10-09-2017, 04:22 PM
Upon returning to Ivy’s apartment, she was sitting on the couch watching the local news. Julian didn’t say anything to her and simply headed for the bathroom, while Riane sat down on the couch next to her.
“Did everything go alright?” Ivy asked thinking Julian was angry about something that happened.
Riane was quiet for a moment before speaking, “I don’t know.” She replied honestly as she could. “I am not sure I have let it all sink in yet.”
“Did she really abandon you?”
Swallowing, Riane looked her friend in the eyes and tried her best to remain calm. “Yes, she did. She had her reasons, but it was abandonment even if my father was threatening her.”
Ivy reached out and grabbed her friend’s hand. “I’m sorry, Riane. I was really hoping it was a misunderstanding.”
She scoffed and looked disgusted, “She went on to get married to the man she cheated on my father with and they had two sons together.”
Ivy covered her mouth in surprise. “Oh no, I… you had brothers you didn’t even know about? And she cheated on him?”
“She cheated because she wanted to get pregnant and she thought I was this other guy’s kid. Turns out Simon is my biological father after all.” Riane inhaled deeply trying to prevent herself from crying. “The thing which upsets me the most is she gave me hope for a moment that Simon wasn’t actually my father. For just a split second, I felt relieved of him only to have him thrust back at me.”
She continued to hold her hand, “So what now?”
Riane licked her lips as she thought for a moment, “I don’t know. We can’t stay here forever, and I don’t think we can actually run away with nothing to our name. All I know is I am not going back to my father and letting him control my life.”
“Maybe Dalen can get you work at a different store far away from here. Your father couldn’t possible find you among all the employees.”
Riane slowly nodded, “Yeah, maybe you are right, but I don’t know if I want to put Dalen in danger of my father’s wrath.”
“It doesn’t hurt to ask, and let him decide what he is willing to do for his friends or not.”
Julian walked out of the bathroom and stood at the end of the hall. “Riane, let’s talk in the bedroom, please.”
With those words spoken, he turned around and headed down the hall. Riane looked at Ivy in confusion, but stood up and followed him.
Once they were in the room, Julian shut the door and sat down on the bed. “I told myself I wasn’t going to tell you about this, but I think the only solution makes it where you now have to know.”
Riane walked over to the bed and sat down beside him. “What is it?”
He sighed, “My father called earlier today when you were talking to Joe, and your father was with him.”
Her heart sank immediately.
“My father has apparently spoken to Adonia’s parents and they was us to get engaged. Of course, Adonia has completely gone bat shit crazy so I know she will agree to this.” He turned to face her and grabbed her hand. “So, if you go back to your father, that will be my fate.”
“Is your family safe?”
He nodded, “Yeah, my dad didn’t know where we were nor did he have any part of us running away. So, I think your father will leave them alone.”
Riane held his hands with her fingers weaved between his own. “I am not going back, so don’t worry.”
“I know, and I have been thinking about how we can fix this. I know we want to run away and start elsewhere, but I am concerned about how we will be able to do any of it.”
“Ivy and I were just talking about that, and she thinks Dalen might get us jobs at his store away from here. I know it’ll be a different life, but we can figure it out from there.” She squeezed his hands tighter, as if she was begging him to agree.
“I was thinking more along the lines of just getting married.” He spoke sheepishly.
“What?”
He cleared his throat and sat up straight, “Hear me out. We can make an appointment at the court house, sign some papers, do the ceremony, and we would be married.”
“I don’t know about this, Julian.”
This time he was the one who grabbed her hands tightly. “All this is about getting married. Well, they can’t make us marry anyone if we are already married to each other, plus we can’t be forced to sign a divorce against our wills. We officially take all the power away from our parents, and give it to ourselves.”
She thought about it for a few moments, “I have never been a girl who dreamed about her wedding, but I don’t think getting married as teenagers still is the best idea for us.”
“I know, but it is the only solution we have. Later, after college, we can have a bigger ceremony and all that, but we have to take the power away some how. If your father knows the fight is over, he might give up and we can go back home.” His eyes pleaded with her.
“What if he doesn’t? What if he makes things impossible for us or your family?” Riane couldn’t see a situation where her father would just give up.
“Then we will deal with it as it comes. For now, let’s just get married so all of this arrangement shit ends, alright?”
She thought for several seconds, before answering him. Her heart was pounding in her chest. “Alright.”
Julian smiled at her before kissing her briefly on the lips, “I know this is terrifying. I’m scared too, but it’s the best thing we can do now.”
“I know. I believe you.”
He kissed her one more time in hopes of giving her strength, but to give himself some confidence as well. He loved Riane and this was what they had to do in order to stay together. In order to prevent her from running back to her father ever again.
In her entire life, Riane had never been angry with her for more than a couple hours. This was going into the months and she knew she had screwed up, but she didn’t think Riane knew she was the reason Simon came to take her away. Though, it wouldn’t be a huge leap of logic to consider it.
After all, their relationship had been falling apart since Julian came into Riane’s life, then Joe mistreated Dalen which was followed by her dating someone Riane couldn’t particularly stand.
She had no idea what she was doing with her life anymore. Before all this started, there as an order to everything. It was Joe and Riane to the end with the occasional moments of Blake.
Joe always thought eventually Blake and Riane would get married, because it was the only logical way this could have gone. Riane had a crush on him for years, and she knew Blake wanted Riane, he just wasn’t certain of his feelings. He did think of Riane as a male for a long while, so that probably played a part in his confusion.
However, Joe always knew they would get married and then she would find someone after college. He would be someone who fit into the group and they would have double date nights, and Joe and Riane would raise their children together like they had been raised.
She had hoped they could time their pregnancies so they could have children of similar ages. Maybe even one day they could fall in love, and then Joe and Riane would be actual family.
With Julian’s entry into Riane’s world those dreams changed dramatically. Riane no longer needed Joe and Blake to hold her hand everywhere. She was becoming a different person, someone Joe didn’t recognize.
She realized now she was becoming a healthier version of herself. It was Joe that wanted to keep her friend sick and isolated. Julian was the one who was pulling her away from all that. He was making her stronger even if it wasn’t his intentions.
Joe wished she had seen that instead of her own selfish desires. It was too late now. She had betrayed her best friend, and the consequences were now hers to bare. She feared there would be no friendship what so ever in the future.
As she thought of this, she had entered Neil’s apartment and he was sitting on his couch watching a baseball game. When she entered, he muted it and smiled towards her. It was a strange feeling to be welcomed now a days.
“How’d it go?” He stood up from the couch and walked over towards her, because he could see on her face things had not gone well.
“As good as Riane meeting her mother could go, I guess.” Joe sighed audibly and put her hands on her hips. “I guess we will just have to wait and see, because I don’t think she was ready just yet.”
Neil nodded his head. “Well, then let’s not dwell on it. Do you want to make dinner with me? I was thinking of making pasta of some sort.”
“Sure with chicken?”
He nodded his head as they walked towards the small kitchen. He put the pot on to bowl the water for pasta, while Joe checked the fridge for ingredients.
Once he was done, he watched her pull out some items and place them on the counter, when the fridge door closed he spoke. “My parents are coming to visit me from out of town next week.”
“Oh, yeah? Are they staying here?” Joe grabbed from garlic off the counter and began to peel some of the cloves.
“Probably at a hotel or something, it’s a bit small so you can continue staying here if you want.” He cleared his throat.
“I don’t want to interfere with your parents visit. I’ll head home for the week.” She told him as she concentrated on the garlic.
Neil’s head was pounding in his chest even though he knew this was a perfectly reasonable request. “I have told them about you, and they would like to meet you. It’s one of the reasons they are coming out here.”
Joe slowly stopped peeling the more he talked, before setting the cloves down on the chopping board and looking towards him. She leaned against the counter with one hand and sucked on her inner cheek while looking perturbed. “Why would you tell your parents about me?”
“Because you are my girlfriend, and I wanted them to know about the woman in my life.”
A moment of deja vu hit Joe in that moment as she remembered Dalen telling her about his family finding out about her. She remembered how pissed she had been because she thought he was getting approval from his family, but now she was pissed at Neil for a very similar act.
“Um, I don’t think we have defined our relationship yet.” The words spilled from her lips and her own mind realized she might have commitment issues.
Neil snorted, “Uh, we haven’t defined our relationship? You practically live here, Joe. So, what are you if not my girlfriend? A bum who sleeps in my bed and pays for everything with sex?”
“Are you calling me a whore?” She crossed her arms.
He took a deep breath, “No, I heard it the moment I said it. I’m sorry that wasn’t how I meant it.”
“How did you mean it?”
He slowly shook his head, “Like I said, I didn’t hear it until I said it. Just think of it as my mouth moving faster than my brain, alright? I’m sorry.”
“I… I’m going to head home.” She picked up her keys from the counter where she had deposited them upon entering the apartment.
“Come on, Joe. You don’t have to go. Let’s talk about this.”
“I am not meeting your parents and I am going home.” She headed towards the door and opened it.
Neil grabbed it before she slammed it shut, “What is bringing all of this on? You have to help me to understand it.”
Joe said nothing to him as she hurried down the stairs to her car to get away from this situation as fast as possible.
Get away? Like she was some prisoner and he was her warden. He hated this arrangement from the beginning but he had no other way to keep Riane with him. Part of him had hoped this miserable situation would somehow sprout into love. It was a ridiculous wish but something he kept in the back of his mind.
Getting out of his car, he headed to the apartment he once shared with Riane. Even though Simon had purchased it, he had put it in his and Riane’s name. So, he felt like he had the right to stay in the apartment, after all Simon had made him get rid of his old one.
Holding a large paper grocery bag, he walked up the steps and noticed too late the tall figure standing in front of his door.
“I have a key, but I thought it would be rude.” Simon told him as he held up his keys. “Since you have your hands full though, I suppose I’ll open it up anyway.”
“Thanks.” Blake didn’t like that the man was here and he had waited outside his apartment for him. His calm and friendly voice made things even more haunting, and he couldn’t figure out why Simon had approached him in this fashion.
Walking into the apartment, he headed for the kitchen with Simon shutting the door and following behind him.
He wore a black suit and tie which he always seemed to wear, while Blake was in jeans and a t-shirt. The clothing itself made Blake feel a little inferior.
Simon sat down at a stool next to the counter and watched as Blake unloaded his groceries.
“I haven’t been in a grocery store in over a decade.” He smirked as he watched him closely. “I probably couldn’t even make cereal at this point.” He chuckled.
Blake politely smiled back, but he was still very confused about this whole ordeal. The man wanted something and he was afraid to find out what it was.
When he finally put the milk in the fridge, Blake folded up the paper bag and put it with the others under the sink.
“Why save them?”
He cleared his throat, “I use them as my trash bags.”
Simon nodded his head slowly, “In a trash can?”
“No, they are the trash bag and the trash can.” He responded nervously and then opened up the cabinet door to show him a slightly filled paper bag under the sink.
Simon was now the one who looked confused.
“My mom always did it this way. She says it keeps a stinky trash can out of the house and makes you take the trash out more.” He explained.
“I see.” Simon cleared his throat and stood from the stool. “Come sit with me, we have something to discuss.”
“If this is about Riane’s whereabouts, then I promise you I have no idea where she is right now.” He was nearly pleading with the man to not have a conversation with him.
“Yeah, I know. She is at a friend’s apartment. Ivy, I believe.” He motioned towards the couch, “Come, sit.”
Blake made his way over to the couch and sat down while Simon sat in the recliner. “How do you know?”
“Private investigator. She was pretty smart turning off her phone, but we got it all figured out.” Simon was resting one elbow on his knee.
“Oh.”
“However, she is what I have come to talk to you about. Now that I know where she is, I want you to go over there and get her to come home.”
Blake’s confusion was not cured by this command. “What? She left. She doesn’t want to be with me.”
“She doesn’t know what she wants, and in time she will be grateful to both of us. Now, I’ll allow this one mistake but she must be brought back here and your engagement must continue. Do you understand?” Simon’s voice was slowly shifting from the friendly demeanor to a more demanding one.
He swallowed, “I can’t make Riane do anything. She had made her choice, and I am not going to drag her away.”
Simon pressed his lips together. “Is that so?”
“She is my best friend, and I am not going to be another figure in her life who stands in the way of her happiness. She has you for that.” Blake snapped.
He chuckled, “Stands in the way of her happiness? I am ensuring her future happiness. Right now, she is a confused, love sick child, who thinks she knows what best for her. She does not. Tell me how great of a man Julian is?”
“Aren’t you the one who set up their arrangement? Why don’t you tell me his merits instead? Or did you just feed your daughter to whatever family would take her?” Blake folded his arms.
“Mrs. Swithin actually began the process, and had I known she would install nonsense in Riane’s mind, I never would have gone through with it. They gave me all the assurances I asked for and delivered no results.” Simon was still calm even though Blake was getting more agitated.
Blake was trying to hide his very real fear of this man with his anger, but somehow he felt like Simon could see through him. “She made her decision, and I am happy she made the right one.”
“You will regret this choice, son.” Simon stood up from the recliner. “You and Julian’s family will come to regret allowing this to grow out of proportion.”
Blake stood up as Simon began to move towards the door so he could look him directly in the eyes. “Mister Nairne?”
Simon turned his attention back to the boy but didn’t speak.
“Have you ever taken a moment to reflect on what you have done to your daughter?”
“Excuse me?”
He continued, “You claim to do all of this for her future and her benefit, but to me and everyone else all we see is a man treating his daughter like she is an enemy, or worse than that; an animal.”
Simon didn’t reply and simply glared at him.
“If this what love is to you then I would suggest seeking professional help from a mental health… uh, um… professional.” He swallowed.
Simon continued to stare him down for a few moments, before he turned to head out the door. When the door was finally closed, Blake quickly sunk into the couch and sighed loudly. The beast was gone and he could breath again.
She could tell he did love his mother, and Emma wanted to give Mrs. Barras another chance. After all, Seth couldn’t love a woman who treated him the way she had treated his girlfriend.
After being scoffed at for wearing pajamas for movie night, Emma tried to dress up a bit. She wore a red sleeveless dress with matching heels. It wasn’t anything expensive, but it was the best thing she owned.
Seth had offered to buy her an outfit, but she had refused him. She didn’t want to be wearing anything that might cause his mother to think of her as a gold digger… again. Not that she had done anything before to make the woman think such rude thoughts towards her, or more importantly speak them.
Upon entering into the house, they were led by a woman to the dinning room where Mr. and Mrs. Barras were already seated.
Richard smiled at his son and Emma. “Ah, good you have arrived.” He motioned for them to sit down across from him and his wife. “We are ready to begin.” He told the woman who had answered the door and brought them into the room.
Emma didn’t know why it was necessary after all Seth lived here and it made no sense for him to knock as he had done. She supposed this was some sort of game. Acting as if Seth wasn’t a member of the household and they were having a dinner party together.
Mrs. Barras was immaculate as always. She wore a red dress as well which was far higher quality, and she was obviously unimpressed with the fact Emma was wearing a similar outfit. “Early is on time, Seth.” She scolded as she looked Emma up and down as the younger woman sat down.
“Yes, sorry, mother.”
The dark wood table was set with a fine china and crystal glasses. There was an unopened bottle of champagne in the middle with a wreath of flowers surrounding it. It was strange to not see it in an ice bucket.
“I suppose it took Emma a great deal of time to look adequate.” Mrs. Barras cleared her throat and looked the girl up and down once more.
“Gwen.” Richard growled her name and held her hand which was on the table, before giving Emma an apology grin.
His wife frowned at the scolding but this seemed to be obviously something they had discussed before Emma’s arrival.
“Look at how beautiful you both are in red.” Richard chuckled, “We are two very lucky men, son.”
Seth trying to help his father ease the tension laughed, “Two of the most beautiful red roses in the world.”
This compliment seemed to mean something to Gwen as she smiled and her stare was removed from his girlfriend. “Oh, you two.”
Emma was less than impressed with the compliment. It was an obvious attempt at changing their moods which did not work in any way for her. Perhaps, it was not meant for her at all considering how Gwen had reacted.
“I understand you are the charity case this year.” Gwen turned her attention back to her. “One must maintain a rather high grade in order to keep it. Most students can’t handle it and drop out.”
“Most students are bullied into leaving. It has nothing to do with academic performance.” Emma corrected.
Seth and his father were looking between each other and their partner as if trying to silently make a game plan if this conversation went south.
Gwen raised an eyebrow, “You don’t say? Were you a victim of this perceived bullying?”
“Yes. I was punched, kicked, and had items stolen from my person, but reporting it got me no where. When someone’s rich parents can handle the bad behavior by throwing money at the school to get me to shut up about it.” Emma explained.
Seth’s mother raised her beautifully red painted index finger up to her bright red lips. “I abhor bullying.”
It took all the will power she had not to scoff at the bully in front of her. “Do you now?”
“Oh, yes. I help to run a charity which is trying to stop cyberbullying. We will stop the internet from being a haven for those who think they can hide away forever behind their screens.” Gwen spoke the words as if she had mesmerized them for another event.
“I see.” Emma now wanted to laugh at the woman.
Gwen sighed, “When I was working in the modeling industry, you have no idea the amount of bullying which went on. I mean you would expect it from the designers and agents, but it was the other models who were particularly mean. It took me years to get over my bulimia and find a healthier alternative to staying thin.”
Suddenly, the woman in front of her was far less humorous. “I’m sorry to hear that, Mrs. Barras. One would have hoped they would have banned together to help each other through their careers.”
“Yes, but even those you thought were friends whispered behind your back. It was very competitive and you were always told to be thinner and to be prettier. If I could do it over again, I would have never got into that career. I have a master’s degree in sociology. I should have done something with that instead.” Gwen sighed. “But speaking of diets, I told the staff to prepare you all a meat dish.”
Seth and Richard looked surprised.
“You did?” Her husband was shocked as when they usually ate with his wife, she demanded they all eat vegan so she didn’t have to look at the meat.
She nodded, “Yes, I figured Emma wouldn’t appreciate it if I forced my food choices on her. I believe they are making a roast of some sort.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Barras.” Emma partially smiled at her.
“It was nothing, and call me Gwen.” She stood from the table, “Now, I am a pinot grigio type lady. What are you, Emma?”
“Underage.” She joked.
Gwen chuckled, “I won’t tell if you don’t. Here you can share a bottle with me, and we will figure your tastes buds out over time. Come, dear.”
Emma got up and followed her out of the room.
“We really do look like two roses.” Gwen could be heard saying as they went to the wine cellar.
Seth looked towards his father, “What the hell just happened?” He asked after holding his breath for the entire conversation.
“I think they might have found something in common. Who knew?”
“Why aren’t you answering your phone?” Riane finally asked with annoyance in her voice.
He sighed, “It’s someone I don’t want to talk to.” He informed her as it began to vibrate again. He didn’t want to tell her exactly who it was, as he didn’t want to worry her about this other woman calling him.
“Either answer it and tell them to stop or turn your phone off. It’s hard to concentrate with that thing going off like a buzz saw every other minute.” Riane barked as Julian got up and went into the bathroom so he could speak to her alone.
Standing in the bathroom, he waited for her name to appear on the screen again and when it did he answered. “What the fuck do you want? This is some fucking stalking bullshit, you know that?”
“I am your betrothed! You should answer when I call you.” Adonia snapped, her voice sounded labored as if she had been having a tantrum whenever he didn’t answer the phone.
Snorting and rolling his eyes, Julian couldn’t even form words as he was both shocked into silence by her forwardness and angry beyond belief.
“Anyway, I think today would be a nice day for a date, don’t you think?” She giggled as if that would sway him towards her.
“I am not going on a date with you, Adonia.” He growled and tried to keep his voice low as he didn’t want Riane to overhear him.
She seemed to laugh it off as if he was making some sort of joke. “Of course you are, silly. You don’t have a choice.”
“Uh, I do have a choice and that choice is go to fucking hell, you psycho bitch.” Julian spoke the words through his clenched teeth. “Stop calling me. I am with Riane and I am going to stay with her.”
“Without me, you have no fortune. Remember when Riane was in that position? I know you hated her just as much as you do me now, but you learned to love her and in time you will learn to love me.” Her voice remained cheerful.
Julian couldn’t believe what this woman was actually trying to say to him. “Are you suggesting the only reason I fell in love with Riane is because she was tied to my inheritance?”
“Yes.”
He balled his fist up and went to punch the wall, but remembered this wasn’t his home so his fist barely tapped it. He was more frustrated that what had just been said was true. Had it not been for their arrangement, he may have never learned Riane was a female and he certainly wouldn’t have gained romantic feelings for her.
“Listen, you shit bitch, I don’t want anything to do with you. Stop calling me, stop thinking about me, and leave me alone.” He growled.
“Oh, you mean like how you left me alone when I turned you down? How you left me alone when I was dating Blake? Remember when you took Riane away from him and forced him to realize his feelings for her and it fucked my relationship up?”
Now he was getting it and his frustration calmed immediately.
“You are only doing this to get back at me?” He asked but he was given nothing but silence in return. “Did you think whatever weird relationship there was between them was going to last forever? Blake was going to eventually realize what he felt. Would you have liked it to be now or later when you are married with kids?”
Adonia was a little shocked by Julian’s logical approach to this, and it only angered her more. “Come take me out on a date.” She said trying to ignore his words.
“What happened to you, Adonia? I barely recognize the woman I tried to get to know. Were you always this small? Always this vindictive?” He waited for another response, but received silence again. “I am sorry for any perceived slight I may have made against you.”
Adonia snorted. “Come take me out.”
“I just befriended a guy named Ryan who I used to push around. I didn’t know any of this would happen. I’m just a fucking idiot who stumbled my way into finding a best friend and the woman I want to marry.”
She cleared her throat as her voice became less confident. “I am the key to your inheritance now, Julian. Let’s go on a date.”
Julian’s spoke with compassion towards her. “I am not going to take you out, Adonia. I’m sorry for everything that happened. I am so sorry your heart was broken. It was never my intention nor would Riane do something so callous on purpose. So, I apologize on her behalf too.”
Adonia didn’t want her rage to let up and she wanted this vengeance, but it was getting harder to hold on to. “Shut up, Julian. You know you’ll regret being with her in the future when you see your brothers running around in sports cars, and you are driving an old beat up used car. Just come take me out.”
He decided to ignore her taunts. “Maybe instead of being angry with us, you should have turned your anger to the person really at fault in all this.”
“And who is that?”
“Blake.”
Adonia once again fell silent.
“He asked you out, didn’t he? He asked you to be his girlfriend? He did this to countless women throughout his friendship with Riane, and every single one of them told him the truth which he refused to listen to. He can’t feign ignorance with this. He knew full well what each and every girl was for.” Julian didn’t understand why he was being kind to this woman, but he knew it would be what Riane wanted.
“What is that?”
“The intimacy he wasn’t getting from Riane, right?” He was hoping saying it like that wouldn’t upset her.
Adonia was quiet for several seconds before finally replying. “I’ve got to go. We can go on a date later.”
She hung up before Julian could say anything more and he inhaled deeply as he realized his fear and frustrations. He had no idea if he had gotten to her permanently, but he felt like he had done some damage to her crusade.
“Did everything go alright?” Ivy asked thinking Julian was angry about something that happened.
Riane was quiet for a moment before speaking, “I don’t know.” She replied honestly as she could. “I am not sure I have let it all sink in yet.”
“Did she really abandon you?”
Swallowing, Riane looked her friend in the eyes and tried her best to remain calm. “Yes, she did. She had her reasons, but it was abandonment even if my father was threatening her.”
Ivy reached out and grabbed her friend’s hand. “I’m sorry, Riane. I was really hoping it was a misunderstanding.”
She scoffed and looked disgusted, “She went on to get married to the man she cheated on my father with and they had two sons together.”
Ivy covered her mouth in surprise. “Oh no, I… you had brothers you didn’t even know about? And she cheated on him?”
“She cheated because she wanted to get pregnant and she thought I was this other guy’s kid. Turns out Simon is my biological father after all.” Riane inhaled deeply trying to prevent herself from crying. “The thing which upsets me the most is she gave me hope for a moment that Simon wasn’t actually my father. For just a split second, I felt relieved of him only to have him thrust back at me.”
She continued to hold her hand, “So what now?”
Riane licked her lips as she thought for a moment, “I don’t know. We can’t stay here forever, and I don’t think we can actually run away with nothing to our name. All I know is I am not going back to my father and letting him control my life.”
“Maybe Dalen can get you work at a different store far away from here. Your father couldn’t possible find you among all the employees.”
Riane slowly nodded, “Yeah, maybe you are right, but I don’t know if I want to put Dalen in danger of my father’s wrath.”
“It doesn’t hurt to ask, and let him decide what he is willing to do for his friends or not.”
Julian walked out of the bathroom and stood at the end of the hall. “Riane, let’s talk in the bedroom, please.”
With those words spoken, he turned around and headed down the hall. Riane looked at Ivy in confusion, but stood up and followed him.
Once they were in the room, Julian shut the door and sat down on the bed. “I told myself I wasn’t going to tell you about this, but I think the only solution makes it where you now have to know.”
Riane walked over to the bed and sat down beside him. “What is it?”
He sighed, “My father called earlier today when you were talking to Joe, and your father was with him.”
Her heart sank immediately.
“My father has apparently spoken to Adonia’s parents and they was us to get engaged. Of course, Adonia has completely gone bat shit crazy so I know she will agree to this.” He turned to face her and grabbed her hand. “So, if you go back to your father, that will be my fate.”
“Is your family safe?”
He nodded, “Yeah, my dad didn’t know where we were nor did he have any part of us running away. So, I think your father will leave them alone.”
Riane held his hands with her fingers weaved between his own. “I am not going back, so don’t worry.”
“I know, and I have been thinking about how we can fix this. I know we want to run away and start elsewhere, but I am concerned about how we will be able to do any of it.”
“Ivy and I were just talking about that, and she thinks Dalen might get us jobs at his store away from here. I know it’ll be a different life, but we can figure it out from there.” She squeezed his hands tighter, as if she was begging him to agree.
“I was thinking more along the lines of just getting married.” He spoke sheepishly.
“What?”
He cleared his throat and sat up straight, “Hear me out. We can make an appointment at the court house, sign some papers, do the ceremony, and we would be married.”
“I don’t know about this, Julian.”
This time he was the one who grabbed her hands tightly. “All this is about getting married. Well, they can’t make us marry anyone if we are already married to each other, plus we can’t be forced to sign a divorce against our wills. We officially take all the power away from our parents, and give it to ourselves.”
She thought about it for a few moments, “I have never been a girl who dreamed about her wedding, but I don’t think getting married as teenagers still is the best idea for us.”
“I know, but it is the only solution we have. Later, after college, we can have a bigger ceremony and all that, but we have to take the power away some how. If your father knows the fight is over, he might give up and we can go back home.” His eyes pleaded with her.
“What if he doesn’t? What if he makes things impossible for us or your family?” Riane couldn’t see a situation where her father would just give up.
“Then we will deal with it as it comes. For now, let’s just get married so all of this arrangement shit ends, alright?”
She thought for several seconds, before answering him. Her heart was pounding in her chest. “Alright.”
Julian smiled at her before kissing her briefly on the lips, “I know this is terrifying. I’m scared too, but it’s the best thing we can do now.”
“I know. I believe you.”
He kissed her one more time in hopes of giving her strength, but to give himself some confidence as well. He loved Riane and this was what they had to do in order to stay together. In order to prevent her from running back to her father ever again.
---***---
Joe dropped Matilda off at a hotel before heading over to Neil’s apartment. She wasn’t thrilled with how the meeting went, and had hoped to earn more good vibes from Riane than she got. In fact, Riane didn’t seem thankful towards her in the least. She barely even spoke to her and left the cafe without so much as a see you later.In her entire life, Riane had never been angry with her for more than a couple hours. This was going into the months and she knew she had screwed up, but she didn’t think Riane knew she was the reason Simon came to take her away. Though, it wouldn’t be a huge leap of logic to consider it.
After all, their relationship had been falling apart since Julian came into Riane’s life, then Joe mistreated Dalen which was followed by her dating someone Riane couldn’t particularly stand.
She had no idea what she was doing with her life anymore. Before all this started, there as an order to everything. It was Joe and Riane to the end with the occasional moments of Blake.
Joe always thought eventually Blake and Riane would get married, because it was the only logical way this could have gone. Riane had a crush on him for years, and she knew Blake wanted Riane, he just wasn’t certain of his feelings. He did think of Riane as a male for a long while, so that probably played a part in his confusion.
However, Joe always knew they would get married and then she would find someone after college. He would be someone who fit into the group and they would have double date nights, and Joe and Riane would raise their children together like they had been raised.
She had hoped they could time their pregnancies so they could have children of similar ages. Maybe even one day they could fall in love, and then Joe and Riane would be actual family.
With Julian’s entry into Riane’s world those dreams changed dramatically. Riane no longer needed Joe and Blake to hold her hand everywhere. She was becoming a different person, someone Joe didn’t recognize.
She realized now she was becoming a healthier version of herself. It was Joe that wanted to keep her friend sick and isolated. Julian was the one who was pulling her away from all that. He was making her stronger even if it wasn’t his intentions.
Joe wished she had seen that instead of her own selfish desires. It was too late now. She had betrayed her best friend, and the consequences were now hers to bare. She feared there would be no friendship what so ever in the future.
As she thought of this, she had entered Neil’s apartment and he was sitting on his couch watching a baseball game. When she entered, he muted it and smiled towards her. It was a strange feeling to be welcomed now a days.
“How’d it go?” He stood up from the couch and walked over towards her, because he could see on her face things had not gone well.
“As good as Riane meeting her mother could go, I guess.” Joe sighed audibly and put her hands on her hips. “I guess we will just have to wait and see, because I don’t think she was ready just yet.”
Neil nodded his head. “Well, then let’s not dwell on it. Do you want to make dinner with me? I was thinking of making pasta of some sort.”
“Sure with chicken?”
He nodded his head as they walked towards the small kitchen. He put the pot on to bowl the water for pasta, while Joe checked the fridge for ingredients.
Once he was done, he watched her pull out some items and place them on the counter, when the fridge door closed he spoke. “My parents are coming to visit me from out of town next week.”
“Oh, yeah? Are they staying here?” Joe grabbed from garlic off the counter and began to peel some of the cloves.
“Probably at a hotel or something, it’s a bit small so you can continue staying here if you want.” He cleared his throat.
“I don’t want to interfere with your parents visit. I’ll head home for the week.” She told him as she concentrated on the garlic.
Neil’s head was pounding in his chest even though he knew this was a perfectly reasonable request. “I have told them about you, and they would like to meet you. It’s one of the reasons they are coming out here.”
Joe slowly stopped peeling the more he talked, before setting the cloves down on the chopping board and looking towards him. She leaned against the counter with one hand and sucked on her inner cheek while looking perturbed. “Why would you tell your parents about me?”
“Because you are my girlfriend, and I wanted them to know about the woman in my life.”
A moment of deja vu hit Joe in that moment as she remembered Dalen telling her about his family finding out about her. She remembered how pissed she had been because she thought he was getting approval from his family, but now she was pissed at Neil for a very similar act.
“Um, I don’t think we have defined our relationship yet.” The words spilled from her lips and her own mind realized she might have commitment issues.
Neil snorted, “Uh, we haven’t defined our relationship? You practically live here, Joe. So, what are you if not my girlfriend? A bum who sleeps in my bed and pays for everything with sex?”
“Are you calling me a whore?” She crossed her arms.
He took a deep breath, “No, I heard it the moment I said it. I’m sorry that wasn’t how I meant it.”
“How did you mean it?”
He slowly shook his head, “Like I said, I didn’t hear it until I said it. Just think of it as my mouth moving faster than my brain, alright? I’m sorry.”
“I… I’m going to head home.” She picked up her keys from the counter where she had deposited them upon entering the apartment.
“Come on, Joe. You don’t have to go. Let’s talk about this.”
“I am not meeting your parents and I am going home.” She headed towards the door and opened it.
Neil grabbed it before she slammed it shut, “What is bringing all of this on? You have to help me to understand it.”
Joe said nothing to him as she hurried down the stairs to her car to get away from this situation as fast as possible.
---***---
Blake had gotten several messages from Simon over the course of the past week. He was hesitant to call the man as he feared the wrath he might place upon him for letting Riane get away.Get away? Like she was some prisoner and he was her warden. He hated this arrangement from the beginning but he had no other way to keep Riane with him. Part of him had hoped this miserable situation would somehow sprout into love. It was a ridiculous wish but something he kept in the back of his mind.
Getting out of his car, he headed to the apartment he once shared with Riane. Even though Simon had purchased it, he had put it in his and Riane’s name. So, he felt like he had the right to stay in the apartment, after all Simon had made him get rid of his old one.
Holding a large paper grocery bag, he walked up the steps and noticed too late the tall figure standing in front of his door.
“I have a key, but I thought it would be rude.” Simon told him as he held up his keys. “Since you have your hands full though, I suppose I’ll open it up anyway.”
“Thanks.” Blake didn’t like that the man was here and he had waited outside his apartment for him. His calm and friendly voice made things even more haunting, and he couldn’t figure out why Simon had approached him in this fashion.
Walking into the apartment, he headed for the kitchen with Simon shutting the door and following behind him.
He wore a black suit and tie which he always seemed to wear, while Blake was in jeans and a t-shirt. The clothing itself made Blake feel a little inferior.
Simon sat down at a stool next to the counter and watched as Blake unloaded his groceries.
“I haven’t been in a grocery store in over a decade.” He smirked as he watched him closely. “I probably couldn’t even make cereal at this point.” He chuckled.
Blake politely smiled back, but he was still very confused about this whole ordeal. The man wanted something and he was afraid to find out what it was.
When he finally put the milk in the fridge, Blake folded up the paper bag and put it with the others under the sink.
“Why save them?”
He cleared his throat, “I use them as my trash bags.”
Simon nodded his head slowly, “In a trash can?”
“No, they are the trash bag and the trash can.” He responded nervously and then opened up the cabinet door to show him a slightly filled paper bag under the sink.
Simon was now the one who looked confused.
“My mom always did it this way. She says it keeps a stinky trash can out of the house and makes you take the trash out more.” He explained.
“I see.” Simon cleared his throat and stood from the stool. “Come sit with me, we have something to discuss.”
“If this is about Riane’s whereabouts, then I promise you I have no idea where she is right now.” He was nearly pleading with the man to not have a conversation with him.
“Yeah, I know. She is at a friend’s apartment. Ivy, I believe.” He motioned towards the couch, “Come, sit.”
Blake made his way over to the couch and sat down while Simon sat in the recliner. “How do you know?”
“Private investigator. She was pretty smart turning off her phone, but we got it all figured out.” Simon was resting one elbow on his knee.
“Oh.”
“However, she is what I have come to talk to you about. Now that I know where she is, I want you to go over there and get her to come home.”
Blake’s confusion was not cured by this command. “What? She left. She doesn’t want to be with me.”
“She doesn’t know what she wants, and in time she will be grateful to both of us. Now, I’ll allow this one mistake but she must be brought back here and your engagement must continue. Do you understand?” Simon’s voice was slowly shifting from the friendly demeanor to a more demanding one.
He swallowed, “I can’t make Riane do anything. She had made her choice, and I am not going to drag her away.”
Simon pressed his lips together. “Is that so?”
“She is my best friend, and I am not going to be another figure in her life who stands in the way of her happiness. She has you for that.” Blake snapped.
He chuckled, “Stands in the way of her happiness? I am ensuring her future happiness. Right now, she is a confused, love sick child, who thinks she knows what best for her. She does not. Tell me how great of a man Julian is?”
“Aren’t you the one who set up their arrangement? Why don’t you tell me his merits instead? Or did you just feed your daughter to whatever family would take her?” Blake folded his arms.
“Mrs. Swithin actually began the process, and had I known she would install nonsense in Riane’s mind, I never would have gone through with it. They gave me all the assurances I asked for and delivered no results.” Simon was still calm even though Blake was getting more agitated.
Blake was trying to hide his very real fear of this man with his anger, but somehow he felt like Simon could see through him. “She made her decision, and I am happy she made the right one.”
“You will regret this choice, son.” Simon stood up from the recliner. “You and Julian’s family will come to regret allowing this to grow out of proportion.”
Blake stood up as Simon began to move towards the door so he could look him directly in the eyes. “Mister Nairne?”
Simon turned his attention back to the boy but didn’t speak.
“Have you ever taken a moment to reflect on what you have done to your daughter?”
“Excuse me?”
He continued, “You claim to do all of this for her future and her benefit, but to me and everyone else all we see is a man treating his daughter like she is an enemy, or worse than that; an animal.”
Simon didn’t reply and simply glared at him.
“If this what love is to you then I would suggest seeking professional help from a mental health… uh, um… professional.” He swallowed.
Simon continued to stare him down for a few moments, before he turned to head out the door. When the door was finally closed, Blake quickly sunk into the couch and sighed loudly. The beast was gone and he could breath again.
---***---
Emma had been dreading this day since Seth invited her to the dinner. She had tried to come up with a thousand different reasons she shouldn’t go, but each one just ended with Seth being disappointed in her mind. She didn’t want to upset him and he seemed eager to put the first bad impression behind them.She could tell he did love his mother, and Emma wanted to give Mrs. Barras another chance. After all, Seth couldn’t love a woman who treated him the way she had treated his girlfriend.
After being scoffed at for wearing pajamas for movie night, Emma tried to dress up a bit. She wore a red sleeveless dress with matching heels. It wasn’t anything expensive, but it was the best thing she owned.
Seth had offered to buy her an outfit, but she had refused him. She didn’t want to be wearing anything that might cause his mother to think of her as a gold digger… again. Not that she had done anything before to make the woman think such rude thoughts towards her, or more importantly speak them.
Upon entering into the house, they were led by a woman to the dinning room where Mr. and Mrs. Barras were already seated.
Richard smiled at his son and Emma. “Ah, good you have arrived.” He motioned for them to sit down across from him and his wife. “We are ready to begin.” He told the woman who had answered the door and brought them into the room.
Emma didn’t know why it was necessary after all Seth lived here and it made no sense for him to knock as he had done. She supposed this was some sort of game. Acting as if Seth wasn’t a member of the household and they were having a dinner party together.
Mrs. Barras was immaculate as always. She wore a red dress as well which was far higher quality, and she was obviously unimpressed with the fact Emma was wearing a similar outfit. “Early is on time, Seth.” She scolded as she looked Emma up and down as the younger woman sat down.
“Yes, sorry, mother.”
The dark wood table was set with a fine china and crystal glasses. There was an unopened bottle of champagne in the middle with a wreath of flowers surrounding it. It was strange to not see it in an ice bucket.
“I suppose it took Emma a great deal of time to look adequate.” Mrs. Barras cleared her throat and looked the girl up and down once more.
“Gwen.” Richard growled her name and held her hand which was on the table, before giving Emma an apology grin.
His wife frowned at the scolding but this seemed to be obviously something they had discussed before Emma’s arrival.
“Look at how beautiful you both are in red.” Richard chuckled, “We are two very lucky men, son.”
Seth trying to help his father ease the tension laughed, “Two of the most beautiful red roses in the world.”
This compliment seemed to mean something to Gwen as she smiled and her stare was removed from his girlfriend. “Oh, you two.”
Emma was less than impressed with the compliment. It was an obvious attempt at changing their moods which did not work in any way for her. Perhaps, it was not meant for her at all considering how Gwen had reacted.
“I understand you are the charity case this year.” Gwen turned her attention back to her. “One must maintain a rather high grade in order to keep it. Most students can’t handle it and drop out.”
“Most students are bullied into leaving. It has nothing to do with academic performance.” Emma corrected.
Seth and his father were looking between each other and their partner as if trying to silently make a game plan if this conversation went south.
Gwen raised an eyebrow, “You don’t say? Were you a victim of this perceived bullying?”
“Yes. I was punched, kicked, and had items stolen from my person, but reporting it got me no where. When someone’s rich parents can handle the bad behavior by throwing money at the school to get me to shut up about it.” Emma explained.
Seth’s mother raised her beautifully red painted index finger up to her bright red lips. “I abhor bullying.”
It took all the will power she had not to scoff at the bully in front of her. “Do you now?”
“Oh, yes. I help to run a charity which is trying to stop cyberbullying. We will stop the internet from being a haven for those who think they can hide away forever behind their screens.” Gwen spoke the words as if she had mesmerized them for another event.
“I see.” Emma now wanted to laugh at the woman.
Gwen sighed, “When I was working in the modeling industry, you have no idea the amount of bullying which went on. I mean you would expect it from the designers and agents, but it was the other models who were particularly mean. It took me years to get over my bulimia and find a healthier alternative to staying thin.”
Suddenly, the woman in front of her was far less humorous. “I’m sorry to hear that, Mrs. Barras. One would have hoped they would have banned together to help each other through their careers.”
“Yes, but even those you thought were friends whispered behind your back. It was very competitive and you were always told to be thinner and to be prettier. If I could do it over again, I would have never got into that career. I have a master’s degree in sociology. I should have done something with that instead.” Gwen sighed. “But speaking of diets, I told the staff to prepare you all a meat dish.”
Seth and Richard looked surprised.
“You did?” Her husband was shocked as when they usually ate with his wife, she demanded they all eat vegan so she didn’t have to look at the meat.
She nodded, “Yes, I figured Emma wouldn’t appreciate it if I forced my food choices on her. I believe they are making a roast of some sort.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Barras.” Emma partially smiled at her.
“It was nothing, and call me Gwen.” She stood from the table, “Now, I am a pinot grigio type lady. What are you, Emma?”
“Underage.” She joked.
Gwen chuckled, “I won’t tell if you don’t. Here you can share a bottle with me, and we will figure your tastes buds out over time. Come, dear.”
Emma got up and followed her out of the room.
“We really do look like two roses.” Gwen could be heard saying as they went to the wine cellar.
Seth looked towards his father, “What the hell just happened?” He asked after holding his breath for the entire conversation.
“I think they might have found something in common. Who knew?”
---***---
Julian kept looking at his phone while he sat on the couch with Riane. Every time it vibrated, he knew exactly who it would be. The name Adonia kept appearing on his screen, and he kept ignoring the call.“Why aren’t you answering your phone?” Riane finally asked with annoyance in her voice.
He sighed, “It’s someone I don’t want to talk to.” He informed her as it began to vibrate again. He didn’t want to tell her exactly who it was, as he didn’t want to worry her about this other woman calling him.
“Either answer it and tell them to stop or turn your phone off. It’s hard to concentrate with that thing going off like a buzz saw every other minute.” Riane barked as Julian got up and went into the bathroom so he could speak to her alone.
Standing in the bathroom, he waited for her name to appear on the screen again and when it did he answered. “What the fuck do you want? This is some fucking stalking bullshit, you know that?”
“I am your betrothed! You should answer when I call you.” Adonia snapped, her voice sounded labored as if she had been having a tantrum whenever he didn’t answer the phone.
Snorting and rolling his eyes, Julian couldn’t even form words as he was both shocked into silence by her forwardness and angry beyond belief.
“Anyway, I think today would be a nice day for a date, don’t you think?” She giggled as if that would sway him towards her.
“I am not going on a date with you, Adonia.” He growled and tried to keep his voice low as he didn’t want Riane to overhear him.
She seemed to laugh it off as if he was making some sort of joke. “Of course you are, silly. You don’t have a choice.”
“Uh, I do have a choice and that choice is go to fucking hell, you psycho bitch.” Julian spoke the words through his clenched teeth. “Stop calling me. I am with Riane and I am going to stay with her.”
“Without me, you have no fortune. Remember when Riane was in that position? I know you hated her just as much as you do me now, but you learned to love her and in time you will learn to love me.” Her voice remained cheerful.
Julian couldn’t believe what this woman was actually trying to say to him. “Are you suggesting the only reason I fell in love with Riane is because she was tied to my inheritance?”
“Yes.”
He balled his fist up and went to punch the wall, but remembered this wasn’t his home so his fist barely tapped it. He was more frustrated that what had just been said was true. Had it not been for their arrangement, he may have never learned Riane was a female and he certainly wouldn’t have gained romantic feelings for her.
“Listen, you shit bitch, I don’t want anything to do with you. Stop calling me, stop thinking about me, and leave me alone.” He growled.
“Oh, you mean like how you left me alone when I turned you down? How you left me alone when I was dating Blake? Remember when you took Riane away from him and forced him to realize his feelings for her and it fucked my relationship up?”
Now he was getting it and his frustration calmed immediately.
“You are only doing this to get back at me?” He asked but he was given nothing but silence in return. “Did you think whatever weird relationship there was between them was going to last forever? Blake was going to eventually realize what he felt. Would you have liked it to be now or later when you are married with kids?”
Adonia was a little shocked by Julian’s logical approach to this, and it only angered her more. “Come take me out on a date.” She said trying to ignore his words.
“What happened to you, Adonia? I barely recognize the woman I tried to get to know. Were you always this small? Always this vindictive?” He waited for another response, but received silence again. “I am sorry for any perceived slight I may have made against you.”
Adonia snorted. “Come take me out.”
“I just befriended a guy named Ryan who I used to push around. I didn’t know any of this would happen. I’m just a fucking idiot who stumbled my way into finding a best friend and the woman I want to marry.”
She cleared her throat as her voice became less confident. “I am the key to your inheritance now, Julian. Let’s go on a date.”
Julian’s spoke with compassion towards her. “I am not going to take you out, Adonia. I’m sorry for everything that happened. I am so sorry your heart was broken. It was never my intention nor would Riane do something so callous on purpose. So, I apologize on her behalf too.”
Adonia didn’t want her rage to let up and she wanted this vengeance, but it was getting harder to hold on to. “Shut up, Julian. You know you’ll regret being with her in the future when you see your brothers running around in sports cars, and you are driving an old beat up used car. Just come take me out.”
He decided to ignore her taunts. “Maybe instead of being angry with us, you should have turned your anger to the person really at fault in all this.”
“And who is that?”
“Blake.”
Adonia once again fell silent.
“He asked you out, didn’t he? He asked you to be his girlfriend? He did this to countless women throughout his friendship with Riane, and every single one of them told him the truth which he refused to listen to. He can’t feign ignorance with this. He knew full well what each and every girl was for.” Julian didn’t understand why he was being kind to this woman, but he knew it would be what Riane wanted.
“What is that?”
“The intimacy he wasn’t getting from Riane, right?” He was hoping saying it like that wouldn’t upset her.
Adonia was quiet for several seconds before finally replying. “I’ve got to go. We can go on a date later.”
She hung up before Julian could say anything more and he inhaled deeply as he realized his fear and frustrations. He had no idea if he had gotten to her permanently, but he felt like he had done some damage to her crusade.