44

I wake up to a room filled with daylight. I turn to face towards the door. I rub my eyes as the events of the last twenty-four hours’ flash through my mind. The door opens, my eyes go wide when Kelly walks in. I have to double check to make sure I am still at Quinn’s penthouse.

She smiles and walks towards me. She places her hand to her chest. “Quinn told me about your accident. It freaked me out.”

I am still confused by her presence.

“He came at my apartment early in the morning while I was preparing to go to work.” Kelly says.

“Quinn?” I am surprised.

“Yeah. He is so controlling.”

“Tell me about it.” I concur.

She moves to my leg. I sit up. The leg is swollen triple its original size.

“I am sorry, where were you?”

“Quinn’s idea of me needing him is taking me to the woods and having a copperhead bite me.”

“You two are the weirdest couple.”

“We aren’t a couple.” I say as I attempt to wake up.

“Quinn asked me here to take care of you.”

“Is he around?” I ask.

“No, he said he had business to take care of.”

Of course!

I pick my phone from the night stand. There are several messages, from Kelly, Oliver and Andre. Shit! Andre, I check the time to realize it two and I have to be at their family’s mansion at three.

“I have dinner with Andre’s family.” I tell Kelly as I leap around.

“Quinn clearly ordered me to make sure you don’t leave.” She stands before me.

“that is not happening and you know it.” I start to look if I can find any decent cloth to wear. I leap towards the bathroom as Kelly repeatedly expresses her worry of how Quinn will react. After bathing I still find Kelly seated on the bed.

“I guess there is no way I am stopping you.” She says.

I nod, “I need you to be there with me.”

“you have been off for a couple of days, is everything alright or this has to do with me dating Jack?”

I take a step and hug her, “No, I am happy for you Kelly. When this over which it will be soon, I will tell you.”

“what do you mean?” she asks.

I smile, “help me find something to wear.”

I open the closest to find it filled with women clothes. Of course this is where he brings all his women. Kelly’s eyes feast on the countless designer clothes hanged.

“they are all new, look they still have the labels on.” She keeps on searching. “have you ever lived here?”

“yeah, it was just some few days.”

“he must have bought this clothes for you.”

“I don’t think so, maybe they are Courtney’s. I am not wearing them.” I say.

Kelly removes a black strapless dress and hugs it. “I can see myself in this.”

An idea pops in my mind. “How about you wear that and I wear your clothes?”

She is happy with my suggestion as few minutes later I am dressed in her waiting table uniform. When I look at the time I realized that it is ten minutes to three. Andre knows me as a punctual person if I delay he may suspect something is wrong.

The uber stops outside the mega mansion. It has been years since the last time stepped in here. Andre would always find an excuse not bring me here and now I know why.

“wow! What does one have to do to live like this?” Kelly asks.

“someday you will make it.”

“I pray I do.”

The security guards are reluctant to let us in. we look out of place especially my oversized clothes. The more I look at the house kilometers away from us the more I feel like I shouldn’t have come here. Everything feels wrong. I don’t know how I will face every one of them especially with the latest discovery I made. I call Andre but I lack the courage to talk to him instead I give Kelly my phone to ask him to come and allow us in.

“what was that?” Kelly says as she hands the phone over.

“I just cant.” I shake my head.

“did he hurt you?” she asks.

“I….” I can’t find the words.

“let them in.” I hear Andre’s voice. I didn’t think this through. Quinn was right. What if this a trap?

I turn to face him. He takes in my appearance and he is surprised but doesn’t comment about it.

“sorry about that ladies.” He says

I just hope my leaping will not be that obvious. It is, “my God, what happened?” is that genuine concern I see on his face. Why? I remember my nightmare where he shot me

“she was bitten by a snake.” Kelly Interjects.

Andre bends to examine my leg. “how did this happen?” he asks.

“I am fine nothing to worry about.”

“I can smell Quinn’s involvement; I still don’t know why you trust him.”

“or why I trust anyone.” I agree.

He raises his eyebrow, it is new. I have never been sarcastic or just plainly rude to him. I am in that state where I feel all paralyzed, I can’t even put to words what I feel. I want answers to questions I don’t know. I just no longer know who I am.

A tense silence surrounds us Andre leads us towards the mansion. We find his father outside flipping some barbecue.

“Dad you remember, Cara.” The well-built man stares at me and I can’t help but stare at him. He loses his interest in me quickly and turn to greet Kelly. I can see how his eyes linger for a while on her chest. This man can’t be my father. It was Quinn’s way of getting back at me. My father is Cooper. A man of honor not him.

“And who is your pretty friend?” he asks.

I exchange a familiar look with Andre as Kelly introduces herself. My eyes can’t focus on another thing other than him. He is saying something to Kelly. I memorize each of his features to compare them with mine. Even if this man is my father, I will never accept him. Ever.

“May I help you?” he asks when he finds me staring at him.

Andre’s mom walks out, she is gorgeous as hell, she still has managed to remain fit like her days in modelling.

“Cara?” she is surprised but her voice cracks with worry.

“sorry I am late.”

“no need to worry, it is your home too.”

Her words agitate me. This will never be my home. She has used that phrase many times and it gave me sense of belonging now I just feel like an outcast in my own life.

“who is your friend?” she asks.

“This is Kelly. I invited her.”

“The more the merrier, honey can I talk to you?” she turns to her husband.

Mr. Wayne follows his wife. I swivel my head and find Andre watching me intently. I don’t appreciate the look on his face.

“I will bring you something to drink.” He says.

Once Andre is out of sight, Kelly turns to me worried. “is it me or was Andre’s father flirting with me?” she takes some steps closer to me. “He grabbed my ass and brushed my boobs as he walked past me.” She whispers.

I noticed but I won’t agree with her.

“He is just too friendly.”

“has he ever done that with you? It feels wrong.”

I almost throw up at her question.

Andre comes out holding two glasses of wine. But his mood changes too soon and we both turn to see why. A red Lamborghini drives in, it is Quinn. This might be the worst day of my life.