked to see a lawyer.
They wanted to say something else when my father’s lawyer walked in and said, “I will take it from here officers whatever you have to ask him you need to run it through me.”
Relieved by his presence, I relaxed onto the chair.
The officers changed their words; they claimed it was just friendly questioning nothing else.
The lawyer then said, “Well that is what it is, I suggest a better time would be appropriate. My client has a lot to worry about with standardized tests coming up and all. He cannot be distracted by this right about now.
The officers had nothing to add because they were not prepared to have the most expensive lawyer in the room.
They said I was free to go, and with that the lawyer led me out the building.
He said not to talk to anyone about anything.
I walked out the building, and a car pulled up. It was my father; he opened the door and I got in.
He looked at me and remarked, ‘I thought I told you to stay away from that girl, but you didn’t listen. Do you know the financial implications of this? You are accusing my best friend of something and now he is putting the pressure on us, he wants you to pay for what you did.
What were you doing at the tower that night, I should have asked you earlier, but I decided not to because you are my son and because I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt? Getting sued shouldn’t be taken lightly. I don’t need it and you don’t need a charge like this.”
But Dad, I didn’t do it. I was up there to save her, that’s it.”
“I don’t really care why you went up there but you did, you should have respected my wishes to stay away from her.
I sighed and looked out the window. Dad placed his hand on my leg and said, “listen I know you and I have not had a great relationship but I want you to forget about her for now. I don’t get it, why do you…”
‘Why do I stay with her? Well I am trying to be like you, Dad, you seem to have a seductive time with my classmate hmm, but my...”
Angered, by my words, Dad shot me a dark stare?
He said, “whatever I do is my business. You need to stay out of it.”
“Just like I wish you’d stay out my mine Dad.”
“How dare you…”
“How dare I speak the truth, she’s too young for you? And this will not look good for your company when it gets out, because I am sure it eventually will.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about. I think you have me confused or something?”
I shook my head, knowing I couldn’t possibly get anywhere with my father. It was pointless to go against the family’s patriarch. Dad did not become a Silicon Valley executive just by playing nice.
I still don’t know why his friend would want to sue me when Mr. Myers ought to be the one in jail.
He threatened Bella and all I did that night was try to save her and here I am paying the price for it too.
“I am going to drop you off at home.
I have to attend a meeting; I don’t think you understand the severity of the charges. You were all alone with Bella and unless she gains her memory back, then you have no proof. Listen, if you went up there just to have fun with her, we can take care of it.”
Now here is the deal. I will drop you over at the house but you have to study and stay focused. You can’t have this be a distraction, do you understand? Forget about this Bella girl for now.
I know you don’t understand why I do certain things. But it is my choice to live the way I desire, as long as I am not breaking any laws. I could try to get Mr. Myers to drop the charges as long as you give me your word you will focus on school. You will get into the elite university or Stanford nothing less than that, okay?”
I turned and looked out the window towards the horizon. The Bay looked beautiful as always; I have been so caught up in Wexley I didn’t take the time to enjoy nature.
Gosh what’s going on with me right now?
I stayed silent throughout the drive and listened as my father took his business calls until we got home.
He let me out of the vehicle, leaned over and said, “Listen, you must stay focused. You will take over my empire someday. Focus on the now. We don’t need people prying into our personal business. Remember Stanford elite or nothing. Now go!”
I stayed calm and watched as my father’s driverless car drove off. Then I turned and walked into the mansion and into my room. I sat at my desk, pulled out a book and threw it on the wall. Damn it! I can’t believe no one believed me. I can’t believe it. I feel even Killian and Matteo have their doubts. I laid on my bed and tossed and turned.
My father’s right, I couldn�
��t let my family down. I couldn’t let the name down.
It will be a disgrace if I can’t get into the college of my father’s choice.
But it’s hard with this cloud looming over my head.
I took a deep breath and exhaled, as crazy as it sounds. I was all alone in the home.
That’s the moment my phone buzzed. I glanced at it; it was an alert message from the weather reporting channel.
The storm began again, and this time it was drastic.
I turned to the television screen blaring something about a pandemic or a contagious situation happening.
I thought about Bella. I couldn’t get her out of my mind, no matter how much I tried, it was impossible.
I swallowed and turned off the television. No one in my family seems to take it seriously.
I imagined it was nothing I should worry about until I heard a rattling sound.
What’s happening? The storm stopped. It was crazy. I turned the television back on and sat up.
What the hell just happened? I wondered out loud.
Apparently, another one of those flash storms was on the way. It would be torrential, they said. I shook my head, placed a hand over my face and closed my eyes.
Moments later I got another text message, this time from Bella.
How are you doing? Are you okay?
I pulled up the device and typed up a message then I erased it, maybe Dad was right why would I want to continue getting involved and possibly getting my heart hurt in the process? So I ignored her message.
But she persisted.
“Please tell me you are okay, do you need someone to bail you out?”’
10
Bella
Once Maxim left the classroom the other guys Killian and Matteo left the classroom, I turned to see the girls looking menacingly at me. I wondered why?
One girl who looked like she had too much makeup on and a bad cosmetic job stepped up to me and sat on my desk. I politely said to her, “hmm you are sitting on my device if you don’t mind.”
She laughed and barked, “you could have your choice of any guy in this class, but you picked the elite? Why?
Do you realize who you are or is your memory still not helping here? Hmm? You are nothing but a whore’s daughter who got lucky to snag one of the most eligible men in the Bay Area!”