Flawed (Imperfectly Perfect Book 1)

by Lym Cruz

  Ashlyn’s lips trembled. I could see her searching for a comeback but she was stuck. Erica and Christina laughed aloud, only increasing Ashlyn’s embarrassment. Ashlyn’s eyes glistered with rage and she gritted her teeth. Once she realized this was a lost battle, she stood from the table and left. The laughter from the other girls seized almost immediately. I guess it was for dramatic effect.

  I leaned into Melissa and whispered so no one else could hear, “I’m so hard right now.”

  She squirmed in her chair and whispered back, “We need to sort that out.” And then she kissed my cheek before wiping the lipstick imprint.

  Melissa had a strong personality. She was a fighter and I learned a lot from merely observing her.

  Rob threw us a napkin. “Oh, come on, if you two are going to make out, go to a corner or something.”

  Shortly after, Dave and I left the table to fulfill our obligations. Meaning we had to make purposeless conversation with a bunch of greedy men and women. This was the part I dreaded most, having to smile and nod when all I wanted to do was get away.

  Mendez momentarily ended my frustration when he discreetly informed me that my mother needed to see me in my father’s office. I excused myself from the conversation, knowing that whatever my mother had to say was about Melissa. There was no use in prolonging an inescapable conversation.

  I exited the hall and took a flight of stairs up to the first floor. The door of the office was ajar and I saw my mother. Her back was turned, facing a closed window. I pushed the door open, and the hinges screeched as I entered. With the sound, my mother spun revealing her contemplative mood.

  She shook her head. “Andrew, that girl is not right for you.”

  “You don’t know her. How can you say that?” I said, entering the room.

  She took a few steps forward and leaned on my father’s desk crossing her ankles. “How well do you know her?”

  I pulled a chair and sat in front of her. “Well enough to know that she’s right for me.”

  “Who is she? Her family? Where is she from?”

  “Why does any of that matter to you?”

  “It matters, Andrew,” my mother snapped, the veins on her neck bulged. “To me, it matters. I won’t have our name associated with a low-class family. Did you buy her dress?”

  I may not have known every aspect of Melissa’s life, but I knew and felt that she loved me. “I didn’t buy her the dress. What’s wrong with it?”

  “Nothing’s wrong with it. That dress is a charm, it must have cost her a small fortune. She has diamond studs in her ears. A diamond ring on her finger. Her clutch is Versace. How does a girl like that afford such things?”

  I didn’t notice any of that. Hell, I didn’t even see what was on Melissa’s ears. But it did make me wonder how she could afford those things, and her apartment was excessively upscale for a twenty-three-year-old college student.

  “You don’t know, do you?” She huffed a dry laugh. “Open your eyes, Andrew. She’s after your money. She probably goes around scheming men out of their money to keep afloat. And I bet when you ask her about where her money comes from, she’ll tell you some lame story about having a rich uncle or something. And her accent is fake, I’ve never heard anyone speak like that.”

  “Mother, stop.”

  She rose to her full length. “No Andrew she’s fake, and her hair is … wrong.”

  Her hair was wrong? How could a person’s hair be wrong? I ran my hands through my own hair. “What’s wrong with it?”

  My mother let out a long weary breath and stared at her feet. Then she lifted her face. “Andrew, Ashlyn’s the woman for you. I know you’re infatuated with that girl, I can see that, and that is what people like her do. They trick men into falling in love and then rip them off.”

  The conversation was pointless. Melissa was not after my money; money I didn’t even have.

  I placed my hands on either side of the chair’s arms as an anchor, pulling to my feet.

  My mother gripped my arm with pleading eyes. “Don’t embarrass your family. You always listen to me. You always do the right thing. Do the right thing, Andrew.”

  How could my relationship with Melissa embarrass this family? I’d always done what my mother asked, afraid of hurting her, but I would not obey her on this. Slowly, I pulled my hand out of her grip.

  “I have to go.”

  “Can you not see how she is ruining everything?” She yelled after me as I walked away. “She’s not the wife I dreamed for you. You need a sweet girl like Ashlyn to care for you and give you wonderful babies. Not mixed raced children.” I jolted to an abrupt halt. Her words replayed in my mind and every time it hurt more. I shook my head, hoping to erase the crap that came out of her mouth. I turned on my heels to face her. “She is wrong.”

  “Stop!” I snapped. The word came out of me as a harsh sound, I felt the vibration in my chest, and it took my mother aback. It must have been loud from her wide eyes. My ragged pulse must have stifled the sound in my ears. I backed away, disgusted by the woman facing me. I’d known she could be cruel and malicious but never to this extent.

  “You think Melissa is not right for me because she’s not white?”

  She integrated her posture of superiority. Chin, and nose high up. “That’s not what I said.”

  I laughed wryly. “It’s what you fucking implied.”

  “Watch your mouth when you speak to me, I’m your mother.”

  “Oh, fuck you.” I left and slammed the door on my way out.

  I had to find Melissa and get her out of there.

  I raced down the stairs as hot blood rushed through my veins. The table was empty. I scanned the room and spotted Melissa dancing with some asshole. Watching her sway in the arms of another man only further aggravated my anger. He had his hand low on her back.

  Incensed, I stomped to the dance floor and clasped her forearm, interrupting their dance. “We’re leaving,” I said, avoiding the man’s gaze.

  Melissa started to protest but after inspecting my face, she sealed her lips and promptly let him go.

  “We were dancing,” the man protested. “At least say excuse me.”

  Before I could stop myself or think through my actions, I swung a punch at the center of his face. I was breathing heavily, and my fist ached as I pumped it to release the strain. I was upset but not at him. Still, it felt good to punch him and release some of my anger.

  He lost his balance, stumbled and fell to the floor, hitting a few people on his descent.

  The rest of the occupants of the dance floor backed away once they noticed what was happening and formed a semi-bubble around us. I wanted to kick his ribs while he was down but Melissa held on to my arm and hauled me away.

  “Andrew, stop,” she pleaded.

  The only reason I didn’t advance was that I was afraid to hurt her. She was holding on tightly and if I advanced, she wouldn’t let me go for sure.

  The man brought his hand up to his bleeding nose. Upon seeing the blood, he swiftly stood and launched himself in my direction, but he didn’t reach me. Rob and Dave appeared from somewhere and held him back.

  “Get him out of here,” Dave said.

  “Andrew,” Melissa tugged on my arm, attempting to drag me with her. “Please Andrew. Let’s go.”

  Her desperate plea made my feet move, and I walked away, catching a last glimpse of Dave and Rob taking the guy out back while he convulsed, trying to get away from their grasp.

  Melissa was walking out the same way I brought her, but it was the wrong way, my car was out front. I pulled on her arm. Melissa stopped and grimaced.

  “Andrew,” she warned.

  “Wrong way.”

  I guided her to the main entrance. Erica met us on the way and handed Melissa her purse.

  Thankfully, the driveway was unclogged. I unlocked the car and settled behind the wheel then I shut my eyes, taking deep breaths, and striving to calm my trembling hands and speedy heart. I heard Melissa climb
in on the other side and closed the door. I leaned forward, resting my head on the wheel.

  “Andrew,” Melissa said softly. “What’s wrong?” I could see the concern in her eyes and it broke me further.

  How could I possibly explain to her what was wrong? It made me sick to think of it.

  When I didn’t answer her, she soothingly combed my hair with her fingers. The tension flowed away with every gentle stroke. Her touch brought me peace and I could feel myself calming down.

  I sat up and stared at her in silence. I’d never felt so sure about anything in my life. I wanted her—with every breath in me. I raised my hand and cupped her nape, moving her face to mine. Then I kissed her, breathing deeply into her mouth.

  The impact of our connection blew me away every time. I urged her nearer, seeking for more. Her arms snaked my back, and right then I wanted to rid her of her dress and fuck her until I expunged this night from my memory.

  Deliberately, I brought the kiss to a halt, avoiding the urge to materialize my thoughts but I kept my forehead linked to hers, feeling her warm breath directly on my face. I kissed each of her eyes, the tip of her nose, her mouth, and spread kisses all over her face.

  “You’re beautiful, Mel, don’t ever think otherwise. Your hair, eyes, nose.” I ran my aching knuckle down her cheek. “Your skin is beautiful. Everything about you is perfect.”

  I saw the confusion in her eyes. “Andrew, tell me what’s wrong.” She kissed my palm. “Were you upset because I was dancing?”

  “I love you, Mel,” I said, moving away from her. Then started the car and drove away.

  The car was quiet, but my mind was not. My mother planted a seed I couldn’t budge. I knew Melissa had a logical explanation for the things she had. Maybe, it was money she saved. But thinking about how she could have earned it made me sick to the stomach. My insides twisted. Melissa sat calmly lost in her own thoughts that I was about to disrupt because I couldn’t go on wondering.

  “Mel.”

  “Yeah,” she sang, but didn’t look at me.

  “I’m going to ask you a question, but I don’t want you to feel offended.” She stirred to face me with worried eyes. “How can you afford that dress, your diamonds, that apartment?”

  Letting go of a breath, almost relieved, she chuckled. “My father is a very wealthy man.”

  My brows arched. That was exactly what my mother said she would say. “Why didn’t you tell me before?”

  “I was going to tell you as soon as we got home.” She cringed. “I didn’t think it was a big deal.”

  I reverted my gaze to the road feeling Melissa’s eyes fixed on me. I continued driving, gripping tighter on the steering wheel until I parked in front of her building.

  “You don’t believe me,” Melissa whispered, her voice was sad. “Vai pra puta que te pariu,” she hissed. I didn’t understand what she was saying, but it definitely didn’t mean I love you. “I don’t advertise my father’s money. I was going to tell you. Is that why you’re upset?” I growled and ran a hand up my face. “Oh, I get it. Your mother thinks I’m after your money and you think the same.”

  She pushed the door open and jumped out, running towards her apartment building.

  “Shit,” I muttered, and chased after her, but by the time I reached the building she was already inside and the door was locked. I knocked on the glass while she spoke to the doorman. Once she finished, Melissa wandered off without looking back.

  “She said I should call the police if you don’t go away,” The doorman said through the glass.

  “Let me in,” I begged. He negated with a head movement, holding an apologetic smile on his face.

  The night was going from bad to fucking crazy. I went back to the car and called her, not before seeing dozens of missed calls from my father. Melissa didn’t answer and eventually switched off her phone. I cursed and sank into the seat.

  “What the fuck just happened?”

  I typed her a series of texts hoping she would see them in the morning and calm down. Before I put away my phone, I did a quick Google search on Anthony Alford. It wasn’t disbelief … it was curiosity.

  A Caucasian man in his fifties popped up. Green-eyed with brown hair, nothing like Melissa. He was indeed British and successful, but he wasn’t simply rich, the man was a billionaire. Then I searched for his family photos; a picture of his wife was the first to appear, and the resemblance between her and Melissa was unquestionable, the main difference was the tone of their skin, Melissa’s was several shades lighter.

  In a dated image, I recognized Melissa—she was far younger—with her parents and twin brothers who looked nothing alike. Then my heart nearly stopped with awareness.

  I searched for Melissa’s name and there were a bunch of hits on Brazilian websites. I translated the articles but the deliverance was poor. The sentences didn’t make ample sense but were enough to understand the gist of it. The vast majority of the articles were about her father and they so happened to cite her name, but a few were all about her. They referred to her as “Billionaire whore” and I was sure if I did a deeper search, I’d find the pictures and videos she was talking about.

  When Melissa said everyone saw the pictures, I thought she was referring to her family and friends, but she meant it literally. The whole world had access to the content. No wonder she was scared of going home.

  But the information left a question hanging. The fucker who took advantage of Melissa must have known about her family’s money. Why didn’t he sell the pictures to her father instead of throwing them on the internet? It would have earned him a fortune.

  It made no sense.

  Chapter 13

  Melissa

  Last night was a disaster.

  I knew the life of glitz and glam personally. In that life what mattered was your appearance, how much you had in the bank, and the rest was nonexistent. My mother was once poor and due to that, she taught us how to value what we had. To respect those who didn’t and people in general. Those were principles I strived to never lose.

  Andrew’s mother, on the other hand, was an arrogant snob. He had warned me that she wasn’t friendly, but I never expected her to be so blunt about her hostile personality.

  Jennifer Malcolm was admittedly a striking woman—I wish I could have said otherwise. Well put together but regrettably, none of that veiled her ugly nature. And I hated that Andrew bared such resemblance to her.

  And then there was his father.

  He recognized my father’s name and I was sure Ronald Malcolm was going to dig. Digging would mean he’d find out about my past. Either way, he seemed amiable compared to his wife. But worst of all was Andrew. I never expected him to assume I wanted his money. He may not have said it yet I felt it. Andrew doubted me.

  I glanced at my phone to check for the time as Erica arrived.

  “Hey. I’m so sorry I’m late,” Erica said, sitting across from me. “What did you get me?” She pulled the cup of iced latte to her and peeked inside the cup. “Perfect.” She placed her lips on her straw and took a long draw.

  “What’s up?”

  “You tell me? What happened with Andrew last night?”

  I sighed and rested on my chair. “I have no idea. He wouldn’t say and after … We fought and haven’t spoken since.” He called. I didn’t answer. “But you didn’t ask me here to find out why Andrew threw a fit. What is it?”

  Erica propped her elbow on the little round table, holding her chin in one hand. “Dave and I are sort of hanging out. It’s actually been going on for a while.”

  I blinked a few times, my mouth hanging open. “What do you mean by hanging out?”

  She rolled her eyes. “You know, like, fooling around and stuff.”

  “No, I don’t know. English isn’t my first language so, please, help me understand.”

  “You’re impossible.” She raked her hair. “We’re in a relationship.”

  I stared while my brain ran a marathon trying to figure ou
t how this was possible. “So, Ian was right.”

  “No,” she sneered offended. “It started after the breakup.” I shook my head still processing the information. “We’re getting married. He proposed this morning.”

  “What?! You just said you’re sort of hanging out.” I lowered my eyes and noticed the gigantic engagement ring on her finger.

  “I know, I know. It seems rushed, but I love him.” Erica was glowing with excitement as she said the words. Grinning from ear to ear. “I also know the two of you don’t get along. I don’t understand why, but he’s a really nice guy and you’re my best friend and I love you both.”

  “Just stop right there. This isn’t about me, Erica. This is about you. You’ve known David for about ten seconds and all of a sudden, you’re marrying him. Have you even thought this through?”

  Erica was a sweet girl, innocent and pure at heart. She didn’t know what cruelties men were capable of and she seemed to be jumping too fast into this. I would literally hurt David if he broke her heart.

  “Mel please, try to understand. I know everything happened really fast but I have thought this through and it’s what I want. David makes me happy and we’re getting married.” Her words were decisive and her tone firm. There was no talking her out of it, at least not at the moment.

  “Does Christina know?”

  “She doesn’t.” Guilt took over her face and her grin washed-out. “That’s why I wanted to talk to you first and also why I kept our relationship a secret. I didn’t want to hurt her. You’re with Andrew and I’m with Dave, and she has, like, this huge crush on Rob who according to Dave is not interested in her. I felt bad that we’re happy and she isn’t. And you don’t know about this but…” She looked over her shoulder at the door and lowered her voice. “Christina has serious issues. Growing up was tough for her and when someone rejects her, she goes off the rail, like, totally crazy.”

  “Really?” I said surprised.

  We were friends, but Christina and Erica had met long before I became a part of their lives. I knew, vaguely that Christina had a hard time as a teen because she had been overweight and that was about it. She didn’t like talking about it and I respected her wish for privacy since I had my own share of untold stories.