As for any confusion where the readers doubt about the absence of Clarissa in abbreviation, it's mentioned in previous chapter that Ian holds just 9 percent shares of elite and works as an attorney for the corporation. Hence clarissa can chose to follow her fathers footsteps or is free to have different career if she desires. She is not welded to an empire like Eliza and Alex. Since Ian is also a co founder his name is a part of Elite. Hope this helps.
Elaine
Flipped. Upside down and inside out. That's when a certain individual uses these terms to portray the drastic change in their life.
I wish it was the same with me. That these words were valid enough to do justice in my present case.
But no, they were meager, fragile and ineffective. My world felt like it has been shattered into a gust of dust, only to be rebuild again with blocks and boulders of reality and truth, which was too strong and big, with walls so high that I felt trapped, I was trapped.
The night air wasn't cold, though my heart silently chanted it's desire to be it, as I welcomed the humid wind, as I expect it to induce my skin with something, anything that could distract me from this.
But nothing helps.
My mind still wanted to live in denial, when deep down it knew, there was no way out.
My inner self was still in their retired and tired session of debate. It has been since I strolled into the city park by the evening and sat on a bench which faced the city.
The chatter and playful atmosphere sluggishly morphed to a serene and calm sense when the night fell.
Bright clouds acquired a dark veil, the lights from uptown dominated the sky, illuminating it with it's urban beauty. Buildings, trees, cars, and people. Ignited, passed, slept and moved on.
But I sat glued to the wooden bench, in the same spot with the familiar deadness. The luminous from the Scarpers bathing me with a visual light, it wasn't so easy with the sullen darkness inside me which thirsted for some comfort.
Pulling my legs to chest I lay the side of my head on them, pressing them stiffly upon the grainy stocking clad knees.
I want to go home. I thought.
Home.
Seattle? Summersville? Where they ever my home?
I was given an answer. But they were too atrocious, crazy and cold.
"A pent house in new York, two in this very building countless estate, a millennium club and shares- are you alright" Ian paused as he realized I wasn't responding much, with each of his words I could feel the blood draining from the pointed edge of my ears, baring me pale.
"I think so" I crack, soothing my throat immediately next by taking a sip of water from the glass.
Ians eyes bores into mine, thoughtful and calculative as he refuses to continue enlightening me about what my share of funds includes.
"I know it's a lot to take in" he says diverting his attention for a split second to acknowledge a waiter with a curt nod as he refiles his wine, "my apologies for taking it so fast"
Gnawing at the inside of my lower lip I lazily play with the food on plate, the fork gingerly scarping against it with hundards of thoughts clouding me, but each gliding back to one question.
"you asked me not to trust anyone" I ask him lifting my gaze bluntly, meeting his orbs for the first time since he offered to have a talk with me by lunch, after he seamlessly laid my past open for me to ponder on.
After spiraling down and destroying everything I had built my faith upon.
"Why should I trust you?" holding on to my breath I could taste the sting of those words as it left my lips.
Blinking warily I watch as he smiles warmly, keeping his forks and knife by the side he leans back on his seat.
"When you were six Fred took an online class on macrocosm and Chinese culture, because his daughter kept questioning him about how stars on sky float and why the Asian population, well mostly have similar features" he chuckles convivially as I purse my lips.
"That doesn't answer my question"
"Well, you never accepted his explanation until you bought specific documented books on them and read it your self. So the end point is, you won't trust me so easily without a proof because I have none. But I do have a daughter, and you Elzi, is no less then Clarissa" Feeling a pang of guilt I nod, I may not know him. But to judge the one man who acted as my saving grace left me afflicted. Looking down I take a bite of the fancy food that probably costs more Than my entire wardrobe.
Then i pause, suddenly when the present state hits me like a boulder.
This restaurant, the extravagance was actually Elite's cafeteria.
Slowly I run my vision across and then duck my face down.
This can't be happening,
This can't belong to me.
I can't belong to this.
We eat in silence, I should feel something, deep down somewhere in the corner lucked a hurricane of many things, but now I refuse to join in with any logical thing that I could do instead of force myself to eat, it tasted like earth in my mouth.
"I did a background check on your guardian after I came to know about you" I frown watching him wipe the corner of his lips with a napkin. He was done with lunch but not with what were we left.
I doubt the amount of how much more lunch will be enough to coax me into thinking how real this was.
"You didn't have to do that"
"At this point, I had to" without missing a beat he killed the argument like a lawyer he was.
"What did you find anyways" tilting my head to right with slight annoyance I ask.
"It came out clear, I believe she has nothing to do with any of this." He squints thoughtfully for a second at the widow out, before throwing me a comforting smile.
I had no idea how to respond to something that I knew already. So I try spanning my attention back to eating when.
"But" I stopped, morbidly snapping back my eyes to see a scowl on his face. I felt my heart flip.
"But what?" he sighs discreetly as I press further.
"But what Mr. Blakewall?"
"Diana Williams has reported of someone vandalizing her property last month"
I could feel my fingers curl within my ballet flates as I grip the butter knife tight with sweaty palms.
"And a possible stalkers intervention twice in last week"
The hammering in my chest rises a dull ache on the side of my head, I close my eyes breathing in slowly.
"You think it has something to do with-" I don't have to complete the sentence for him to catch on. There is just no other danger that could loom above her, except for me.
A mere thought of it rises the pulse in me.
He answered it with silence. And it spoke more words than he could have.
A strangled sob left me, tears falling freely by now no matter how much I gritted my teeth to stop making a complete mess of myself. It went futile with the realization that I could never have a normal life. That I will always be a burden to anyone who will stand beside or for me.
I was the cause of someone's death. No matter how much Ian convinced me I wasn't, there was no denying the truth which was chafed.
Suddenly the familiar buzz of my phone vibrating reverberated along with the soft rustle of leaves above me. Contrary to the numerous calls I had ignored since morning with not even a single stray glimpse towards it, I surprisingly decide to pick this one up. If I wanted a distraction, it's time I start actually working on it, Before I go insane.
As if the heavens itself answered me with an ounce of sympathy, the energetic Voice of someone who I deep down had been missing terribly, but would never admit fills my ear out as I wince a bit.
"G-guess what?" basically screaming from other side I could flawlessly imagine the large grin that would possibly be stretched across Noah's face painfully.
"Hey to you to Noah" cringing at the hoarse and post tear flum dominated voice, I cough a bit to even back my vocal, chuckling slightly.
"Y-you just sounded like Dads old motor cycle with m-m-much required grease on a-acelaration." He states as I sniff, Furrowing my brows.
"Thanks Noah. That's exactly what I wanted to hear right now" rolling my eyes though he can't see me i slouch on my seat, letting my legs fall back to the grass down as I sat back straight.
My frown deepens when I received nothing from his side for a couple of seconds. But then he said something that twisted my already clenched state of self gloom.
"Y-you don't sound good. T-tell me w-whose ass needs some s-serious kicking. I sw-wear to god i-"
I don't know what came into me as i pathetically gave up holding it in as I broke down. For a complete hefty minute I wheeze it all down as he lets me with no questions asked. Even after when I composed back we sat in a comforting silence, as if assuring me he was there, for me. No matter what. And that soothed my nerves, ailing my anxiety in a prolific manner as I felt like life was being blessed back in me.
"Thank you" I whisper taking a deep breath, as I heard loud shuffles from his side. And then a bang followed by clink "What are you doing?" I enquire frowning.
"T-trying to find s-some really torturous weapons. I f-found a frying p-p-pan so far" I Cracked a breathy laugh, probably first since morning.
"You don't have to. It's just I really miss home" I admitted honestly with a sad smile, a home that I had found in these people.
"You are a bad l-liar"
Oh Noah, you have no idea.
"I am not lying, really. Just a little homesick" I felt the suspicion still levitate off him so I add up another one of a satisfying lie. "The time of the month you see" I squeak, sounding realistic even to my own ears.
"I seriously d-don't get h-how t-this period things works. B-b-but from what I have seen of you, i-i-its really scary" he said probably with a shudder, thankfully accepting my bluff as his enthusiasm reversed.
"All this a-a-aside now, I c-call to deliver a great news" impersonating a mighty royal court introduction tone he waited for me to say something.
"Oh" I help his awaiting self, but this annoyed him for some reason.
"Drumrolls El-l-laine. Drumrolls!"
"I am not doing it" I sternly dodge his demands when-
"What k-Kind of a soon to be G-Grandmother are you? So lame" In a snail's pace, word by word along with its synonyms they settled in as my eyes widened.
"What?" I screamed, a few passer's by squinted at the shadowed corner I was in.
"A-aren't you happy? I am w-way too happy to receive them, those cute little pu-" he accused me while I gaped clueless.
"What did you do Noah?" defeated I ask weakly.
"I didn't d-d-do anything. All the hard w-work was done by bra." Then he paused letting it sink in. before I could roar a piece of my mind "our neighbor's dog is pregnant w-w-with Bra's puppies"
And with that he hung up.
With my mouth still wide in unnatural way I gawk at the blank screen of my mobile before I tugged them into normality. I guess brave isn't a puppy anymore.
When I lit the phone over to check the time a soft sigh escapes my lips. Since curling into a ball under some Ikea bought sleep bag wasn't an option I decide to follow the wise one's advise.
"Let things go the way it is, back to the academy and with the act" at his obtuse input I look at him with confusion written all over my face.
"But why? Now that I know_" I stop as I watch him help me with the car door, after the awkward trip to the restaurant, I decided it was time I leave. In a quest to Gather my senses right and work on this phenomenal information in regards with being called a heiress.
The mere thought rises a certain amount of acidic bile to my throat.
"You know, but who ever behind this might not." His teeth clenched by the end, forming an aged dimple by the side. "It's best if we let things go the way it is till you turn eighteen. The day you'll officially gain the title"
A blow of evening wind causes my hair to thrill across my face, the bun I had up was long gone, just like every knots of sanity I thought I had control over a few hours prior.
"That's like a month later" gulping stoically I say to which he nods distantly.
"That's when I plan to introduce you to the society, on the day of cotillion."his eyes then bores into mine, as If searching for any form of alternative.
That's when I see the swirls of paranoia in his features. He was tough and strong in posture but in the depth he was worried and something else that was to scary to notice in a man like him. He was afraid.
As if my agreement might cause him the relief, to put him at the least out of misery, he waits. So I give him a hesitant nod as I slide inside the car.
He closes the door as the chauffeur pulls the car off the drive way, a peek behind leaves me more unnerved as I see Ian had hardly moved an inch from the spot, his eyes glued to the pole beside him, brows pulled in deep frown.
Two streets later I request the chauffeur to stop the car by a park.
Everything fell back down to place in a mess, in a weight that was so absurd that I could hardly manage to breath to keep myself alive.
I left the car and asked him to return back. Though his bosses strict order made it quite a chore, I managed to assure him that I'll go by my own, a little persuasion more did the job.
Wish it was same with my situation.
Just a simple persuasion.
Since the sky served as a roof for a while, I needed an actual one to survive. It was eight and I had no money for a cab, the school which once felt like haven was now a prison. But stripped off of any other alternative I pull out the navigation to scan for the shortest route.
The ill distance and my tattered metabolism was one thing, but the sheer dread of finding that I had ended up in an eerie alley was another. Topping it off with the dense surrounding, the litters and lone way with dark cat hissing beside a discarded liquor bottle complimented all of the negative aura in one place.
Sucking in a deep breath I sped up my pace, ignoring the pain shooting through my ankles in regular intervals until I couldn't ignore it, not the pain. But the faint quelch of someone being punched as their groan fills the stinky air.
I look up to see two dark silhouette that I hadn't noticed before, a large one hovered predatorily above the fragile and battered one who squirmed as the merciless fist raised over his head to mark another blow. When a whimper left the victim did I realized the softness of it, it was a girl.
"Stop" I found the term slip off me, my eyes widening a fraction at my selfless yet extremely stupid move.
The huge mountain of a man halts his movements, tilting his face to the direction from where the pathetic command came from. With a final shove the girl slumps down as I watch him step out off the shadows, I take a unsteady step back as I take in the ragged and perished appearance of the man, he looked like a lively definition of decay.
And when his lazy grin demonstrated the yellow blocks for teeth, a million articles on cavity and gum care rose in my head.
Not the right time to think about dental amalgamations Elaine.
Fisting my hands I gather up a brave momentum as I step forward, but stop immediately as he pushes himself right in my way.
"you asked me to stop darling, now will you tell me as to why?" my feet went cold as I gulped in, the grainy way he talked and the way he took a step towards me had my conscience screaming at me to run, to do anything other than stand there as I see the girl I helped crawl her way out from here with a last sympathetic glance at me with not even a second thought of returning my favor.
That ungrateful bitch.
Inwardly I gasped at my choice of words, and then again was I ever not surprised by what I do at times?.
"You were hitting a girl" I hiss with a shaky breath. But with a yelp I drag my arm back when he tried to reach out.
"That was none of your business, but since you obliged to understand so, I think you should pay for it. And I see something much, much better than money" he sickly smirked running his gaze over me, rising a mix of disgust and impulse of panic within me. By now my whole body went cold with fright.
Except for my mind as I sneakily kept my gaze hooked to his neck, specifically at the pulsing nerves slightly left to his Adam apple. The nerve the needs just the right amount of pressure to knock him cold, and wrong press to rend him dead.
Taking a cautious step back as he initiates one, I grunt a breath when I find the rough brick wall press against my back, the broken pieces of glasses crunches under his boots as he continues, the smell of sweat and a curdled whiff of god knows what fills my nose as he comes closer, the impaired grin etched to his face like a sturdy bone.
"look, don't take a step more or else-" my voice wavers, giving away my fear as he cracks a deep, clogged and throaty mirth, he maniacally does that until he finds it fit to stabilize and ducks lower to the level of my face, I angle my head to side, not being able to handle the stench.
My heart hammers rapidly as a cold drop of sweat trails from my forehead. I feel two of my fingers, index and middle part as I had no choice. His neck was close and he was clueless.
"Or else what? Huh" he whispers as I shut my eye, ready to aim.
"Or else I doubt you'll be alive to witness the mess your skull would make across the concrete if you don't move away from her this very second" I tear my eyes open at the sound, not anyone else but his. I don't wait for the psycho to move as I duck over him gasping and without wasting time sprinted around, that's when I see him.
I wasn't even awarded the time to see his face as he pulls me behind him, one of his hands securely hiding me. Then in my disheveled state I inhale his minty fragrance, and as weird it may appear it calmed me down.
"You trying to be a hero lad? Look'it you. You think you can beat me with that body" Alex hardly flinches or reacts when he pulls out a knife, swaying it under the washed and blemished streetlights as it glimmers. I fist the back of his shirt, pleading him to do somethinh productive like run , since running felt like a great option but the block of ice was intent on decreasing the temperature with his freezing glares.
I could feel the muscle of his back under his shirt dent as the dirt bag came at him, I would've screamed if my gaze was not immersed in the way Alex swiftly moved his hands under his jacket and the next thing I heard was the clink of the metal as Alex pressed the head of the gun against his jaw.
Both the man and I mirrored the similar onset of shock as Alex twisted the gun, digging the barrel down to the soft skin of his chin, I never thought it was possible but the mountain jumped as his nerve shook.
"Never taunt a guy with his physique and especially with his girl. Now go away before I change my mind" his angry hisses turned into a cold growl by the end as the man raised his hands in surrender, taking a meaky step away with his afraid eyes on the weapon.
"Alex, let's go. Please" I practically beg him as I feel his posture melt back into something that can't be explained, when he turns eyeing me with such gentleness surprising every restraint I had it in me.
"Are you okay?" he asks sternly as if he was forcing the anger in those words though the intensity of his blue orbs gave it all away.
I try nodding but it all my concern of well being deflates when I watch the guy raise the knife at Alex from behind, Alex scowls as my eyes go wide and in a reflex I forcefully push him on side as in time Alex stumbles over, leaving the stab to meet the aimless air.
I don't think. Not even a bit when I plunge the two fingers into the spot that I would have done a while ago If Alex hadn't been here. A gag resounds as he clutches his neck gasping for oxygen before he flats out, unconscious.
I see his body go slump in slumber. I begin to crouch down, scared as I squeak.
"Are you oka-" but a soft yank at my collar brings me to my original height as Alex keeps his grip firm on my neck as he walks me out of the disastrous street. I marginally shrug off the way he handled me literally like a kitten and answered my concern for the man's possible demise with silence.
He kept it up until we got to his car a few blocks away, parked in safe but still lone neighborhood.
The bright blue Lamborghini would've been of transportable use if Alex hadn't decided to use one of his passenger door to gently shove my back against and caging me with his arms on either side, making the Italian luxury Vehicle a make shift prison.
"What were you thinking? Strolling around in such dangerous alley way?" he says gritting his teeth as I look down at my shoes frowning, for some reason his anger reminding me of my own furious nature towards him. The night of the party slowly clouding my gratefulness into bitterness.
"Answer me" he say, taking his voice an octave high as I blink, swerving a bit. But he grabs hold of my chin, lifting my face so that I would look at him.
"I don't have to" with all my will I muster up a glare which has his nerves across his jaw more prominent. I've never seen him this worked up before and that too when it dealt entirely with me. Add on the fact that It did no wonder for me to see him in a different light after he was revealed as a heir beside me, in fact I wanted to claw our initials from ELITE far away from each other as much possible.
He was the same for me. No work of universe can change what's between us or the boy I loved. Filtered of all the emotions with just the hatred left behind.
"Oh you will." He sarcastically muses running his hands over his hairs with a steam of frustration. "do you have any idea how sick worried I was, looking out for you like crazy. Where were you since morning huh? What kind of idiot leaves the school without informing anyone"
Snorting sarcastically I lift my defined gaze at him.
"Next time i'll make sure to drop an announcement in intercom" the stony eyes dissolves to a neutral pain as my sarcastic smiles falls off. Mirroring his features.
I see the shadow of the boy who pushed me into the pool, I see the heartless boy who i bet would've pulled the trigger at that man without a thought, I see the boy with passion and obsession that he called love.
I see them because I wanted to. As I wash away all the refined way he now watched me with care, the way he had called me his in front of that man, the way he concerned or actually loved.
Because i was done.
I don't want to witness anymore of him. Especially the part were he will take me to the unkown sense of euphoria, before draging me down into darkness. I've my own for now.
And he was just an obstacle.
"You think this is funny?" His minty breath fans my face as he leans down, the blue oceans deeper than anything I ever saw,testing me, irking me. I press further into the door, now suddenly regretting what I said.
"Stop worrying, its not like I am going to die if you do_" I didn't get to finish it. I don't even get to think what I wished to complete my sentence with as his lips crashes against mine.
It goes blank, the world, the days, the time and everything in between until It was just him and I.
His hand curves behind my neck pulling me closer, firming the touch. Melting me, breaking me.
When he was satisfied that I won't spew more undelightful sarcastic words at him, he breaks away enough to leave a space that could hardly fit a finger in between.
I hold my breath still, while the heat of the moment teases the air still. Burning my insides into an unfair contentment, the thought causes a severe blush to coat my cheeks. But his next words broke all the boundaries of a normal blood flow within me.
"Use your mouth wisely Elaine, say something like that again. It won't end so quick and I don't think I'll be able to stop"
***