by C. E. Wilson
“She doesn’t need to know that it’s me,” he said. “Let’s head over to his house now.”
“Wait, what? You want to go over to his house and tell him?”
“Yes.”
“Face-to-face?”
“I’m certainly not going to tell him over the phone! Let’s go before it’s too late. I bet she’s with him right now.”
“You think?” Roderick asked, allowing himself to be pulled along.
“I know. Let’s spoil his ignorant bliss.”
Chapter Two
Roderick and Archer were shown to the sitting room and left to wait for the mayor to arrive in his impressive home. It was the home of a man who wanted the best and wanted everyone to know he could afford it. He came from old family money, but the way he acted one would never know it. The mayor was a man who often talked about how a man made his own luck and that hard work is the gateway to success, when in reality he had gone through most of his life barely breaking a sweat. Roderick drug the bottom of his shoes over the carpet impatiently.
“Stop looking so fidgety,” Archer grumbled. “We’re not the bad guys here.”
A few moments later Devony’s father Darren entered the room, looking immaculate as always. His silver-streaked dark brown hair was smoothed past his ears and his collar clung to his thick neck. His suit looked expensive and hugged his muscular frame in a way that let people know that while he was an important man, he still had time to keep his body in excellent shape. For a man well over forty he could be pretty damn intimidating.
“What can I do for you gentlemen?” he asked, taking a seat on a plush couch across from the two young men.
“Is Devony here?” Archer asked.
“She’s…not home, at least I don’t think she is,” Darren said, looking at them closely with the same blue eyes as his daughter’s.
“Are your doors locked?”
Darren’s eyebrow shot upward. “Archer, why would ask me such a thing?”
“I think someone took your daughter,” he said.
“Took my daughter? What are you talking about? She snuck off a little while ago, but she was just studying with Ellie. I’m pretty sure she came back a half hour ago.”
“Has she been studying a lot this summer?”
“Why yes…she has, but what are you implying? Is this one of your senior pranks?”
“I wish it was,” Archer said.
“Start talking.”
“I don’t like to be the bearer of this news. I believe, at this very moment, your daughter’s alone with that exchange student.”
“Exchange student?” he repeated. “Are you talking about Orion? He’s not an exch—”
“Whatever you want to call him, sir. He’s with Devony right now.”
“She wouldn’t dare sneak behind my back to be with him,” the mayor said, standing up and smoothing out invisible wrinkles in his suit. “She knows that I don’t approve of her dating. Are you being serious? My daughter is with that black boy?”
“I’m afraid so, sir,” Roderick said.
“And who are you?”
“Roderick, sir.”
Darren took in the boy. Overly styled sandy blond hair and blank blue eyes. His voice was familiar and with this realization, Darren’s face grew colder. “Are you the boy who’s been calling my house at all hours of the night trying to talk to my daughter?”
“Yes, sir.”
“How dare you show your face in my home! You’ve caused me nothing but trouble with your incessant calls! Do I have to put a restraining order on you?”
Roderick shook his head violently. “No, sir.”
“Are you boys drunk?”
“Of course not, sir,” Archer said smoothly. “It’s a school night.”
“Are you high?”
“As a representative of the school, I find that insulting,” Archer said keeping his voice extremely formal and placing an arm in front of his friend. “We came to tell you what we think a father deserves to know.”
“Nothing has been stolen from me, certainly not my daughter! This is a gated community! Do you think someone could just waltz in and take her away, especially some shifty looking boy?”
“You should calm down,” Roderick said.
“And you should shut your mouth!” Darren roared.
“We just wanted you to know,” Archer said. “We’re sorry, but how can you feel comfortable knowing your daughter might be sneaking around with that guy? I thought you valued family, and yet you don’t even know where your daughter is.”
“Leave my home at once,” Darren said. “Are you trying to upset me?”
“I’m trying to tell that your daughter is sleeping around.”
“How dare you talk about my daughter like that!”
“How dare you claim to care about family when she’s out there with him,” Archer said, raising his voice. “I should have told the press instead of coming to you. Come on, Roderick, I think we made the wrong stop.”
As the two young men started to leave the room, Darren followed them. “Now, now, there will be no need to inform the local media. I will locate my daughter and prove that she’s fine. You though…” he said, jutting a finger at Roderick, “…I want you to stop calling my house.”
“Yes, sir,” Roderick said. “But is me calling the house so much worse than someone else taking your daughter from your own home and back to his apartment? If this is the kind of father you are—”
“How dare you!” Darren roared as his face grew beet red.
“If this is the kind of father you are, then I apologize on behalf of myself and Archer. We weren’t aware that you were so open-minded about your daughter’s extracurricular activities. Whether you want to believe me or not, I think you know that I do care about your daughter and would never come here unless it was important. I wouldn’t want to see Devony with a ruined reputation before she graduates. She’s still so young and I fear she’s throwing her life and her reputation away to be with someone who probably doesn’t care who he gets to bring to his place as long as it’s a girl. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll check her room. If she’s there, you can file your restraining order and I won’t complain.”
“I’ll do just that!” Darren thundered, then shouted to the nearest maid. “Find my daughter! Check her room, but don’t let this one leave!” he said, pointing at Roderick. Darren squared his shoulders, a surprisingly imposing sight, and exited the room leaving Archer and Roderick to sit there waiting.
“Do you think they’ll offer us a drink?” Archer asked, smiling.
Roderick turned to look at Archer, unable to hide the incredulousness on his face. “How can you joke? What if we’re wrong?”
“We’re not wrong, but I can’t stay.”
“What do you mean, you can’t? You can’t just leave me here with him! You heard what he said. He’ll call the police if you’re wrong.”
“I’m not wrong,” he said again. “I can’t be seen here working against Orion. I need to make sure that I always have his trust and he wouldn’t trust me if he knew I was here. Roderick, you have to stay here – but hopefully this will help things move along. I hate him, Roderick. You know that I hate Capetown. I’ll see you later,” he said, leaving the room and brushing his shoulder against the servant as he went through the front door. A minute later Roderick could hear his car speeding away just as Darren returned.
“She hasn’t come home yet,” he said. “I’ve tried calling her phone but she won’t answer. She actually sent me a text saying that studying was taking a bit longer than expected! Would she actually lie to me? And you’re saying she’s with that South African boy?”
“I did, sir.”
“To think she’s been lying to me all summer! Studying! Studying indeed! Did she say anything to you?”
“No, sir. Devony doesn’t talk to me very often.”
“How did she manage to pull this off? How could she feel comfortable lying to me like this?” He looke
d at his personal assistant. “Let this be a lesson to all fathers out there, never trust your daughters! They will lie to you and proclaim that you are the world to them while they run off and embarrass you!”
“Are you making a speech or something?” Roderick mumbled to himself.
“What the hell could that boy have done to trick my daughter? Are you sure that’s where she went?”
“I would be willing to bet that he did, sir.”
“I’m going to call the Headmaster! He’s the one who’s supposed to be looking after him. This won’t stand! Dammit, now you and your annoying phone calls aren’t so bad. I’d rather hear about phone calls than this! Do you know where they are?”
“I think so.”
“You two,” Darren said, pointing at two servants. “You will come with me. Call my driver and get the car ready. I’m a respected man in this town and I will not be made a fool of by my own flesh and blood! And you, Roderick.”
He swallowed nervously. “Y-yes, sir?”
“If what you are claiming is found to be true, you will be rewarded handsomely.”
Roderick smiled. Some extra money would be good to add to his trust fund since Archer was quickly cleaning him out. He followed the small group of men to the black sedan and climbed in the back seat. “Thank you, sir.”
Chapter Three
“How’d they find out?” Orion asked Archer as they watched Devony driving away from his apartment complex. He was relieved that she had been able to get out of there before her father arrived, but it still pained him that she was running to hide their relationship. It had been months! He had thought that six months was more than enough time for Devony to tell her father but she was still running. He shook his head.
“That fool Roderick told him. He’s always had a thing for her.”
Orion’s expression darkened. “Dev told me about him. He calls her every day to ask her out. Doesn’t he understand that he doesn’t have a chance?”
“I don’t think he cares so long as you two aren’t together. You two…are together, aren’t you?”
“It’s hard for her to go public with our relationship.”
“Still?” Archer asked, feigning surprise. “I’d think she’d be proud to be with you. You’re the student body President, a star soccer player, not to mention a cross-country runner.”
“What’s the good of doing all of that when they can’t change the color of my skin?”
“Do you really believe that’s what this is about?”
“I…I want to say it’s not,” Orion said, though his words didn’t sound genuine. “But what other reason could there be? I’m not someone to be ashamed of.”
“Of course not.”
“And while I don’t like to brag about it, my family is well off—”
“In South Africa, Orion. Things are a little different here, I’m sure.”
“We’re not doing so badly here either! I’m as good for Dev as the next man but she still doesn’t want her father to know about me. I swear, if I didn’t love her as much as I do, I might not put up with this. It makes me feel like I’m something dirty that needs to be hidden.” He squinted his eyes in the dark. “Do you see that?”
Archer followed his gaze. “See what?”
“There’s a car coming into the lot.”
“I’m sure other people live in this complex, Orion. Don’t turn paranoid on me.”
“That’s not it. I know that car,” he said. “It’s Dev’s dad. Damn, he must be here to see me.”
“You should go inside, then. Pretend you’re not home.”
“No! I’m tired of concealing this from him. He knows me! We’re friends! I’m not a creepy stalker like that Roderick guy. I deserve Dev and I’m not going to hide. I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“Maybe the car looks similar…” he trailed off, “…but so does that one,” he said, pointing at a sporty coupe that had just parked nearby. As he pointed, the door opened and a tall and somewhat lanky young man began walking towards them. His dark chestnut bangs hung out from his hat and his sharp blue eyes looked confused as he looked over Orion and Archer. “What’re you doing here, Micah?”
“My dear father the headmaster wants to see you,” he said, looking at Orion warily.
“Why would he send you?” Archer asked. “Something wrong?”
“He just told me to go find Orion and I figured he’d be home…and here he is.”
“Why does he want to talk to me? What’s going on?”
“Who knows with ‘Headmaster Castile’,” Micah said with distaste. “It could be about school lunches, or he could just want to check in with you to see how school’s going.”
“I’m fine. Everything’s fine.”
“We have company,” Archer said as the other car parked close to them.
“What’s the mayor doing here?” Micah asked.
“He finally found out that Orion’s plowing his daughter,” Archer said.
“W-what? What are you talking about?”
“Orion? Our boy standing right here?” Archer clarified. “You know he’s dating Devony, don’t you?”
“Really?” Micah asked, feigning shock. “Orion?”
“Don’t act like you don’t know, Micah. Archer knows all about us now,” Orion said.
“Are we staying or leaving?” Archer asked, turning his attention to Orion.
“Let’s wait a moment. I want to talk to Dev’s dad.”
“Are you sure? We could get in the car and go, no problem,” Archer said.
“I’m not running.”
“You!” Darren roared, throwing the car door open and striding up to him. “What have you done to my daughter?”
“I don’t know what you’re implying,” Orion said, staking a step back.
“Did you open your big mouth again?” Archer asked Roderick, giving him a shocked look. “You didn’t tell him, did you? I told you that was a secret!”
“Everyone calm down,” Orion said as Archer took a threatening step towards Roderick. That spoiled rich kid was such a creeper and even looked the part with his overly-gelled sandy blonde hair. Lowering his head slightly, he looked over at Darren, unable to hide his shame for keeping this secret from him. “Please, sir, let’s talk about this like the reasonable adults we are.”
“Reasonable? Adults?” Darren said, reaching out and grabbing him by the collar. Orion didn’t struggle, allowing him to pull his face close. “So says the boy who’s stolen my daughter and tricked her into sleeping with him?! Look at you! You could never be good enough for my daughter! You just showed up in this country and I gave you everything. Is this how you repay me?”
“My parents came to this country—”
“It’s obvious to everyone, Orion. You must have lied to her, or bribed her with things you cannot afford. Let me be clear, you are out of your league, son.”
“Sir, my parents are well off—”
“Shut your mouth!” he shouted, shaking his collar. “I’m having you arrested. I’m going to call the police.”
“Now wait a minute,” Orion said, struggling away from his grasp. “There’s no need to overreact. Let me explain.”
“A boy like you belongs in prison for trying to seduce my daughter! She’s a child, not even eighteen! What makes you think you have the right?”
“Don’t call the police,” Archer said. “Let’s go talk to the Headmaster. He’s the one taking care of him, right? Let’s go see him and see what he says.”
“Vance?” Darren said before clearing his throat. “I mean, Headmaster Castile?”
“Call the headmaster,” Orion gasped out. “I’m actually on my way to see him. If I’ve done anything truly wrong then he’ll expel me and I won’t be able to go anywhere near your daughter.”
“You’ll meet with the headmaster?” Darren asked, looking over at Micah. “Is he telling the truth? Did your father send you here to talk to him?”
“My dad – I mean the Headmaster –
wants to see him,” Micah said. “We can all go over right now.”
“We’ll do that,” Darren said, his eyes blazing. “I won’t stand for this! You’re trying to ruin my daughter while putting your family in debt, I’m sure. Let’s go – we’ll follow you,” he said, walking to his car. Pausing at the door, he turned to look at Roderick. “It’s your lucky day. You were right and this just may prove to work in your and my favor. The headmaster and I are good friends, there’s no way he’ll approve of Orion sneaking around with Devony.”
“I’m sure the headmaster will sort this out,” Roderick said, smiling as the car roared to life. He was already getting closer to everything he had ever wanted. He wouldn’t be surprised if Devony were to show a new interest in him. “Soon,” he whispered.
Chapter Four
“Is Micah back yet?” an affable-looking man in an expensive suit asked aloud.
“He said he knew where Orion was, and I’m sure that he’ll be back shortly, Headmaster,” the board member seated opposite him said. “Are you sure that it’s appropriate to call him in tonight?”
“He’s the student body president. He should have known that he was getting into this. Globe Private Academy is one of the top schools in the state. We need to keep on top of things. Now, you said nearly a thousand people would be participating in the basketball tournament this year?”
“If not more, Headmaster. We need to make sure that we can accommodate everyone. With the weather already looking a bit more wintery than we were expecting, we hope we can keep the parking lot clean when everyone comes.”
“Yes, yes, I understand that. The parking lot should be clear. Now where is my damn son? He went to Orion’s house a half hour ago! What’s taking him so long?”
“I’m sure he won’t be much longer,” one of his advisors said. He ran a hand through his short blond hair, giving away his frustration. “You should have sent me to retrieve Orion. We’ve got a lot of things to cover with this tournament coming up and we’re lucky to have such a dedicated president.”
