He kept cumming, his semen jetting into me in powerful spurts. And then his hands slid up to my breasts and he pulled me against his chest, panting for breath in my ear.
“You’re amazing, Amy. You really are my diamond.”
“I love being your diamond,” I murmured.
Chapter 8
Derek
Amy and I had breakfast with my father Saturday morning. I could tell that he was elated, and he kept sending Amy little smiles that he probably thought I wouldn’t notice. The plan was working. She had done well.
I had never seen my father in such a high mood. Part of me celebrated, believing I was finally doing something that would please him. The other part felt guilty, knowing that lying to him was not admirable.
But seeing him so happy did much to reassure me that I was doing the best thing that I could do, so I shoved my doubts aside and enjoyed my father’s happiness.
After breakfast, my father informed us that he was meeting with his lawyer for some business. It was most likely regarding the will, I realized. Which meant that, very possibly, he had changed his mind.
I was giving Amy a tour of the mansion, which had more rooms than I had ever counted. Endless guest bedrooms, each fully furnished, a collection room here and there, some storage.
“Has there ever been a time where all the bedrooms were filled up?” Amy asked. Today, she was wearing a short, dark blue skirt, and a black tank-top that hugged her nicely and provided a generous view of her breasts. She was skipping a few steps ahead of me, excitement radiating from her with every bouncy step. It was contagious. Regarding her, I felt her delight spreading through me.
“Not even close,” I said. “Probably the fullest this house has ever been was my father’s retirement. Hundreds of guests, but only a handful, maybe twenty, spent the night. Not even half of the bedrooms were filled up.”
“Jesus. Then why have them?”
I shrugged. “What else would we use the rooms for?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Amy turned to me, walking backwards. “Why get such a big house if you’re not going to fill it up?”
“My father and I have a fundamental difference in how we use our money,” I explained. “If he has it, he spends it. He could afford a mansion this size, so that’s what he purchased. Never mind that he didn’t need all this space. It’s a show of wealth, I suppose.”
“That makes sense. I mean, I’m not faulting him at all. I think the property is absolutely beautiful. I would die to live somewhere like this. I’m more worried about how lonely it is.”
“Lonely?”
Amy looked a little flustered. “I don’t want to overstep or anything. I’m just talking. In case you haven’t noticed, I don’t have a filter and I say whatever comes to mind sometimes.”
I laughed. “Amy, you’re fine. I enjoy listening to you. Your honesty is what caught my attention in the first place. Please continue.”
“Okay. Well.” Amy turned back around. “I’m not talking badly about your father at all. Everyone is lonely in their own way. This is just such a big house for him to be all alone in. I know that if it were me, I wouldn’t be able to bear the silence. I guess I can understand why he can be so irritable, like you were saying.”
I nodded, not having considered that before. “You’re right. I mean, the poor guy was married four times, and none of them ended well. He only had one son, me. He doesn’t have any pets. He dedicated his whole life to the firm, so when he handed that over to me, he didn’t really have anything left.”
“Yeah, that’s pretty sad,” Amy said. “Money buys a lot, but not happiness.”
I thought about her words carefully. Somehow, I had never considered that my father was lonely. Now that Amy had pointed it out, it suddenly seemed like the most obvious thing in the world—which admittedly made me feel foolish. How had Amy, who only met him yesterday, understood my father better than I had after a lifetime together?
“You’re very empathetic,” I commented.
“How do you mean?”
“I mean, you really understand people. You know what they need.”
“Huh. I never thought about it. I guess. Maybe I’m just observant.”
“You don’t give yourself enough credit. It’s a valuable trait, and an uncommon one in the business world. People in business don’t tend to be very compassionate. Which doesn’t make sense, given that it’s all about working with people.”
“You know what?” Amy said, a smile on her face.
“What?”
“You’re a lot like me.”
“How so?”
“You overthink things. A lot.”
I laughed. “Maybe. But there’s one thing that I definitely don’t need to overthink.”
“What’s that?” She glanced at me over her shoulder, her eyes curious and innocent.
I smirked, and opened one of the bedroom doors, gesturing for her to follow me. Realization spread over her features, and she was quickly behind me.
Wasting no time, I pushed her up against the wall, my hands eagerly sliding under her tank top. She responded by tangling her fingers in my hair and pulling my mouth to hers, kissing me eagerly. Her lips were soft, and her breath was sweet.
My hands cupped her breasts over her bra. I pressed my hard bulge against her hips, so she could feel how much I desired her, how much I wanted her.
Just then the door swung open, and Aneta’s cheery voice echoed through the room.
“Oh, what a surprise!” she said, seemingly not noticing what we were up to. Amy and I jumped apart. “I was looking for you two. Derek, the package that you were waiting for arrived this morning. It’s in the foyer.”
“Thank you, Aneta.” I smiled politely, taking Amy’s hand.
“Yes, yes, you’re welcome,” she called after us, turning to dust the unused furniture.
“Let’s go back to your room,” Amy said, once we were safe in the hall, her eagerness causing me to laugh.
“That sounds like a wonderful plan,” I said. “But first, I have something for you.”
“What?” She turned to me. “What is it?”
“A surprise. You have to wait and see.”
“Derek. If you got me something—”
“I did.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I know. I want to. It’s nothing much. Just a little gift to show my appreciation.”
Amy sighed, but looked curious, and a little pleased. For some reason. I was nervous, which didn’t make sense.
We reached the foyer, where the cardboard package was sitting on a table by the door. I handed it to her. She examined it.
“Are you gonna open it or just stare at the box?” I teased.
“I’m trying to guess what it is,” she said.
“And?”
“No clue.”
Sitting down on the floor, she tore the tape off, and opened the package. She sorted through the packing material and pulled out the gift—a camera.
She held it almost reverently in her hands.
“Holy shit.”
I shifted my weight. “Is that one alright? I’m not a photographer. But the people I called said this was one of the best models on the market.”
“I…it…” She just stared at it, then looked up at me. “This camera is like, thousands of dollars. At least. I can’t accept this.”
“The price isn’t a problem.” I crouched next to her. “It’s yours, Amy. I want you to have it. You told me about your dream. Maybe this will help you follow it.”
“That,” she said, “is so cheesy. But really sweet.”
“I do excel in the cheesy, sweet department.”
“Really. It’s… it’s the most amazing gift I have ever received in my entire life. Thank you.”
Her gratitude was sincere. I smiled.
“I want you to understand that I know you’re not doing this for money,” I said. “And that doesn’t mean I can’t spoil you a little bit, while y
ou’re here.”
She looked down shyly, but before she could respond, we heard footsteps coming our way. I looked up. Marshall Harrison, my father’s long-term lawyer, was heading toward us. He walked rigidly, dressed in a dark, stiff suit, his expression marked by his permanent sneer. I had never been fond of him.
“Derek,” he said, his tone near condescending. “And this must be the Ms. Parker your father was telling me about.”
“Mr. Harrison,” I responded. “Yes. This is Amy. Amy, this is Marshall Harrison, my father’s attorney.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” she said hurriedly, sensing the tension. She jumped to her feet to shake his hand.
“The pleasure is all mine.” He smiled tepidly, any kindness falling flat. The way he was looking at her, in disdain, made me angry.
After staring Amy down for a few uncomfortable moments, he turned his attention to me again. “Your father wishes to speak with you,” he said.
I took Amy’s hand.
“In private,” Marshall said. “It’s regarding legal matters.”
I felt like hitting him, but Amy stepped between us. “I’ll be in our room. I want to figure out this camera, anyway.” She kissed me on the cheek, “Don’t rush.”
I looked between the two of them, then nodded. “Alright.” I didn’t spare Marshall another glance.
I hurried through the mansion, my pace brisk, as I wanted to get back to Amy as quickly as possible. My father’s bedroom was on the top floor.
After I knocked on the door, my father called me in. His voice sounded strange. It sounded almost… giddy, which was highly unusual. I entered cautiously.
My father was sitting at his desk, several papers scattered in front of him. I sat down like a child sitting down in the principal’s office.
“Marshall told me you wanted to speak with me, father,” I said, resting my hands in my lap, one knee bouncing with nerves.
“Oh, yes. He was just here to go over my will with me, make some changes.”
“Oh?” I adjusted the collar of my shirt. Since our argument last week, I assumed the subject of his will would be a tense one. But he was happy, elated, as if he had completely forgotten about it.
“You and your child are to inherit my full estate and belongings,” my father said, tapping the piece of paper in front of him. “After I pass. It’s signed and done.”
“I…” Amy had done her part. Now it was my turn to act. “Father, I… you know that I don’t have any children. We discussed that last week.”
“Yes, last week. I was hoping you wouldn’t bring up that mess. Perhaps we were both a little hasty, and emotional.” My father shrugged. “That is in the past. Now, Amy hasn’t told you, then?”
“Hasn’t told me what?”
He chuckled with a sort of mischievous, youthful glee. “It probably isn’t my place to tell you. To be honest, I thought our talk last night would have been enough to inspire her to talk to you, but it’s understandable.”
“I’m not sure what you’re saying.”
“Amy’s pregnant, Derek.” He paused, watching for my reaction. I just stared at him, confused and speechless. “She told me last night. She was worried about what you’d think, so she wanted to confide in me first, but I told her that it is, of course, wonderful news.”
“That’s… I…”
“You’re going to be a father, Derek,” he said with glee. “I’m going to be a grandfather!”
I looked up at him, and his happiness buzzed through me like a lightning bolt. The true weight of my lie hit me for the first time, and for a moment, I ached, wishing it were the truth, and that his happiness wasn’t caused by something false. He would pass away before it could ever be confirmed or disproven.
It all seemed to crash into me at once. The guilt. The remorse. My father was going to die, and soon. I had not yet allowed myself to accept this, to deal with that grief. Instead, I had occupied my time by scheming up ways to trick him. For his peace of mind, yes, but also for my own.
Tears came to my eyes before I could stop them. I blinked them away. Not once had I cried in front of my father.
Then, the greatest surprise. He reached across the desk and rested one of his soft, weathered hands on mine. When I looked up at him, he was crying too. But his tears were joyous.
Mine were those of a deceitful son.
Chapter 9
Amy
I tried to leave the foyer, but Marshall Harrison stopped me. He put a cold hand on my arm and I turned to him, uneasiness creeping up my skin.
There was something reptilian about this man. He was tall and pale, with visibly dry, papery skin. His eyes were unnaturally green, small, and beady, and his lips were cracked. His thin, white-blonde hair was greased back.
“I would like to have a word with you, Ms. Parker,” he said, his voice nasally and high.
“I… I suppose I have a few minutes,” I said, clutching the camera that Derek had given me tightly.
“Yes, I suppose you do.” Marshall’s eyes narrowed.
I pulled away from his grip. “What can I help you with?”
“I know what you’re up to, Ms. Parker. Unlike Mr. Rittsman and his son, I’m not so easily fooled.”
Taking a step back, I shook my head. “I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, don’t play with me. I’m a straightforward man, and I’ve been working as a lawyer for wealthy families for over three decades. I have seen plenty of gold diggers in my day.”
I felt numb. “Excuse me? You don’t know anything about me. That is a wildly rude accusation. I would never take advantage of someone for their money.”
Marshall smirked. “Sure you wouldn’t. To be honest, I couldn’t care less about what Derek and you have. He doesn’t mean anything to me. If you ask me, I think it would be nice to see him stumble. However, when you mess with my client, Ms. Parker, I don’t stand down.”
His smug, serpentine demeanor was beginning to piss me off. I lifted a finger, my voice rising.
“And when someone tries to intimidate me, I don’t stand down, either. I would never, ever do anything to hurt Derek’s father. Or Derek, whether that bothers you or not.”
His lips twitched with a smile. “Words mean nothing to me. Actions do. And I find it highly suspicious that you suddenly appear with a bun in the oven, and so conveniently close to Mr. Rittsman’s passing. He may be blinded by joy, but I assure you, I am not.”
My voice was practically hysterical and I was trying not to freak out. “That’s ridiculous. You’re completely insane.”
He laughed. “Am I? You’re awfully defensive.”
“Yeah, maybe because a man I’ve never met is harassing me. What would I even have to gain?”
“You tell me,” Marshall smiled. “What’s that you are holding in your hands?”
I looked down at the camera, a ridiculous luxury for me, but pocket change to Derek. Never had I dreamed I could afford something like this, and yet he had snapped his fingers and made it happen.
I had a lot to gain from Derek. I just didn’t want to admit it.
That’s not what I’m doing here, I thought to myself, gritting my teeth. I never asked for anything from him. Whatever our relationship, money has no part in it.
I was confident in that fact. But I knew that if I tried to explain it to anyone, they would shake their heads and call me a liar.
“It is pretty common to give and receive gifts when you’re dating,” I said, holding the camera tighter to my chest. “I mean, I don’t know about you, but Derek is thoughtful. Last week, I said I had an interest in photography, so he surprised me with this gift. That seems like a pretty normal thing to do.”
“Maybe.” Marshall watched me unnervingly. “We’ll see. If there is one thing that my career has shown me, it is that all truth comes to light eventually. And, more likely than not, my instincts will prove correct.”
“I think you need to back off,” I said, trying to usher
as much confidence into my tone as possible, “before you stick your nose somewhere it doesn’t belong. You might underestimate me Mr Harrison, but if you screw with me, I will fuck you ten times over. I will put you through hell.”
Complete and utter bullshit. I had about as much power to do anything to him as a cool autumn breeze. Even if I could, I don’t think I would ever make an effort to destroy someone’s life. That kind of cruelty was beyond me. But I’d be damned if I would take his shit lying down. Words might mean nothing to him, but they were all I had.
He looked me over, “Cute” he drawled. “Here’s what I think. I suspect that you’re working with Derek. You’re manipulating him. I’m not even convinced that there is a baby. It’s just you playing a game and you have no idea of the consequences. It doesn’t matter how good you think you are, Miss Parker, I promise that I am better.”
I opened my mouth to respond, thought better of it, and turned away. He let me go this time. I could feel his eyes on my back, burning a hole through me.
Practically running, I found my way back to Derek’s bedroom, and closed the door firmly behind me. Hands shaking, I found my phone, and quickly dialed my sister’s number.
Please, pick up, pick up, pick up! I needed to hear the voice of reason before I lost it. Marshall Harrison’s words had shaken me, filled me with doubt that I was doing the right thing. And if it was right, was it legal? It’d be just my luck to end up in prison.
“Amy?” Her voice sounded on the other line, sleepy.
“Did I wake you up?” I glanced at the clock. It was after eleven.
“I had a late night,” she yawned. “It’s fine, though. Zeus has been trying to get me up all morning.”
“He’s probably hungry.”
“He’s always hungry. Aren’t you, Zeus? Aren’t you?” She laughed, and I could picture Zeus wagging his tail in excitement. “So, what’s up? How’s the trip? How’s the sex? Tell me everything.”
“I… it’s good, Abby.”
She heard how strained my voice was. “Wait. Is something wrong?”
“I’m kind of panicking. I think I might have gotten myself into some trouble. Like, big trouble.”
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