by Laura Gibson
Needless to say, Ryan was hurt and stormed off, leaving Bill and Kelly to pretend as if nothing had really happened.
But nothing really had happened. Outbursts like that were business usual for the Prescott family and Kelly had witnessed his fair share of fights to know it. Couple that with the fact they didn’t call Bill the bull without just cause, Kelly knew it was only a matter of time before one or both of them would become angry with one another.
“Now, are you going to behave yourself today when we meet Mikhail Volkov or do I need to ask you to stay on the Reliant?” Bill looked stern, any form of fatherly affection draining from his voice. This was a man that was grooming his son for a multibillion dollar company and he wanted to make sure Ryan knew that.
“I don’t plan on embarrassing you if that’s what you’re asking.” Ryan grumbled, moving down the line away from his father.
“You never do.” Bill cleared his throat and followed his son, intent on making sure the lesson stuck.
“And yet, I am the ever disappointment.” Ryan put a heaping helping of eggs on his plate and glanced over at Kelly’s empty tray.
“I wonder why.” Bill was growing increasingly frustrated with his child as the line progressed closer to the bacon.
Kelly coughed absentmindedly and skipped the now empty egg pan, wishing that Ryan had left some for him.
“You should really just stay here.” Bill added, his stubborn nature getting the better of him.
Kelly grabbed an apple and waited for the retort from Ryan. The snappy comeback that meant Ryan wasn’t going to take that from his dad.
Being a Hill meant Kelly could watch the socialites’ interesting relationships with their parents and with each other without ever having to truly interact with them. He was with them and apart from them all at the same time. It was, without a doubt, the most interesting side of the fence to be on. Of course, it wasn’t the side that ever mattered, but at least it was entertaining.
Ryan shook his head, reaching the end of the buffet line and slid his tray into the trash, “Lets just go right now. I know that’s what you want.”
“Only if you promise not to act like a little shit.” Bill’s tone was less malicious than his words implied and Kelly sighed, biting the side of his cheek and cracking his neck.
This was why he didn’t want to come on this trip.
An hour and few pithy comments later, Kelly found himself talking to the very broad shouldered Mikhail Volkov, the thirty year old Russian who had managed to grow his family’s business exponentially since his takeover three years ago.
Kelly wasn’t new to the subject matter, he had read the information Bill provided them, and had found it almost fascinating how Mikhail had been able to almost single handedly multiply the profits of his business five times over within the short time being at the helm. It was Ryan that seemed to be faltering in the spotlight as Mikhail began to talk about what was supposed to be common knowledge among the people standing on shore.
Mikhail Volkov stood well over six feet tall and possessed a very jovial face with wide set cheekbones that seemed to pull his thin lips into a permanent smile that bolstered not only happiness, but mischievousness as well.
Kelly shook Mikhail’s hand and felt his shoulders simultaneously try to shake off the feeling of impending regret, as if Mikhail was a crow arriving on the horizon.
“Firm grip.” Mikhail’s thick accent pulled out of his mouth, “Bill’s right about you.”
Kelly glanced at Bill and then looked back at Mikhail, “He’s probably just overselling me.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Another man came into view, walking casually down the dock, his long black trench coat trailing out behind him. “Bill doesn’t oversell anything, least of all people.”
Kelly laughed nervously, afraid that this was going to get him into hot water later with Ryan who was still busy pouting about his verbal spat with his father that morning.
This second man was shorter than Mikhail, but Kelly could see the familial resemblance in the disapproving brow line and the overtly snide smirk hiding on his lips. His jaw was square and he looked like a man that didn’t smile as much as his brother.
“Casimir Volkov.” He leaned in and shook Kelly’s hand before moving onto to Ryan and Bill.
“Cas.” Bill’s smile was warm, but his word sounded foreign and forced, like he was uncomfortable with Casimir’s presence. “I didn’t know you would be here this morning.”
Kelly had never known Bill to be uncomfortable with anyone and so he found himself intrigued by the younger man who seemed to carry himself very well.
“Well, I thought I should check my inventory before it was loaded.” Casimir stated, his lips still twitching with almost a smile, but Kelly felt the shiver running through the words as a secondary meaning poisoned the molecules that comprised the air between them.
“Of course, Cas.” Bill stepped closer to Casimir and put his hand on his shoulder, “Besides, I think there’s a few things we should talk about before we leave port.”
Kelly noticed Mikhail shift on nervous feet and Ryan impatiently cleared his throat, thinking that he had been forgotten.
But Bill was busy now, all business and no formalities. Kelly shook out his shoulders and tried to feel more relaxed. If he was guessing correctly, it wasn’t Mikhail that ran the show, but rather the younger brother, Casimir. That must be why everyone was on edge, or more on edge, since his arrival. No one was planning on seeing him here, so his surprise visit had to signify something.
Kelly looked at Mikhail for more insight but was met by a stone wall of a facial expression, whatever was there a moment ago was now gone, completely controlled and kept far away from the situation at hand.
“I don’t want to count inventory of dead animals all morning.” Ryan grumbled, assuming that’s what Casimir had meant. Kelly had to hand it to him, at least Ryan was willing to say what everyone else was thinking. It didn’t sound like anyone wanted to do that ever.
Bill frowned at his son and Casimir’s blue eyes slid over to lock with Ryan’s, an annoyed expression solidified on his pale face. They both looked like they were going to chastise Ryan for his behavior, but Mikhail stepped in just in the nick of time, as if he had been in Ryan’s very predicament many times over.
“You can go over the inventory, I can take the boys for the day.” Mikhail nodded at both Ryan and Kelly, “They need to see some good ol’ fashioned Russian hospitality before they leave, I wouldn’t mind being the one to show them.”
Kelly’s eyes narrowed into slits while he gauged Mikhail’s motives for babysitting them, as if they needed a guardian to watch over them while the grownups did the work. Mikhail didn’t strike him as the type of man to want to hang out with adolescent strangers so why was he volunteering his time now? Unless… Kelly looked back over at Casimir and Bill. Unless there was something wrong with the inventory and Mikhail was just looking for a way to save his own skin.
Kelly’s eyes connected with Casimir’s for a split second and he felt uncomfortable under the gaze of the Russian. There was something definitely going on here. Something that Ryan was supposed to figure out but didn’t.
“Is that alright with you, Bill?” Casimir looked at Bill, asking the father for permission on letting Mikhail take his son into Kaliningrad for the day.
“As long as he’s careful, I’m sure everything will be fine.” Bill wasn’t smiling anymore.
“Whatever.” Ryan shrugged and shook his head, “Guess it beats doing menial labor.”
“Its attitudes like that won’t get you anywhere in life.” Casimir pointed out, his scowl more visible than before. “I had to work for everything I have, and so did your father.”
“Yeah, but we have people who can do that now. People that we pay.” Ryan defended himself, arrogant to the last.
Casimir rolled his eyes and looked back at Bill, turning away from Ryan, signifying that Ryan was a waste of his time. “There’s jus
t a few crates that I have to check, it shouldn’t take too long.”
“I could help.” Kelly offered, not wanting to go with Ryan and Mikhail, not wanting to get any closer to whatever it was that Mikhail thought to be entertaining.
Bill laughed, “You’re a sweet kid, Kelly, but I think it’s better if you went with Ryan today.”
Casimir wasn’t laughing as he regarded Kelly thoughtfully, his brow partially furrowed.
“Yeah come on, Kell.” Ryan chuckled, brushing off the rebuff from before, “Mikhail looks like he knows how to party.”
Kelly shook his head and wondered if it was too late to go back to his room or not and just forget that the rest of the world existed. He didn’t want to go on this trip, he never wanted to be here and now everything was a giant clusterfuck of hidden agendas and backhanded compliments.
But then they were exchanging goodbyes and Kelly was marching down the dock towards Mikhail’s car, almost afraid of what was in store for him that day.
Phillips Academy
Charleston, West Virginia
August 28th, 2007
Anna
Anna sat across the table from Jefferson and Ryan, sipping her bottle of water, hoping to God that Melody would just shut up already. She was so obnoxious, it was almost physically suffocating.
Anna felt her stifled soul give a cough and she looked at Jefferson, smirking, he didn’t like Melody either. But Kelly liked Melody and that was all that mattered. Because God forbid anyone do anything that Kelly didn’t like. He was the baby of the family after all, everyone catered to his whims, however asinine those may be.
“Oh my gosh, then my mom got to get her picture taken by three different magazines when she donated the money to dig a well for the starving children, it was inspiring.” Melody finished her story with a sigh.
Anna tried to remind herself that Melody was only fifteen, she was going to act like a fifteen year old, it was only natural. Anna was nineteen.There was a pretty big difference between fifteen and nineteen.
‘She’s just a fetus,’ Anna kept telling herself, ‘She doesn’t know how terrible she sounds. Fetuses can’t be blamed for their little fetus actions.’
“Wow. That is so interesting.” Jefferson was nodding his head as the sarcastic words poured out of his mouth, “I can’t believe there are still orphans in the world.”
Ryan, ever the peacemaker, laughed, “Come on Jeff, it was nice thing. I’d like to see you try to make a difference.”
Jefferson shrugged and leaned back in his chair, “I don’t believe in making differences. Some people were just born to die.”
“Jeez. You don’t have to be a prick, Jefferson.” Melody glared at Jefferson from across the table, “Seriously, you should really care more about your fellow man.”
Jefferson shrugged again, “Why? I mean, its not like its going to help me out any.”
“Because if you don’t, you look like a dick.” Melody was glaring at him now, her amber eyes narrow slits on her tan face.
“Meh.” Jefferson rolled his eyes and looked over at Anna, “What do you think about all this?”
Anna bit her lip, thinking it over. What did she think? She smiled, she thought Jefferson was funny, that for sure, and the way he could push all of Melody’s buttons was great, so entertaining was in there… Anna made a clicking noise with her tongue before answering, “I think humanitarianism is great. Really great. But, in order to appreciate humanitarian efforts, you have to have a soul and that’s really something Jefferson is lacking here.”
Jefferson laughed, a real laugh, the kind of laugh that Anna knew only she could get out of him. They shared a bond that not many people did, and maybe that was because they had spent so much time together growing up, or maybe it was just because they were on the same wavelength. Either which way, it was a sort of happiness that Anna knew only she could elicit from him.
“I could have a soul.” Jefferson defended himself, still chuckling at the joke made at his expense.
“You could,” Anna raised her eyebrows looking at him, “But you don’t.”
“That’s not nice, Anna.” Melody started to chastise Anna for picking on Jefferson, even though she had just been mad at him moments earlier.
Anna raised an eyebrow and looked at the fifteen year old. “Really?”
“Jefferson has a soul.” Melody was frowning.
“He said that people were born to die.” Anna replied, still feeling a little confused as to why this tiny fetus was now defending Jefferson.
“Only certain people.” Ryan interjected, laughing at the scenario now unfolding.
“Not relevant.” Anna shook her head, still not looking away from Melody, “Born to die.”
“I think the ‘only certain people’ part is pretty relevant.” Jefferson started again, really feeling the need to drive his point home.
Anna give him a sideways look, “No, Jefferson, no one is born merely to die, only people who are truly bent think those things.”
“Come on Anna, you know I don’t actually think that.” Jefferson took a drink of his water.
Anna thought it over before replying with a sigh, “You worry me.”
Jefferson smiled again, “I worry a lot of people, baby, it’s a part of my charm.” He winked at Anna and leaned back, satisfied that the argument was his.
Anna heard Melody giggle next to her which caused Anna to put her full attention on the fetus once more, “You’re giggling at this? You know you’re just encouraging him, right?”
“He’s funny, Anna.” Melody was laughing, “Come on, it was a joke.”
Anna rolled her eyes and looked back at Jefferson, he might want to play his beliefs off as a joke to humor his friends, but she knew the truth. He was being serious. That was the real joke. Jefferson was always serious, he never spoke an untruth and he never tried to hide his real feelings, everything just depended on the way people received him. Most of them were like Melody, young and susceptible to his flashy vocabulary and pearly white teeth, but Anna was older and Anna was different. She knew Jefferson better than that. She knew Jefferson better than anyone.
The focus turned from Jefferson and onto Ryan when his phone chirped with the news of a text message.
Ryan flipped open his phone and looked down at the screen before scowling.
“What’s up?” Jefferson frowned, trying to see the text that had caused such displeasure.
Ryan shook his head and closed the phone, “Just Cas.”
Jefferson made a knowing face and took another drink of water, dropping the subject.
Anna had heard about this Cas, but hadn’t been told anything much, or anything outright that is. All she knew was that he was someone Ryan and Kelly had met in Russia and no one liked to talk about him.
“Who’s Cas?” The fetus asked, doing its job in being a fetus and not knowing anything.
Anna felt her body shift forward, interested in what the answer would be.
Jefferson shook his head, clearly upset with the subject matter, the laughter and joking from minutes before drained from his face.
“He’s just a guy.” Ryan shrugged, trying not to go into detail.
“What sort of guy?” Anna asked, it was safe to ask now that Melody had started the subject. That was something that Anna could always count on Melody for, opening any can of worms that she saw.
Ryan cleared his throat and shrugged again, “A friend.”
“Good friend or bad friend?” Anna asked, knowing that she was pushing Ryan further than he wanted to go. Ryan didn’t like Anna that much, never had, but they were cousins and he was forced to spend time with her.
“None of your business sort of friend.” Ryan’s response was harsh but Anna wasn’t upset. He was right, it wasn’t her business, but that didn’t stop her from wanting to know. Ever since Ryan and Kelly had come back from Russia they were different, and she knew this Cas character had something to do with it.
“I was only asking.” Ann
a smiled at Ryan, her playfully eyes looking back at Jefferson, hoping he would throw her a bone. “What’s the harm in that?”
Ryan made a face and Jefferson shrugged for him. They were done talking about the subject. Anna rolled her eyes and started to get to her feet, “Well, I guess I better get going, I told Kelly I’d be home sooner than this.”
Melody looked up, “Oh, do you think you could give me a ride? I was headed over there anyways to surprise him.” She looked at Ryan and Jefferson, “He doesn’t know I’m back in town yet.”
Anna tried not to have eye contact, she didn’t want to let the fetus know that she had inadvertently ruined the surprise by texting her brother earlier, “Sure, I can do that.” Anna smiled easily. Lying was the best way to placate those around her.
“Well, I’ll catch you guys later.” Melody waved at Ryan and Jefferson as the two girls began to walk away and Anna couldn’t help but notice the look Melody gave Jefferson. Was that flirting? Was the fetus trying to flirt with Jefferson?
Anna felt the weird reaction of territorialism and she tried to swallow the feeling, that wasn’t right. She should be more upset that Melody was eyeing Jefferson instead of her brother. Not upset that Melody was just looking at Jefferson.
Anna cracked her neck and walked out of the cafeteria at a brisk pace, hoping that Melody couldn’t keep up, knowing that Jefferson would wonder why she didn’t say goodbye. But she couldn’t say goodbye. Not when her body had betrayed her, God only knew what else it might try to do.
Outward appearances were everything and if it looked like for a second that she liked Jefferson her entire life would be ruined. Okay, maybe not her entire life, but her social status would be set back a bit.
She was very happy with Connor Bronen, the Senator’s son. She did not want to be seen with Jefferson Williams, investment banker’s son. He was a clever, charming boy, but he wasn’t her ticket and she knew that. Plus, he was two years younger than her and she wasn’t about to be called a cradle robber by anyone.
“Wait up!” Melody called out, running to keep up with the long legged Anna.
