by Ingrid Diaz
“Too close.”
Chris glanced at me, a smile playing at her lips. “Is that how you look at it now?”
“I’m starting to see things differently.”
She studied me again then shrugged away whatever thought she’d had. “They were fun times.”
Fun. I wasn’t entirely sure I’d grasped the concept of fun in my lifetime. “I guess.”
“So what sparked this sudden need to see Aaron? Need to be reminded of why it is you’re putting yourself through this?”
“Maybe.”
Chris seemed to hesitate. She sighed. “He’s in the basement.” She nodded to a door in the far right side of the room. “Make it quick.”
I nodded my appreciation and headed off to the door. I opened it and was immediately bathed in darkness. I almost regretted this decision. There was an incline of steps leading down to a corridor dressed in fluorescent lighting.
“Aaron?”
“Val?”
I hurried in the direction of his voice and found him a moment later, sitting on a mattress on the floor, his back against the wall. He jumped to his feet as he saw me. “Did you get the money?”
“No,” I responded simply, glancing around my brother’s confinement. Flickering blue light on the ceiling, mattress on the floor, toilet, and a tray of half-eaten food. He might as well have been in jail. “Nice place.”
Aaron snorted, sitting back down. He no longer seemed excited to see me. “What’s with the hair?”
“Plan A.”
He nodded, running a hand through his own hair. It bordered on black but not quite. “What plan are we on now?”
“No plan.”
His face paled slightly. “Are you giving up?”
I just shrugged. Truth of the matter was, I had no idea where to go from here. “There have been some complications.”
“Fall in love?”
I glanced at him sharply. “What?”
“Chris said something about you falling in love with some girl. Great timing.”
His sudden sarcasm grated at my nerves. “I’m not in love with anyone,” I responded and I felt a sinking feeling in my heart as the words left my mouth.
“So what are the complications then? Can’t you just show up at what’s-her-face’s door and demand that she give you the money? She doesn’t deserve it any more than we do. We might as well prosper from her good fortune.”
“I don’t want her to know,” I answered sternly.
“Well, fuck that!” he yelled suddenly, his voice echoing down the desolate corridor. “It’s my life on the line here. Who cares if she knows or doesn’t know? I’m sick of protecting her feelings. It’s about time the little princess got a shot of reality.”
Sighing, I took a seat against the opposite wall. I understood my brother’s frustration and empathized with his anger, for it mirrored my own at one point in time. “Calm down, you got yourself into this. If it weren’t for me, you’d be fingerless and dickless at the bottom of the Atlantic.”
“What do you want me to do, kiss your feet in endless appreciation?”
“Just giving you a shot of reality.”
He let out a long breath. “Why are you here?”
“Just checking up on you.”
“And what do you think?”
“Could be worse.”
Blue eyes focused on my own for a long moment. “When are you gonna get me out of here?”
When . . . not “how” . . . The “how” was up to me. I sighed. “I don’t know.” Then I added, “But I will. I promise.”
He nodded, closing his eyes. “I know you will. There’s nothing you can’t do.”
My heart ached. I stood, unable to bear this scene any longer. “Be good.”
He didn’t respond so I started walking down the corridor. I was almost at the stairs when I heard, “Val?”
“Yeah?” I called back, not turning around.
“Be careful.”
I fought back the tears the sentiment caused and climbed the stairs.
Ò
My decision to meet with Jessica sprung from a moment of complete boldness and determination that seemed to pass as the Heart Mansion rolled into view. The exaggerated pace at which my heart was beating washed away my last remaining traces of courage.
I parked the car on the circular driveway and sat back, staring straight ahead. There was no use in stalling, I told myself. She knew I was there. I unbuckled my seatbelt, withdrew the keys from the ignition, threw the door open, and jumped down into a pool of noisy rocks.
I stared up at the mansion. It always reminded me of the castles in Disney movies. The one in Beauty and the Beast maybe. I wasn’t sure how many floors it had. Windows—hundreds of them—peered at me like judgmental eyes; watching and waiting. I forced my unwilling legs toward the door. The gravel ended as a couple of concrete steps began and I quickly ascended and stopped and stared up at the imposing doors.
Before I had a chance to ring the bell, the door on the right began to open. The butler appeared in the doorway and gave me a curt bow before stepping to the side. He motioned me in. The entire butler concept seemed a bit surreal to me but I played along, feeling extremely out of place.
I had often entertained fantasies—mostly in my younger years—of switching places with Jessica Heart. If I’d been born first, all of this would be mine, I thought, looking around the foyer.
A bright chandelier hung over my head, illuminating the entrance in a way that seemed smug to me. A long and expensive-looking rug welcomed my feet, then ended a few steps away to reveal black marble tiles.
The butler—Maurice was it?—closed the door and stretched his arm in a pointing motion. “Ms. Je—Mrs. Collins is in the study,” he informed me, obviously embarrassed by his slip of the tongue. I hid my smile as I followed him.
The only place I’d visited in the mansion was Jessica’s bedroom and to get there I had to take the red-carpeted staircase a couple of yards from where I currently walked. We were veering away from it, to the right, down a corridor I hadn’t noticed existed. It was darker there and the wood-paneled walls disturbed me. They were decorated with paintings that reminded me of the ones I’d seen in my art books from school.
Maurice stopped in front of a set of double-doors, identical to the ones I’d passed along the way. He knocked and waited for permission to enter. Then he stepped forward and announced my arrival.
I somehow kept myself from rolling my eyes as I entered the room. He shut the door quickly, leaving me alone with my sister.
She was sitting behind a large oak desk which was scattered with papers. The room was lit by a couple of lamps that stood at each side of the large window behind her. I could see my Bronco from where I was standing and I wondered if she’d watched me as I’d arrived.
Jessica stood to greet me and I swallowed as I stepped forward. She was breathtakingly beautiful, no doubt about it. Her now short hair lay atop her head in a fashionably messy style, partly spiked in the back and held at each side by a couple of miniature butterfly clips. She was dressed casually, as I’d come to realize was her style, in a pair of faded light blue jeans that hugged her curves quite perfectly. A small white shirt with an oceanic print in the center completed her look. Her face was unnervingly expressionless as she took me in.
I wasn’t sure what kind of impression I was making; or had ever made. I hadn’t been entirely sure what kind of attire was appropriate for this kind of meeting (Vogue didn’t have any fashion tips for meeting with your long lost sister who didn’t know she was your sister). So I’d opted for my usual Levi 501’s and a black tank top that reached just above my belly-button, allowing a clear view of the ring therein. My blonde hair was loose as usual, framing my face and cascading down my back.
We stared at each other. I had the oddest feeling that I was staring into a mirror. A strange look passed across Jessica’s face but she masked it before I had a chance to interpret its meaning.
“Take a
seat,” she instructed neutrally, reclaiming her chair.
As I settled into the soft cushions of the proffered chair, I felt a strange sense of sadness wash over me and I struggled to suppress it with little success. What would it have been like to grow up with her as a sister? How much different from me was she? How alike? My heart ached and I begged my mind not to go there.
“Would you like anything to drink?”
“No, thank you,” I said, though I could’ve used a shot of something. I kept my gaze far away from the intensity of my sister’s. I wanted so badly to hate her. Hating her made everything easier. I’d expected her to be different. I’d expected her to be snobby. I’d expected her to be a bitch. I’d expected her to be someone deserving of my actions. But she wasn’t. And all I could do was wonder what she thought of me.
“Alix told me you needed my help.” Her blue eyes fought to meet mine and I lost the battle. Her face remained as impassive as I imagined mine to be.
Inwardly, I cringed at the mention of the word “help.” Help was something I’d never asked for, regardless of necessity. I felt my pride deflating. Here I was, groveling at the feet of a sister who didn’t know she was my blood. Resigned to begging for the sake of a brother who cared for little beyond his own needs. And where did I fit into all of this? “I do,” I finally replied, my voice empty, as if I’d said those same words so many times that they were void of emotional meaning.
“What do you need?” she asked.
I locked our gazes together. “A million and a half.”
She sat back, and I attempted to read her mind. She continued to hold my gaze. “Why should I help you?”
Her tone wasn’t threatening and I suspected that she was testing me. “Because if you don’t, my brother will die. You have no reason to help me, but I’m out of options and he’s almost out of time.”
Her features darkened for an instant and I wondered if she knew the specifics of how she came to be at the other side of that desk. Twenty million for my sister, one point five for my brother. And me? How much was I worth?
Jessica took a deep breath. “I’ll give it to you. On one condition.”
My eyebrow arched in silent question, my heart speeding up in excitement, my mind racing to figure out what she could possibly ask of me.
“You stay away from Alix.” I felt the sting of each word upon my heart.
“Is that how you operate? My brother for your best friend? That’s blackmail.”
“Not blackmail.” She shook her head slightly. “It’s my right to be concerned for Alix’s well-being, after everything you’ve done to her.” She shrugged. “I don’t think it’s an unfair request, considering what I’m giving you.”
Bribery. That’s what it was. I began to reconsider all the nice thoughts I’d had about Jessica Heart. “I won’t agree to that.”
Jessica contemplated this for a long time. “You’d really give up your brother’s life for the off-chance that Alix may someday forgive you?”
“I will not let my future or Alix’s be determined by your bank account.”
“Just your brother’s life?”
Our brother! I was dying to scream. I felt so cornered and frightened and helpless. If that was her request, I couldn’t turn it down. But I couldn’t agree to something like that for money. Alix deserved better than that. If I was going to stay away from her then it had to be for a reason. “I’ll stay away from her but not because you told me to. I have no intention of causing her anymore pain.”
“How awfully noble of you,” she said.
I bit my tongue to keep from lashing out at her. Of course she hated me. I’d betrayed and used and lied to her best friend and now I was politely asking for money.
Money to save a brother she didn’t even know she had.
The mixed emotions surging through my soul were overwhelming. This was too much. I blinked back tears I couldn’t share. I wouldn’t break down. Not here, after all of this.
“I’ll transfer the money to whatever account you want. It’s yours, no questions asked. Just get the hell out of Alix’s life and never come back.”
Chapter 7
Chris had been cynical about my call. Yes I had the money. Yes I could have it transferred within a few days. Yes. Yes. Yes. Just let Aaron go . . .
Of course she refused until the money was in her account. She didn’t ask how I’d gotten the money. But blackmail would’ve been my answer, had she inquired. Either way, I kept feeling restless.
I decided that getting out of Florida was probably for the best. I’d go pick up my brother and then I’d get the hell out of the Sunshine State. Maybe I would head up to New York City or L.A. Somewhere interesting but far away. I had enough money in the bank. College could wait.
Jessica set about transferring the money to some bank account Chris had set up for special business transactions. I didn’t ask. I certainly didn’t want to know.
Chris promised that Aaron would be free by Friday. By Saturday morning, I planned to be gone. I’d decide where to end up on the way.
But it was only Thursday and that meant that I had hours of waiting until I could breathe again. And there was still something I had to do before I left. Something that couldn’t wait another minute.
I drove up to the University that afternoon. I just wanted—no, I needed—to set everything straight before I disappeared from her life forever. I ignored the pain that surged through me whenever I tried to picture the rest of my life without her. How emotional pain could manifest itself into physical pain so easily was beyond me. But somehow it was happening.
I didn’t notice the red Camaro in the spot next to mine, and even if I had, I wouldn’t have known to whom it belonged.
I found Alix’s door slightly ajar and I was about to knock when a voice stopped me cold.
Jessica.
I felt my heart speed up as something that resembled fear welled up in my being. I had to get away from there. I had to leave. But I felt compelled to listen, if only for a moment.
“So you gave it to her,” Alix was saying. “Just like that?”
“Isn’t that what you wanted?” Jessica inquired gently.
“No. I mean, yes! Yes, of course.” Alix sounded unsure, and I could almost hear her pacing around the room.
“I haven’t transferred the money yet,” Jessica began. “You’ve still got time to change your mind.”
“No!” Alix replied quickly. “She needs it.”
Jessica paused for a beat. “Do you really believe the story about her brother?”
“Don’t you?”
From the crack in the door I could see Jessica shrug. She was seated patiently on Alix’s bed. Alix was standing nervously in the center of the room, hands delved deep into the pockets of her black jeans.
Finally, Jessica responded, “Quite frankly, I don’t see how you can believe anything she says.”
Alix sat down. “I have to believe her.”
“Why?”
“Because. Because if I don’t I’ll fall apart.”
Jessica was silent for a moment. “It’s going to be okay.”
“How can it be?”
“She can’t hurt you anymore.”
Alix rested her head on Jessica’s shoulder. “Then why am I still hurting?” She sighed. “I’m never going to see her again, am I?”
“Explain to me how that’s a bad thing.”
Alix didn’t answer.
Jessica pulled away to stare at her. “Alix, she used you! She lied to you. She betrayed you. For crying out loud, she even slept with you!” Jessica’s anger soared with each syllable, her voice rising. I couldn’t see her face but I could almost picture her dark blue eyes glazing over in anger. “I shouldn’t give her the money. Who knows what she’ll use it for. Drugs, maybe. She’s probably a professional con artist.”
“She’s not like that.”
“How do you know what she’s like?” Jessica demanded. Alix said nothing so Jessica continued. “What
I don’t understand is why you even care if she ever walks through that door.”
At the mention of the door, I drew away from it, fearful that I’d be spotted.
“Because . . .” Alix started, and I could hear the frustration in her voice.
“Because why?”
“Because I’m in love with her!” Alix snapped.
And as those words reached my ears, a gasp escaped my lips and I sank back against the wall, feeling the impact of each word as it all slowly sank in. She’s in love with me?
“You’re in love with her?” I could hear the mattress adjust to the missing weight of Jessica’s body. “How can you possibly be in love with her after all she did to you?”
“You don’t understand.”
“What could I possibly not understand? She knew you were my best friend, probably read about it in People magazine or something. Stalked you down, seduced you to get to me and then got you all emotional over her so that you’d convince me to give her the money. It’s a genius plan and you fell for it hook, line and sinker!”
“It wasn’t like that! You don’t understand.”
“Then make me understand!”
Alix was quiet.
“I should just call the police and have her thrown in jail. Why did I let you talk me into giving her the money . . . ?”
“Please don’t . . .”
“Why? Just give me one good reason why I shouldn’t.”
“Because she’s your sister . . .”
Chapter 8
Oh shit! I thought, my heart suddenly beating out of control as Alix’s revelation reached my ears. I swallowed as I waited for Jessica’s reaction.
“What are you talking about?” Jessica asked.
There was silence, and I leaned forward so as to not miss what was being said. Please don’t decide to storm out of the room, I secretly pleaded.
“Alix . . .” Jessica insisted, her tone bordering on impatience. “What are you talking about?”