This year was supposed to be about getting through and breaking away with the hope that I would never see him again. Now I was being told that the past was a lie. It felt very real to me because I still carried the scars. After his last play on my sanity, the scars ran deeper than ever before.
I guess I still haven’t gotten away from wearing my emotions on my face because Sheldon quickly changed the subject. “Willow what are you doing to my brother? He’s been snapping and growling at everyone. My dad put him in a chokehold when he snapped at mom. It was awesome.”
“I took your advice. I showed him I was serious.”
“I never doubted you were serious. I’m wondering though if you’re sure.”
“What do you mean?”
“You want him, so what’s the deal?”
“He’s engaged?”
“Oh that.” She shrugged and answered, “He’s not engaged.”
“Sheldon, don’t lie for him.”
“He’s not. There was talk between our fathers about Rosalyn and Dash marrying, but that was more like matchmaker bullshit. At least for my dad it was. He called the idea off when Dash told him he wasn’t interested. Rosalyn’s dad, however, has it in his head that they made an agreement. We all know he’s just after money. His finances are failing and our family is richer, so they want to marry into the family. “
“Are you talking about an arranged marriage? Who does that?” I interrupted. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“Our families are old money so they follow a lot of old traditions and customs. My dad is more realistic and believes in marrying for love. Besides he would never make us do what we wouldn’t want to; to a point anyway.”
“What point is that?” Willow asked.
“Dash and dad got into an argument Sunday night about what school Dash would attend. He wants Dash at a more promising school so he can take over the family business.”
“Dash doesn’t want to take over?”
“He wants to. He just wants to do it his own way. Anyway the argument escalated and he disappeared for a few hours.”
“He came here Sunday night around nine but he was only here for a few minutes. I asked him about Rosalyn and he took off.” Willow repeated the conversation to Sheldon who wasn’t surprised.
“He didn’t mean it, Willow. He was already pissed and looking for someone to take it out on. Dash is crazy about you. He told me there was no one like you.”
“Great. I’m his favorite toy. I’m honored.”
Sheldon shook her head, exasperated. “You two are going to get caught in the worst way. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Dash may be mad now but he isn’t letting you go and Keiran won’t let you run, Lake.”
“How are you so sure?” I asked.
“Because you let them in.”
Chapter Twenty
Rumors were spreading hard and fast. To everyone at school, I was Keiran’s girlfriend and we were the topic of everyone’s conversation. What really threw me for a loop was the birdie, by the name of Angela, who said that Keiran started the rumor.
Willow had stopped her in the hallway one day to ask about where it came from. Angela’s exact words were “How could it be a rumor if it came straight from the horse’s mouth?” I knew then that it had to be Keiran because I didn’t say that shit.
When I confronted Keiran, he’d only shrugged and say, “You’re mine. Now they know it.”
To make matters worse, Anya was doing everything in her power to tarnish my reputation, which was really a pathetic attempt after being bullied by Keiran for years. I was immune to anyone else.
Basketball season was coming, so I haven’t seen much of Keiran outside of school. He still used every opportunity to feel me up and violate me in school though. I was becoming pretty familiar with inappropriate places to do inappropriate acts.
Keiran’s possessiveness wasn’t the only contributor to my growing frustration. Time was ticking. My aunt was due back in a few weeks and I wasn’t any closer to finding answers about the girl in the picture. A few times I came close to just asking Keiran about it but knew that would be dangerous and stupid. We may be “friends” now but he could quickly become my enemy again if I wasn’t careful.
After many failed attempts to find anything on him, I gave in and called Jesse. He was a criminal mastermind with computers and finding things that weren't meant to be found. I even thought about asking him to find my parents but in the end decided I didn’t want to know. It would be too painful to learn they abandoned me. Maybe one day, I would have the courage to find the truth.
The doorbell rang and I rushed to answer it. We didn’t have much time before Keiran’s practice was over and I couldn’t risk Keiran finding Jesse here or worse and find out what we were doing.
I opened the door to find an annoyed Jesse on the other side. “Tell me what this is about and it better be good. I did ninety all the way here.”
“Well you said you wanted to help me. This is it. Help me.”
“So how and why does it involve my computer?” he asked as he set up his computer in the kitchen.
“I need you to find everything you know about Keiran, especially who and where his parents are.”
“Ok…why?”
“I can’t explain it to you…not now.”
“Here we go. Why not, Lake?”
“Jesse, we don’t have a lot of time. Are you going to help me or not?”
“Fine.” He mumbled something about bossy girls and harebrained schemes while he booted up his computer. I kissed his cheek in thanks but he batted me away.
“When did you get so grouchy?” I teased.
“Right around the time you started keeping secrets.”
“Whatever, I’m going to do homework.”
“Great, you can do mine too,” he said good-naturedly as if he had just offered to do my homework instead.
“What?”
“I brought Calc and Chemistry,” he said without taking his eyes off the computer.
“You can’t be serious…”
“I don’t joke about getting out of homework.” He took out his books and shoved them across the table.
“This will take me all night!”
“Thanks, babe,” he grinned at me cheekily.
“Gosh, you can be such a bitch.” I folded my arms and glared at him across the table.
“My, my. When did you grow claws?”
“Sorry, Jesse. I’m just stressed.”
“The bags under your eyes tells it all and is that a hickey?” When I got home I changed into a tank top that I was just now realizing was a little revealing. The hickey, Keiran placed at the top of my breasts, this morning, was partially peeking out of my top. The flush I couldn’t hide heated my skin and I jumped up from the table.
“I’ll be back, scrub.” I ran upstairs to grab my homework. When I picked up my books from my desk, I saw the picture lying underneath it. Who are you?
I rejoined Jesse downstairs and settled in for a long night of homework. Jesse had his ear buds in so I knew he was in the zone. After what felt like hours I finally finished Jesse’s homework because he really wasn’t kidding about that.
“Lake?” he called my name with a sense of urgency even though we were sitting at the same table. “You might want to see this.” I jumped up from my seat and practically ran around the table.
“Did you find something?” I peered down over his shoulder at the headlines he had pulled up.
A New Heir for the Masters Fortune?
The Masters family celebrates a new addition but it’s not the arrival of a newborn baby. Sources say John Masters, oldest son to Charles and Victoria Masters, now has care of an eight-year boy, by the name of Keiran Masters. But where did he come from? Who fathered this mysterious child?
Is Mitch Masters the Father?
Sources reveal that the mysterious eight-year old child is rumored to be the son of the youngest Masters heir, Mitch Masters. Could little Keiran Masters be the result of a secret love affair?