by M. H. Soars
“You’re taking the day off today.”
“I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not. I’m heading out. I’ll put Charlotte on watch duty.”
“I’m sure she’ll love that.”
I let Oliver guide me back to bed and when my head hits the pillow, sudden exhaustion hits me. Oliver kisses my forehead and says he will be back after lunch. I don’t even see him leave, falling asleep almost instantly.
OLIVER
It doesn’t take long for me to find out where Craig Hawthorne works. All it took were a few phone calls to get the name of the trashy magazine that employs that piece of scum. I head to their office, not knowing what I will do if that weasel is there. The receptionist, a ditzy blonde with more stuffing in her lips than a turkey, is quick to say Craig has gone out to lunch and tells me where he likes to eat. She recognized me as soon as she laid her eyes on me. I wasn’t trying to hide my identity.
I turn on my heel before she has the chance to ask for a stupid selfie with me, or an autograph. The magazine’s building is in downtown L.A. and the restaurant Craig prefers is within walking distance. I stride with purpose, practically shoving people out of my way. The closer I get to the place, the angrier I become. Saylor’s tear-streaked and panicked face comes to mind and I curl my hands into fists.
I enter the busy restaurant and ignore the hostess. It takes me a few minutes to find the rat eating at a table in the middle of the establishment. My gaze shifts to his companion and things become crystal fucking clear to me. Sitting opposite Craig is Saylor’s half sister, the woman I met at the charity ball a few months back. The Senator has been using his own daughter to supply info to Craig. I don’t know who I want to hurt more, Craig or him.
I make a beeline in the duo’s direction and they only notice my presence when I stop in front of their table.
“Fancy seeing you here, Craig,” I say.
The man looks at me with a glint of surprise in his dark eyes. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to have a little chat with you, but I see you have company.” I shift my gaze to Saylor’s sister. The woman has the decency to look guilty at least.
“I’d better leave.” She folds her napkin and places it on top of her uneaten salad.
“Why leave? Let’s a have party shall we? I would love to know what you, the daughter of a prestigious Senator, have in common with this piece of shit here.”
“You’d better watch your tongue, boy.”
“Or what? What are you going to do, rat?”
The perfectly coiffed woman stands up. “I don’t need this.”
She walks away and I follow her. I can deal with Craig later. When she clears the tables section, I grab her forearm and steer her into the restroom’s direction.
“Hey! What do you think you’re doing?”
“I need to talk to you.”
“I don’t care. Let me go.” She tries to pull her arm free, but I hold tighter.
“No. I’m going out on a limb here you don’t want to cause a commotion. What would Daddy Dearest say?”
She shuts her mouth and lets me drag her to the less visible part of the restaurant. There’s an alcove between the men’s and ladies’ room and it’s where I stop, letting go of her arm finally.
“That was uncalled for.” She rubs the sore spot.
“I don’t think so. What the fuck is your end game here? Weren’t the threatening notes and murder attempt not enough for your father? He has to drag her name through the mud as well?”
Saylor’s sister holds her hand up. “Stop. What are you talking about? Notes and a murder attempt?”
“Don’t play stupid with me. I know very well your father is behind all that. I just want you to give him a message from me. If something happens to Saylor, I will destroy him. If he has done his homework, he knows who I am, he knows I have the means. If Saylor dies because of your family’s bullshit, I will go after every single one of you.”
I walk away before the woman has the chance to spill any lies. When I return to the main area, I notice Craig is no longer there. Of course, the coward has run away.
I will destroy you too, rat.
Forty
SAYLOR
When Oliver returns, he won’t tell me where he’s been or what he’s done. He only says I don’t need to worry about anything, the gossip about my attack will stop. He spends the next hour locked inside Charlotte’s room, doing God knows what. I hate being left out, but I can’t fault anyone but myself. I’ve let Oliver and the girls keep me in a bubble, sheltered. I acted like a coward again and I’m done being the damsel in distress.
I’m feeling much better after my weird morning nap. My face still has a sickly color, so I apply a heavy coat of make-up. I do my hair next which resembled a bird’s nest before. When it’s nice and shiny again, I go in search of my favorite kickass, take no prisoners outfit, my racer back skull shirt and my skin tight, ripped jeans which I pair with the famous fuck-me-heels Oliver loves so much. I stare at my reflection in the mirror and for the first time in days, I feel like my old self again.
I stride out the gloomy bedroom toward the main space of the house. There I find exactly the person I was looking for, Allan.
He senses my approach and looks up from his computer. His gaze drops to my shoes and then slowly goes back up as he takes me in.
“You look better.”
“Thanks. I feel better.” I grab a chair and push it toward Allan, sitting opposite him with his desk between us. “I want to issue a statement about my condition.”
He leans back in his seat and watches me with a scrutinizing gaze. “That would be the best course of action, but have you talked to Oliver about it?”
“There’s nothing to discuss. Dr. Laurent wants to perform the surgery as soon as possible. That will mean any future commitments Wreck of the Day has made will have to be cancelled or postponed.”
“Yes. I know.” Allan rubs his face and seems worried.
“Is that going to screw up the future of the band?”
He shakes his head. “Your duet with Oliver is still high up in the charts and you’re still part of the teen movie’s soundtrack. I’m wondering what we should do about the rumors involving your biological father. There has been a lot of speculation about it. A statement should have come from his office, but it hasn’t happened yet.”
“I signed a contract abdicating of all my rights. I don’t think I can say anything without creating a bunch of legal trouble for me.”
Allan nods and seems lost in thought. After a moment, he goes back to his computer and begins to type away. “I’ll focus on your press release about your upcoming surgery then. I’ll let you read it before I send it to the press.”
“Thanks, Allan. I appreciate it.”
I stand up and decide to spend some time by the pool. There I find Charlotte in a two-piece bikini, working on her already fabulous tan. I wonder where she gets her golden olive skin from. Oliver is pasty white like most Britons I know.
I sit on the chaise lounge next to hers and she turns her face my way. “Why are you wearing all those clothes? You’ll get awful looking tan lines.”
“I didn’t realize it was so hot today.”
“Yes, you’ve been cooped up inside for too long. I hope you are feeling better.”
“I am.”
“I’m sorry about the shit storm that has hit the tabloids. How are you holding up?”
I shrug. “It’s harder in the beginning, you know? But now, I don’t care. Let them spew their lies. I guess I’m growing a thicker skin.”
“Gossip bloody sucks.”
“So, how is everything with school?”
“Brilliant. I start next semester. I can’t wait. I need to find my own place, of course. This house is too crowded.”
“Yes.”
Charlotte sits up and pulls her sunglasses up her head. “You don’t mind? Having Allan and your friends here all the time privy to your life with Oli
ver? That would drive me insane.”
“Honestly, I haven’t had much time to dwell on it. Sure, it would be nice if Renegades Headquarters wasn’t here.”
“I haven’t had a chance to talk to you alone, but I just want to let you know I’m fucking ecstatic that you and my brother have worked things out. I’ve never seen Oliver happier, despite everything.”
I drop my gaze to my lap. “He makes me happy, too. I just hope…”
“Hey, your surgery will go fine. Don’t stress about it.”
I glance at her face and smirk. “It’s a bit hard not to stress about it. They’re going to cut my head open.”
“I know, so Grey’s Anatomy. Is Dr. Laurent as hot as McDreamy?”
A snort escapes my lips. “Not quite. For starters, he’s over sixty.”
Charlotte wrinkles her nose. “Yew. How about your friend? Derek is his name, right? By the way Oliver gets mad jealous every time the guy is mentioned, I have to assume he’s hot.”
I smile. “Yes. Derek is easy on the eyes.”
“McDreamy or McSteamy?” Charlotte leans forward.
“Hum. I’d say McSteamy on looks, McDreamy in personality.”
Charlotte lets herself fall backwards on the chaise lounge. “Swoon. I have to meet him. He sounds like the perfect boyfriend material.”
“Sure. I can make that happen. But I don’t think Oliver will like that idea very much.”
Charlotte gives me an impish grin, very similar to the one her brother has mastered. “That’s what makes it even more appealing.”
Forty-One
SAYLOR - A week later
The outpour of support and positive messages that came after Allan put out the press release about my health condition was overwhelming and unexpected. The terrible rumors stopped like magic including the one that guessed I was the illegitimate daughter of Senator Holloway. The man himself never addressed those rumors. Good. I don’t ever want anyone to know about my genetic connection to him.
Tomorrow is the day my fate will be decided. After Dr. Laurent reviewed the results of all my exams, he scheduled the surgery. I’m expected to check into the hospital early in the morning.
I saw my closest friends yesterday. Oliver organized a little get together with Liv’s help and they all came—including Emma and Ken—to wish me good luck and spend quality time with me. Even after a successful surgery, the road to recovery won’t be easy. It was a bittersweet occasion. There were times I caught my friends looking at me funny, but no one ever mentioned the fact that maybe last night would be the last time they’d see me.
I try not to dwell in pessimistic thoughts. They come unbidden sometimes and my heart is seized by uncontrollable fear when it happens. I don’t say anything, especially not to Oliver. I know he has those moments too, even if he tries to hide them from me.
Oliver wasn’t in bed when I woke up this morning. Instead, I found a note from him and a single red rose. The note tells me to get into the shower and wear the dress he left draped over the chair in our room. My gaze travels to one of the corners where the piece of furniture is, and sure enough, there’s a red dress folded on it. I wonder what Oliver is up to. He has been more closed off than usual for the past few days and I just assumed it was his way to deal with my impending surgery.
I do as the note says and get ready. When I venture out of the bedroom, I find the house deserted. It’s so weird to not hear a sound. I’ve grown used to the hectic, full house dynamic of Renegades HQ. I find another note and a single red rose on the kitchen counter. I bring the flower to my nose before I read the card next to it. Oliver says to hop into the car that is waiting for me outside the house.
Curiouser and curiouser.
The door bell rings and I wonder if that’s my ride. I grab my purse and practically skip down the flight of stairs. When I open the door, I almost have to do a double take. My half sister, Vanessa Holloway, is standing there, wearing a Chanel suit and big sunglasses.
I cross my arms in front of my chest and glare at her. “What are you doing here?”
“Hello, Saylor. Do you mind if I come in?”
I should just shut the door in her face, but I’m too curious to do that. This is the first time anyone from my father’s side of the family has reached out to me in person.
“I have to be somewhere, so this better be quick.” I move out of the way so she can pass.
“I promise not to take up too much of your time.”
I let her take the stairs first because I’m leery to give my back to her. She reaches the landing and removes her sunglasses, doing a quick scan of the room before turning to me.
“Are you alone in the house?”
“Yes. But I have a chauffeur waiting for me outside. If I don’t come out soon, he’ll know something is up.”
Her eyebrows shoot up to the heavens. “Do you think I came here to kill you?”
“I don’t know. Your father sure as hell tried.”
She lets out a loud sigh. “I know nothing about my father’s dealings. Oliver mentioned the threatening notes. I swear I have nothing to do with it.”
“Wait? When did you and Oliver speak?”
“A few weeks back. I was having lunch with an old acquaintance of his.”
Oliver never mentioned anything me and I feel betrayed as hell. I try to hide my emotions. I don’t want to give Vanessa the upper hand.
“He’s very protective of you,” she continues.
“Yes. He is.”
“Anyway, I came here to apologize.”
I raise an eyebrow at her. That’s the last thing I was expecting to hear from the woman. “Explain.”
She looks away and begins to walk the room. “My father and I don’t get along. He is a difficult man. You’re lucky he doesn’t want anything to do with you.”
I snort and Vanessa looks at me again. “I envy you, your freedom. You don’t know how much it kills me to admit that, especially to you.”
“Wow, thanks a lot. If you came here to apologize for being jealous of me, you shouldn’t have bothered. I don’t give a rat’s ass about your feelings. The fact we share DNA means to nothing to me.”
“I’m the one who leaked to the press you are the Senator’s illegitimate daughter.”
“Why?” Shit, Vanessa is full of surprises.
“Because I wanted to hurt him.”
I cross my arms in front of my chest. “Were you also responsible for all the other nasty rumors about me?”
She shakes her head. “No, that was Craig’s doing. He has a vendetta against your boyfriend. I didn’t realize that until I was in too deep and for that I’m truly sorry. I wasn’t thinking about what my actions would mean to you. I only wanted to get back at my father.”
“What did he do to you?”
Vanessa lets out a humorless laugh. “The question is what didn’t he do to me.”
I sense there’s a lot Vanessa is not telling me, but I honestly don’t care to know. I can’t summon an ounce of sympathy for her. She’s only here because I might die tomorrow and she wants to unburden her guilty conscience.
“That’s it?”
“Yes. That’s it.”
“Alright. You can leave now.”
“I hope everything goes well for you tomorrow. I’d say I’d pray for you if I believed in any of that.”
She walks past me and I follow her closely. I want to make sure she’s out of my house. I shut the door as soon as she’s out, and I lean against it, taking deep breaths. Her visit affected me more than I expected. I need time to recover.
I feel my phone vibrate in my purse, and when I fish it out, I see Oliver’s text message. ‘Where are you?’
Shit. I forgot about him. I open the door once more, and make sure there’s no sign of Vanessa before venturing out onto the curb. Tony gets out of the car and opens the door for me.
“Hi, Tony. Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“No problem, Saylor.”
“Where are we go
ing?” I ask before I slide in.
“I’m not at liberty to say.”
Of course he isn’t. I finally enter the vehicle and Tony closes the door. Once inside the warm interior, I spot on the black leather seat another red rose but no note this time. I try to put Vanessa’s visit aside and the fact that Oliver spoke to her and didn’t tell me. I don’t want to fight with him, especially about her.
I stare out the window during the entire drive, but I can’t for the life of me guess where Tony is taking me. Our final destination turns out to be a private airport. He stops at the gate briefly. Security check happens in the blink of an eye. Tony drives all the way to the tarmac, parking close to a small plane. He once again opens the door for me, and I have to hold onto the skirt of my knee length dress so I won’t pull a Marilyn Monroe move. Controlling my hair against the wind proves a little bit more difficult. It dances wildly, getting in my line of vision. I finally manage to grab a handful and see that Oliver is waiting for me in front of the plane, holding another single rose. He’s dressed smartly as well, with dark pants, a button down shirt, and a jacket. His eyes are hidden behind the sunglasses, but I can feel his appreciative stare just the same.
I put more swing into my hips as I walk in his direction, stopping right in front of him.
“What’s all this?”
“I wanted to take you out to dinner.”
“And we need a plane to get there?”
“The restaurant I have in mind is in another state.”
“You’re crazy. I have to be at the hospital early tomorrow morning.”
“I know. We’ll make it back in time.” He takes my hand and brings it to his lips for a kiss.
“Where are we going?”
Oliver takes his sunglasses off and seems nervous all of the sudden. “Well, that depends on your answer, sugar.”
Still holding my hand, Oliver reaches inside his jacket pocket with the free one. A second later, he pulls out a sparkly diamond ring from it. I stop breathing and stare at the piece of jewelry for a few seconds without blinking. Then my gaze connects with his again.
