by Ivy Harper
“How’s everything?” Trisha asked me.
I quickly reigned in my chaotic emotions. “Not sure, but the officers are here now.”
“Thank God,” she exclaimed.
“Hey, can you ask Dutch to look into Takuya for me. See if there is anyone who’d be considered an enemy to him.”
“He’s a celebrity, anyone and everyone could be his enemy.”
“I know, and I want to know who those people are.”
“Are you thinking about getting involved? Zeno told you to keep a low profile and not give your dad a chance to stir up trouble.”
“I will, but I need to do this. I don’t think I can go back to my life without making sure he’s safe.” It was the least I could do for the singer who’d saved me from the dark.
The doors of the elevator opened as what looked like a wedding party ran past. I watched them go before exiting. “I won’t drag it out, besides it’s not likely I’ll ever meet him. I’ll just gather the evidence and send it to the proper authorities.”
“Hmm, right. Something tells me I should tell you no, but as the daughter of Carter Liberiu, I enjoy chaos way too much to do that.”
I chuckled at that. All my cousins lived up to their last name. Anyone with the last name Liberiu couldn’t be called boring.
“Exactly. I’ll be catching an early flight back to Vander in the morning. Can you pick me up?”
“Sure,” she answered brightly.
“See you then, bye.”
Hanging up, I headed out of the hotel. There weren’t a lot of things in this world that I loved. Lucky for Tak, he happened to be one of them.
Chapter 5
Welcome Home
Jazz
* * *
Another announcement came over the sound system at the Vander City Airport as I picked up my bag off the carousel, avoiding bumping into another traveler. Pausing next to the exit, I checked my pockets to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything.
I picked up my bag and headed to the pickup area. I took my phone out of my purse and checked a few messages from my cousins. The first one that caught my eye was the one from Trisha that was in all caps and read, HERE!
Before I finished reading it, my name was shouted from the street. “Jazzy.”
Looking up, I met the excited gaze of my cousin, Trisha Liberiu. Her long braids haphazardly piled on top of her head and her large golden circle earrings shaking. Her bright smile contrasted with her mocha-colored skin. Her entire body radiated a bright and friendly aura. Which was probably a factor as to why her restaurant did so well. “About time you arrived, hurry up.”
“Stop rushing me,” I said back, smiling.
I walked over to her black Lexus and opened her back door. Tossing my bag into the back of her car, I then shut the door and opened the one to the passenger’s side and got in. Before I could buckle my seat belt, she tossed a tablet into my lap.
“Here, looks like the god of luck is helping you out. The security division for Tak’s label, JS records is hiring.”
I didn’t bother buckling up and picked up the tablet, quickly swiping through the information.
“Seriously, do you think they’re doing this because of what happened yesterday?” I wondered aloud.
“If they are, they’re moving pretty fast,” Trisha said as she pulled out, joining the steadily flowing traffic.
I frowned. “Did Dutch find anything?”
My other cousin Dutch owned an IT security firm and spent most of his time in front of a computer. The only reason he’d agreed to move into the brownstone we all shared was to avoid his mother’s constant attempts at setting him up with someone. Unfortunately for him, Trisha had taken the place of his mother in annoying him.
“Ha, it’s Dutch, of course, he did,” Trisha said smugly. “It’s after the application and let’s just say the man is no angel.”
“I don’t think he ever was,” I muttered as I went through the information about Tak.
Tak had never been considered an angel. Back in Bridge Lake his name had been synonymous with trouble. The man hadn’t changed much from the teen who’d recklessly jumped the school fence to skip class.
I stared at his profile picture. It was a lot more normal than the poster of him that decorated my room. His shoulder-length black hair was pulled back haphazardly, his deep brown eyes shined with a bit of reckless light and his thin lips were twisted in a sarcastic smile.
From the picture alone, you wouldn’t know once those lips parted, a voice that could temp angels to forsake heaven would come out. I absentmindedly brushed my fingers along those lips.
“Jazzy, you’re staring,” Trisha teased.
Covering Tak’s face, I whipped my gaze to her and felt my cheeks heat in embarrassment. She laughed. “I’ll pretend I didn’t see you mooning over your favorite singer and ask you once more, are you sure you want to get involved with him?” Her amused expression turned serious.
“I do,” I said.
Closing Tak’s information, I started the process of filling out the application for the security company. I decided to use my fake identity as Jazz Ryland, just in case my father had his dogs on the hunt. I’d have Dutch doctor up my background check and anything else I’d need for the position.
“Then I won’t stop you and now that I’ve done my duty as the older cousin, hurry up, and apply. I can’t wait to get my hands on some Rejected One merch,” Trisha exclaimed. “I saw online yesterday that a pair of his old jockey’s got sold for like five thousand.”
I tried to keep my expression empty of any emotion. I wasn’t going to the label to steal Tak’s items and resell them. Though if I ever did get my hands on something of his, I’d enshrine it on my Rejected altar. Realizing immediately where my mind had gone, I mentally shook my head and focused on applying for the job.
I’d leave it to destiny on whether I got the job with Tak’s label or not.
“Is Daddy dearest going to send a limo over for tonight’s banquet?”
I froze up. In all the talk about Tak, I’d almost forgotten about why I’d come back to Vander City. “Yes.”
Trisha muttered something before she said, “Well, I don’t have anything to do tonight. Do you want me to come and help you deal with our favorite cockroach, Clark Bennington?”
I thought it over. “Yeah, as long as you promise to behave.”
She lifted her hand and made a symbol with her three fingers. “Scouts honor, I won’t harass your evil father.”
I only smiled at her words. We both knew how I felt about him. The faster I got the unpleasant meeting over with, the better. What a way to spend my Saturday.
* * *
***
* * *
Later that night as I watched the hairdresser behind me finish my hair with a few last touches, I kept thinking back to Tak’s picture.
“Wow, they took the post down,” Trisha said from where she sat cross-legged on the vanity counter. Her tablet in hand, she’d been quietly tapping away on it while I’d been getting ready for the ball. We were in one of the many dressing rooms of the event center.
“What, already?” I asked confused. “Didn’t they just put it up this morning?”
“Yeah, maybe the company changed its mind,” she offered up as an explanation.
I bit my lip in consternation. “Then I’m going to have to find another way in. Is JS hiring for anything else?”
“I don’t know, let me look.” She skimmed before she gave me an amused look. “They’re looking for a janitor and a cook.”
I grimaced. “Nothing else?”
Out of all the jobs, security fit me the best. At least with that I had experience. I’d been trained by my uncle and cousin Zeno in self-defense since I’d arrived on their doorstep at the age of eighteen. Both men were paranoid my father would one day make a move against me and didn’t want me to be completely helpless.
She laughed. “Don’t be like that. Maybe you could go to one of those
ritzy star parties and pull a Cinderella. I can imagine it now. It would be called the story of Vander City’s hidden heiress and the rock and roll rake falling in love. It would sell hundreds of newspapers.”
Sometimes I seriously wondered what went on in my cousin’s head.
“I don’t think I’m cut out to be anyone’s Cinderella. This dress alone is testing my patience. I feel like I’m about to burst out in hives,” I complained. “And as far as the job’s concerned, let’s just wait it out. I’ll check my email over the next few days to see if they send me a confirmation or a rejection.”
“Fine, that makes sense.” Trisha gave my dress a look of displeasure. “And I agree with you about the hives. With the amount of tulle under your dress, you could start a forest fire. In fact, I think in some states it’s even considered a fire hazard.”
She looked me over, her lips turning into a frown. She set her tablet aside and grabbed up the box off the counter that held shiny pink diamond earrings, turning it back and forth. “I don’t know how you do it. I’d lose my mind if I had to be dressed up like a doll for these events only to have to spend time with that disgusting cheating trash,” she said.
“What makes you think I haven’t?” I asked, watching as the last curl of my long hair was pinned into place. I met Trisha’s eyes in the mirror. “I just hide it very well.”
A knock on the door followed by the sound of my father’s voice caused Trisha to place the box down and swiftly move to hide behind the bathroom door. She hated my father and the last time they’d met she’d barely been able to say hello without cursing him out. It was better for us both if Trisha stayed out of his line of sight.
The dressing room door opened, and my father entered. As usual, those who’d helped me dress left the room quickly. My father, Clark Bennington walked over and stopped behind my chair. He looked over my reflection in the mirror.
“Make sure you’re on your best behavior, I’ve invited the senator’s son, Gerald Harrison. You should get closer to him.”
“I’m always on my best behavior,” I said. Keeping my face empty of any emotion. I reached forward, picking up the earrings Trisha had set down. “However, whether or not I get close to anyone cannot be dictated by you. The only reason I’m here is because of grandfather’s memory. Don’t waste your time scheming for anything else from me. I won’t let you have your way.”
Not looking at him, I removed one of the earrings and placed it in my right ear. “Also, why exactly do you need me to be nice to Harrison’s son? Is there something going on that you’re hiding from me?”
He glared at me. His gray eyes were probing, similar in color to the eyes I saw daily in the mirror and wanted to rip out. I hated them because they were clear proof, we were father and daughter.
“I have nothing to hide and no matter how difficult you act; it won’t change that you’re my daughter and I am your father.”
“No.” I placed the second earring in my left ear before getting up and turning to face him. “It won’t change that your filthy, adulterous blood is running through my veins.”
His expression darkened turning his handsome face unpleasant. He curled his fingers into a fist at his side. “You know just what to say to piss me off.”
I smiled, ignoring the anger that lit in me. The rage I dared never show to the public because it would ruin my mother’s name. I was trapped in this superficial world of the rich because of my last name and my mother’s will had bound me to stay in a relationship with this man before me.
“Funny, I can do better. You’re always going to be a poor, worthless man who couldn’t even keep his marriage vows.”
He lashed out his hand. I caught his wrist, gripping it tightly. I could see the anger in his eyes.
“Please control yourself, I would hate to have to redo my makeup.” I tossed his hand away and walking around him, I paused next to his side. “If you try to hit me again, I’ll forget any semblance of civility between us and ruin you.”
Continuing forward, I opened the door and stepped out. I gave a small smile to those who had dressed me and done my makeup. Walking along the hallway, I could only count the minutes until I left this stifling place.
Reaching the end of the hallway, I turned and faced the large banner that hung above the entrance that read, Welcome To the 40th Annual Roarke Celebration. I looked at the name, feeling my throat tighten.
My grandfather’s name, his foundation. A foundation my father ran well, unfortunately. The primary reason I dealt with him was because of the foundation my mother had willed to him.
My father used me and the Roarke name to keep his little black book of connections for business. The foundation my deceased grandfather used to run had the biggest names in business on its board of directors. They only respected one thing, my last name.
I was nothing more than a figurehead to my father. At the age of seventeen, I’d learned that truth the harshest way.
A hand appeared in my peripheral. I looked down without any emotion and laid my hand in his. We walked toward the opened double doors. The MC spotted us from the stage and announced our entrance.
“And here to celebrate this fortieth anniversary are chairman and CEO of the Regency Conglomerate, Clark Bennington, and his precious daughter. Also, the beloved daughter of our former chairwoman, heiress, Alicia Jasmine Roarke. Please give them a hand.”
Chapter 6
Hide Away
Tak
Two weeks later…
* * *
“No one has seen Tak Jensei since he reportedly signed himself out of the hospital over two weeks ago. Sources say—”
I turned the TV off, not wanting to hear any more of what the media had to say about my supposed disappearance. Tossing the remote onto the couch, I then picked up my cell sitting next to me, debating on whether or not to put my manager out of her misery.
There were a bunch of messages and missed calls from my brothers and Skittles. I had been ignoring those as well.
My mostly healed wrists grabbed my attention. I stared at them waiting for something to spark. A memory, any memory. Just one.
Someone poked my shoulder. I glanced over it to find Rhet standing a distance away with a broom in his hand. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“Seeing if your real or not,” he said. “I thought I’d had a nightmare about you coming over.” He retracted the broom and leaned on it. “I’m still wondering why you decided to come here and not go to one of your dickhead friends.”
“Because you’re not going to ask me a bunch of questions,” I said as I got up and walked into his kitchen.
I’d invaded Rhet’s house for one single glaring reason. Rhet hated everyone and with him hating everyone, he wouldn’t snitch on me to the others. “You should be honored, you’re such a big asshole the others don’t want to fuck with you.”
“Wait, is that supposed to hurt my feelings? I know who the hell I am.” Rhet stared at me like I was some interesting toy. “I’m not the person who hangs out with a bunch of guys called The Asshole Club.”
I glared at him. “Why are you making it sound so lame?”
“Because it is lame,” Rhet answered with a serious face.
“Someone sounds like he wishes he had friends.” Deciding it would be more fun to fuck with Rhet, I walked toward him with my arms open. “You need a hug.”
“No, I don’t,” he said his expression threatening.
“Yes, you do. Let’s hug it out.”
“I will shoot you.”
“And here, I wanted us to get closer.” I changed direction, heading into his kitchen once more and opened the fridge. I smiled when I saw the little bags of marijuana decorating the bottom of it.
“What is that?”
I didn’t bother turning around as I answered. “The last of my fucking stash. These little babies will carry me through this scandal and fucked-up moments of self-reflection. I’ve been trying to stretch them out since I can’t seem to get any
deliveries.”
I’d wanted to go out and refill my means of facing reality, but the shit that had happened in Vegas had ruined my plans for a lot of things. Speaking of which, I needed to replace my ID.
“Get out,” he said grimly.
“Yeah, after I’ve finished one more bag.”
Rhet had told me to get out at least twice a day for the last two weeks. He’d have to pull an act of God to get me to leave his house. I wasn’t leaving this bomb shelter no matter what.
“Tak, are you there?” A familiar voice filled the kitchen.
I paused and whipped around to find Rhet with a shit-eating grin on his face. He had my cell phone facing me so I could see exactly who’d he’d called.
“Tak,” Chelsea, my manager called my name again with a trace of hysterics.
On any other fucking day, I’d have told her to go fuck herself and gone about my business. Sadly, I knew she’d lose her mind if I didn’t answer her. It was the least I could do after signing myself out of the hospital without telling anyone and escaping to Rhet’s place.
I decided to give two shits and answered her.
Snatching my phone from Rhet, I said, “What do you want?”
“Tak, if you don’t get your ass back to your house. I swear to God, I will send your phone number to every ex you’ve fucked in the past year.”
I frowned. “Are you saying you want me to have an orgy? Is this a new kink of yours?”
There was a beat of silence, before I heard something break. “Okay, stay in fucking hiding, but don’t blame me when Kole hires an entire security team to watch you.”
My blood turned cold at her angrily spoken words. The last thing I ever wanted was to have people watching me. One, I did way too much shit that could get me locked up. And two, my demons had demons.
I’d already dodged one attempt at getting me psychiatric help. Hence, me leaving the hospital in the middle of the night and flying back to Vander. My biggest fear was I’d find myself tied to a comfortable chair, sitting across from some wizened looking Dumbledore therapist talking about my feelings.
