Bittersweet Revenge (The Patricians Book 2)

by R. G. Angel

  I shook my head. “She wrote it for us, you were her ‘beautiful boy’.”

  He took a shaky breath, turning his head toward me, his silver eyes shining with unshed tears.

  “You know, she was always happier when he was gone. She was a real mom then – happy, carefree. Even though I knew I shouldn’t, I found myself looking forward to every business trip of his. She would always make me the best peanut butter and chocolate pancakes. I miss those so much.”

  I stood up and swayed, probably due to my hunger. I grabbed the post.

  His sad look morphed into concern. “You need to eat, Esme. Even if only for me, please do.”

  I nodded, reaching under the mattress. “Here, take the journal, and I’ll make you the pancakes. I’ve got the recipe.”

  “Yeah, but…” He wrinkled his nose “Take a shower before, okay?”

  I sniffed under my arms. “Asshole!” I muttered, heading toward the bathroom.

  “I’ll be right here, reading.”

  I was already feeling better after I’d showered and dressed, but now the hunger was back with a vengeance.

  “Let's see if they have the ingredients we need.”

  “Okay and maybe you can just give me your list too while you cook for me.”

  “It’s a short list really,” I replied as we arrived downstairs under the butler’s wary eyes. Was he worried I was going to leave and get him in trouble?

  “We’re just going to cook something. Is it allowed?” I asked him.

  He seemed surprised by my request. “Yes, Miss. Please feel free to use this house’s amenities as you wish. This is your home.”

  Ah, my home. What a joke!

  “So, the list?”. Archie asked sitting on a stool at the kitchen island.

  I shrugged before going to the pantry, trying to find the ingredients I needed. “It’s really short, pathetically so. Our father and the Astors.”

  “Ah, that’s short.”

  “I know,” I grimaced, resting all the ingredients on the counter before rummaging in the cupboards trying to find what I needed. “I don’t know the people here.”

  “But I do,” he said.

  I nodded. “Exactly.” I looked around. I wasn't sure if Caleb was around listening to our conversation. He was so angry at me, I wouldn't put it past him to sell me out just for revenge.

  “He won’t be back for a while. He has Class President shit to deal with,” Archie said.

  “He is Class President?” I asked with surprise, and yet somehow it made sense. That guy had crazy high expectations. I wouldn’t be surprised if one day he ended up running for the White House.

  “Do you even know anything about him at all?”

  Yes, the things that matter, I thought. I know his heart, at least part of it…or I thought I did. Instead I replied: “No, not much.”

  Archie shook his head with a sigh. “This is an issue for another time. Opening Caleb Astor’s Pandora’s Box will take weeks and only cause you unnecessary trauma.” He waved the journal. “I think what we need to figure out first is who gave this to you.”

  “I have no idea. I told you before, I just left my things for like ten minutes and it was there when I went back.”

  “That didn’t leave that person a wide window. They had to be studying you. Didn’t you notice someone following you or staring at you?”

  I snorted. “I was the long-lost daughter of William Forbes. No offense brother, but I was headline news; everybody was staring.” I extended the spoon full of batter. “Want to try?”

  “Salmonella?” He raised an eyebrow. “I’ll pass.”

  I licked the spoon before putting it in the dishwasher. “That’s an urban legend, you scaredy cat.”

  “Did you notice anybody in the library when you went?”

  “Except for Ms. White.” I shook my head, concentrating on cooking my pancake. “No, no one.”

  “Who?”

  I glanced at him before looking at my pan again. He seemed genuinely confused.

  “Ms. White? The librarian?”

  “The Amish weirdo with glasses?”

  I scowled at him, flipping the pancake over. “Don’t be an ass.”

  “What? I didn't know her name.”

  “You’ve been in this school for what, five years and you don't even know the name of your librarian?”

  “Don’t be like that, Esme. Don’t make me say it because we both know you won’t like it.” He waved his hand dismissively. “Mom has been gone thirteen years and this Ms. White is not really part of the same scene as us.”

  I shrugged. “She is nice. I like her.” I placed a plate full of pancakes in front of Archie just as Caleb entered the house and came into the kitchen, probably informed by Benjamin of our whereabouts.

  He stopped on the threshold, detailing me, then Archie, and finally the plate of pancakes.

  “Esmeralda,” he said, his voice and face devoid of emotion which always drove me crazy. “Archibald,” he greeted before turning around and walking away down the corridor.

  “Offer him some,” Archie whispered, looking at the plate of pancakes. “Honey remember, not vinegar.”

  I rolled my eyes, but did as Archie suggested. “Caleb!”

  Within a few seconds, he was back at the threshold, his eyebrow cocked in an invitation to continue.

  “Why don’t you join us for pancakes? I’ve made way too much and I still have lots of batter.”

  “Why would I?” He asked, crossing his arms on his chest. “I’m not four and I wouldn't want to interrupt the sibling bonding time.”

  I grabbed a plate and put some pancakes on it. “First, try it before you diss it, my pancakes are awesome even if you’re not four, and secondly, what is stopping us from bonding with you around?” I shrugged. “I’ve got nothing to hide.”

  Archie looked at me with pride and a sort of admiration I wasn’t sure I liked. That lie had come out too well, too fast. I didn't want to become like them.

  “Come on, Astor. Don’t make it so difficult,” Archie insisted.

  Caleb sighed, but uncrossed his arms and took a seat two stools away from Archie. These two…

  “So why did Tay not come with you?” I asked before putting way too big of a bite in my mouth.

  “Classy,” Archie teased. “She was busy, I guess. I’m not Oppenheimer’s keeper, you know.”

  The cold edge in his voice surprised me. It seemed it was containing so much unsaid. She couldn’t be mad at me; that wasn't it. I’d spoken with her since I'd left. She had said that things were changing, but our friendship was intact. That much I knew.

  Caleb threw Archie a surprised look before concentrating on his pancakes again. What was he not telling me?

  I couldn’t doubt Archie, not when I was already questioning so many things. I needed to trust one person at least.

  “You should talk to her,” Archie added, “And thank you for the pancakes. They do taste just like Mom’s. I didn’t realize how much I needed them.”

  Caleb looked up, his fork halfway to his mouth, his face betraying the surprise at Archie’s emotional confession, especially in his presence.

  I only smiled, squeezing his hand. There was nothing to say; it was all there on his face.

  “I, umm,” Caleb rubbed his neck, visibly uncomfortable now. “I have to go. I have a call with my father. The pancakes were okay,” he added before nodding toward me, leaving the room again.

  “Okay?” I asked Archie, twisting my mouth.

  “Coming from him?” Archie pointed his thumb to the direction Caleb had just taken. “It’s like a five-star review.”

  “So… Taylor,” I started again.

  Archie stood up like his butt was on fire. “Nope. I'm not doing that with you, not now, not ever. I’ve got to go anyway. I’ll read the stuff-” he patted his jacket - “and look into those people. I’ll tell you on Monday.”

  “But–”

  He leaned over the island and kissed my forehead befor
e grabbing a pancake from the plate. “One for the road. See you soon and remember to eat!”

  Chapter 5 - Caleb

  I hung up the phone and leaned back in my father’s office chair, frustrated at the fact that he would still treat me like a child when he felt it was necessary, and at having Esmeralda living under my roof.

  I'd avoided her today. I’m not sure why, but seeing her smile in the kitchen with Archibald yesterday wasn't sitting well with me.

  I hated this jealousy, this weakness, and I hated that, despite the anger and betrayal, I’d been relieved to see her eat in the kitchen when I should have felt nothing but contempt.

  I closed my eyes and let out a sigh of frustration. I wasn’t sure why I couldn’t hate her as much as I should.

  I still had not told my father about Esmeralda living here. Why? I wasn’t sure. He was always commenting on my decisions and I was sure this one wouldn’t please him…or maybe I feared it’d please him too much. I’d seen the lurid way he looked at her when he thought no one was looking, and it made me want to murder him.

  I looked down at my cell, tapping my forefinger on the mahogany desk. I needed to get her out of my mind.

  Aleksandra was clingy, but she sucked like a vacuum and she was the perfect distraction from Esmeralda. Maybe after finally releasing my pent-up sexual frustration things would be okay. I hadn’t had sex since that day with Esmeralda and it had been the longest dry period since I was fourteen; maybe this was why I couldn’t get her out of my mind. Yes, it had to be that, and it was nothing that Aleksandra’s magical mouth couldn’t fix.

  I stood up, grabbing my car keys and my phone. We’ll establish ground rules, I thought. My father does this all the time. It’s– I was interrupted by a knock on the door.

  “Come in.”

  Benjamin walked in and took in the keys in my hand. He never missed a thing. He’d been in the background since before I was born. To have seen all the things he’d seen and still be around was rather astonishing.

  “I’m guessing you’re going out, sir.”

  “What do you need?”

  “Miss Esmeralda expressed the wish to dine with you tonight, sir, but I shall inform her of your unavailability.”

  “No, I’ll go out later. Dinner is fine.” I didn’t like the elation I felt at the idea of having dinner with her. I also didn’t like how easily I'd set aside a chance at mind-blowing sex with a woman much too eager to please me for dinner with a traitor who would end up giving me the cold shoulder at best.

  I thought I saw disapproval on Ben’s wrinkled face, but it was gone as soon as it'd appeared. “Very well, sir. It will be served in the main dining room at eight as usual.”

  I looked at my watch. That gave me thirty minutes to get ready. Why should I even care and yet – I rubbed my jaw, feeling the sprinkle of my five o’clock shadow.

  I decided not to dwell on the reasons why my chest was lighter when I went to my room to take a shower I didn’t need and shave my face clean.

  When I walked into the dining room, I was taken aback to find Esmeralda already standing there, looking at the flames crackling in the grate of the oversized fireplace. She was wearing a beautiful blue dress and flat shoes, showing how tiny she really was. Did she know blue was my favorite color? Was she trying to look small? Defenseless?

  “There is something strangely soothing about looking at a fire burn,” she said, keeping her back to me. Her hair was up in her trademark messy bun, revealing her delicate, graceful neck and the small mole resting at its base. I looked at it every time she had her back to me. It was almost hypnotic and every time I had to fight my instinct to brush my lips against it. I could almost see her shiver, as if she could feel that phantom kiss.

  “It is mesmerizing because it is a perfect contradiction,” I replied, walking to her with my hands in my pockets. "It looks so beautiful, but if you get too close it will destroy you…” Just like you, I added to myself.

  “Why did you decide to join me for dinner tonight?” I asked as I stood beside her, looking at the flames. She was right; it was strangely soothing.

  “Because you gave me the WiFi and phone back.” She shrugged. “I called Taylor and it was nice, so thank you.”

  “And you thought that gracing me with your presence would be the right way to thank me? A little presumptuous, don’t you think?”

  Her complexion turned the loveliest shade of pink at my comment. I would rather remove my own tongue than let her know what was already so infuriating to acknowledge myself – that looking at her and her alone, provided me with a sense of peace that my soul didn’t deserve.

  “I- No, that’s not it. I thought–”

  “Sir, madam, dinner is served,” Benjamin announced, breaking her flustered response, and it frustrated me. I enjoyed seeing her squirm.

  I was surprised that the table was set in a more intimate fashion than was customary. When there were only my parents, usually they’d be sitting at both ends of the table which was built for twelve. Even that though was rare as they avoided each other beautifully well when there were no witnesses to their downfall except for me, their useful-yet-insignificant son.

  But this time the plates were set across from each other. I threw a look toward old Benjamin as he set the warm bread rolls on the side plate. I wasn’t sure what his endgame was, but we needed to discuss this.

  “This looks delicious,” Esme said to Benjamin with a small smile. She was always just so…kind to them, when she didn’t need to be.

  Benjamin bowed. “I will let the chef know. He will be pleased.”

  “The fact that he has a job is a testament that he is adequate,” I replied firmly. “Compliments are not necessary.” This was not the type of household to recognize talent. It was best for them not to expect recognition. I never did and I was better for it.

  Benjamin left the room as Esmeralda sighed. “That was unnecessary.”

  “I’ll deal with my staff the way I see fit.”

  The lightness of her face started to fade and the living, breathing contradiction I had become since she'd walked into my life was apparent again. It annoyed me that she reacted so negatively to my presence even if I was causing that reaction on purpose, but I was also somehow pleased to at least have an effect on her, just as she had an undesired effect on me.

  “When are your parents coming back?” She asked, changing the subject. She didn’t want to fight tonight that much was clear, and that too was a little disappointing. I enjoyed seeing the angry Esmeralda, the fire in her eyes, the red on her cheeks. It was when she was the most beautiful… Well, if you didn't count her drunk with desire in my bed – at that moment she’d been a goddess.

  “Why does it matter?” I asked back, resting my cutlery on the table, detailing her face, trying to find her tell. Once I had the key to decipher her, she would stop being such a mystery to me and I was sure that her appeal would lessen.

  Her eyes sparked with frustration. “It matters because I live here, because I deserve to know, because I'm down here trying to make polite conversation, and you’re doing your utmost to be the biggest asshole in the world. Congratulations, you are succeeding.”

  Ah, finally, she was letting go of her mask of cool indifference. I liked the untamed Esmeralda, even if I’d take death before admitting that fact.

  She removed her golden napkin from her lap and threw it on the table. “If your dinner request was just an optic to bully me, I think I’ll pass. You do that enough in every unfortunate encounter. Now if you’ll excuse me,” she added, standing up and turning around to leave the room.

  I should have let her leave. I’d thrown a few good punches. I had made her try only to be pushed away. I just needed to take the car keys and go to Aleksandra, and yet I found myself standing up.

  “They’re back in two weeks, on Tuesday to be exact.”

  She turned around, remaining by the door, her face full of suspicion and foreboding.

  “I’ve got a present
for you,” I blurted out. What the actual f– I thought as I looked down at my glass. Was the water drugged? It really seemed like it when she was in the room. When her eyes were on me, I had minimal control of my thoughts.

  “With the way you’ve been acting, I'm not sure I want it,” she replied suspiciously.

  I chuckled at that. I really enjoyed the spunk. I couldn't deny it. She was one of the first people I’d met who didn’t tiptoe around me, who wasn’t scared. The issue I had was with her ability to lie so well.

  I gestured to Benjamin to clear the table. “It’s a good one. I promise. Come, I’ll show you.”

  “Uh-huh,” she said noncommittally as she followed me back to the multi-car garage we had.

  I pointed to the red and black Bugatti Chiron. “I bought you this.”

  “You bought me…a car?” She turned to me, confusion written all over her face.

  I couldn’t blame her after the way I’d treated her since I'd retrieved her from California, but truth be told I’d bought her this car before she'd escaped. I had ordered it after our day together… That fake day she used to cheat me, I thought as the bile of deception rose in my throat. I took a deep breath, forcing the anger down. It was not the time, at least not yet.

  I’d bought it for her because I'd started to care a bit too much, because I hadn't liked the idea of her depending on anyone else for rides, because I'd known about the trick Archibald had pulled on her the day of her introduction party. He had laughed about it, but I hadn’t really approved, knowing their father. I hadn't even known at the time about his tendency to hit his own daughter. If I had known at the time...

  If you HAD known, then what? A part of my brain taunted. You like the power too much, you never would have said anything to get on the bad side of William Forbes.

  There was no point dwelling on it now. It was clear that even then Archibald was playing me. He had probably planned this with his sister – hoping that I or Antoine would rescue her and gain some leverage.

  “Caleb, you bought me a car?” She asked again, bringing me back to the here and now.

  I nodded, entering the code of the key safe and getting the keys of the Bugatti out, extending them to her.