Reflection | A THIRTY TWO

I was thankfully only stuck camping by a bookstore three blocks from the campus for fifty minutes. Then I saw the relieving sight of a silver luxury car pull up front.

Perfect timing too, as a downpour had began to fall. Although, I felt a little bad I was using my first time of getting in touch to grab a ride, but I was sure Ms. Dion would laugh it off with her classic charming smiles. Now I could also thank her in person for the presents.

Preparing myself to be drenched, I dashed out of the store and navigated past walkers wielding umbrellas to my sheltered, seat-warmer in waiting.

My fingers clasped the slippery car door and pried it open. I beamed in excitement to be greeted by that rosy aroma and the endearing woman dressed ready for a runway. I nearly jumped when there was no aroma and instead I found a man sat in the rich leather seating. At the least, he was dressed fashionably etiquette but I didn't want to give him the pleasure of a compliment on it.

"Are you getting in or flooding the place?" barked Beswick.

Realising I was just staring, I warily climbed into the vehicle. His cologne wafted my nostrils when he pressed his arm, unnecessarily rough in my opinion, over my chest to reach the door latch to lock. The dozen jewels dangling from his neck jingled when he drew back and I could ease up once there was a space between us. I shifted even further back.

The chauffer I realised that hadn't been Vincent proceeded to steer the car down the road in route to the highway. I craned my neck, eyes darting in desperate search for my eccentric French lady.

"Are you poor in manners too?" snapped the man I was trying to pretend wasn't there. "A simple 'Afternoon, sir' or 'Hello, Mr. Beswick' isn't so hard."

"Where's Ms. Dion?"

"Hitchin, busy screening through the drafts of thirty one models." He replied. "Then suddenly she gets a call from her 'niece' that needs a lift. So I told her I'd take care of it since I needed to stop by my office anyway."

I frowned. "Oh."

"Is that it? Oh." He mimicked my tone in a terrible imitation. "How about a little thank you huh?"

I served him an apathetic blink and averted my eyes to the window, having a feeling this was going to be a long two hours.

"What are you doing all out here in Cambridge anyway?" He tapped away on his phone, the bluntness of his keyboard tone sounded even more insufferably louder. "Is it all the range for criminals to carry out their scams nowadays?"

"Yeah, they're not as easy suckers like you so it's actually a challenge."

He passed me a glance that I matched with a smirk, gloating at the apparent agitation that flickered in his features before he broke into sneer. "Big words coming from a drowned rat."

I narrowed my eyes, set to whip out a comeback to wipe off the smug look, only for his ringtone to blare out in that second. He swiftly answered and I clenched my jaw, resolving to let the heating dry me off.

I got comfortable in my corner, staring out through the rain streaked glass at nothing in particular. I wasn't sure how many minutes Beswick's phone call lasted before it grew sedately silent with just the gentle hum of the engine.

I considered taking a nap then hopefully see uncle Louie's hotel the next time I opened my eyes. It ended up being the next three seconds when an animalistic growl erupted in the confided space.

Every inch of me stiffened, praying it had not been as audible as I'd thought.

"Was that your stomach?"

I nervously turned my head to see a look of horror on Beswick's face, shredding any hope I had that it had gone unheard. It couldn't be helped.

I hadn't grabbed lunch at school and only ate half a sandwich.

"No." I lied.

Beswick sighed. "Then are you carrying a gorilla under that jumper? If you were hungry, you should've just said so."

"I'll get something at home."

"You know there's these things called restaurants, right? They have them all over the world, including this city. Pretty sure we passed one two turns ago. Robert, turn the car around—"

"No." I refused. "Just keep driving forward. I'm fine."

"Let me enlighten you on something there; stomachs aren't meant to sound like a whale calling."

"Shut up. I don't want to take any detours."

"What is your problem?"

"My problem?" I parroted. "My problem is people making all these courtesy, bullshits acts of kindness that I didn't ask them to and have me naively thinking that they care about me when they don't. They never do and I'm bloody sick of it."

I didn't know when I was breathing deeply with my chest heaving up and down but all that was vivid was the bemusement on the man I'd involuntarily exploded on. He blinked twice, then turned to the driver. "Robert, closest restaurant— I don't care if it's Burger King, just get there. Now."

"Yes, sir."

"I said I'm not—!"

A finger was pressed firmly against my mouth, clamming my lips. "Shut. Up." He drawled each one of the words, delivering them at a monotonous yet snarky level in balance.

Two whale noises later, the car was parked by a family themed diner. The establishment had a warm, vibrant and cosy air that reminded me of the bakery but I kept a scowl on my face with arms crossed to display my disapproval.

Neither did I let the mouth watering scents sway me. Beswick didn't bother to ask me what I wanted from the menu above board and jutted a finger to a vacant table, "Sit."

I made a show to glare and marched over while he joined the queue. I collected a menu and began counting every note I had on hand then calculating the prices to what amount I could cover. Even if it wasn't sufficient, I'd gather the rest later because I was in no way letting the man have any excuse for me to "owe" him again. No chance.

In the midst, I caught an Asian couple sat across glancing my way with odd looks. Immediately upon being detected, they averted their gazes. What the hell was their problem?

I felt self-conscious in crowds already but now learning in the last few hours that I was being monitored for I don't know how long, any look was unnerving. To have my privacy being violated like that for unknown reasons— no, there was no explanation conceivable to justify an action like that.

It was no doubt for her own personal gain too. I didn't live in a world where such a thing as selflessness existed.

I dabbled on how I'd face that crazy witch the next time I saw her because at that moment, I was sure I'd scream or throw something. Something hard.

The clatter of plastic slamming to the table snapped me out of my fantasising. I looked up to see Beswick, a tray stocked with wrapped goodies and drinks.

I reached to grab a bun shaped item when he swatted my hand away. I flickered my eyes back to him. He bore an impassive expression and settled down on his chair. "That's mine." He stated, unravelling the wrap to reveal the onion and cheese coated burger.

He tossed me another bun wrap and my stomach went into raging riffs at the smell of food so close. I swallowed, almost hearing the echo that resounded when the saliva dropped to the empty pit inside. I glanced to see Beswick was fully engrossed on chewing down his burger combo, paying me no mind.

For some reason, I'd thought he'd be observing me with some sort of smug grin like Garren always did when I'd eat around him. Strangely, I didn't mind it. In fact, I was close to feeling I welcomed those ash grey eyes on me.

I hadn't known when my fingers had been shaking as I struggled to open the ketchup packet. Immediately it was seized and large man hands pried the seal open. I mutely retrieved it from Beswick and dressed my chips with the sauce.

"So how's Nelani?"

I paused from my dressing, looking up to be met with expectant eyes. "Who?"

He rolled his eyes. "You don't even know her name? Your boyfriend's mother. Haven't you been over for dinner yet?"

"Oh. No I haven't." I answered and I saw his shoulders slightly sag. "Shouldn't you be more informed about that than I am? Including her husband himself."

What I anticipated to be a snarky remark in return didn't happen. "I wouldn't be asking if I was." His tone held no such edge, only somber and candid.

I'd dumbly forgotten that affair hadn't been a smooth transaction; taking into account the fact Mrs. Goy-smith had feigned illness to avoid Beswick. She must've been avoiding him since the exhibition day.

Although I found the action fruitless. It wasn't going to rewind time and erase the mistake or ease the guilt. If anything, it would grow more and be worse when she'd be forced to face him eventually.

"I don't get it." I confessed.

"Get what?"

"You. With your position, you probably have your pick of women so why go screw yourself by going after a married one? Not to mention, your good friends with the husband. Like seriously, what happened to sleeping with the secretary? Too cliché?"

The disdainful gaze made a reappearance and it might've been bad of me to have preferred it on his face. "As hard as it may be for your perverse mind to grasp, it wasn't about lust."

"No?"

"No."

I chomped down two fat chips in one go. "Then what, you're going to tell me it was carried out by long unrequited feelings?"

"...Yes."

I stopped chewing. The answer had came so meekly, I'd almost thought it had been my imagination. I stared, waiting for his straight laced act to drop and he'd show it was a joke but his face remained humourless.

"Not that I'm using it as an excuse to validate it, it was still wrong. It was too late. But I guess three glasses of wine can make you think otherwise." He leant back in his chair. "Maybe if I had done that back then, it would've saved me from telling myself over and over it wasn't worth the risk to be honest. But I was only kidding myself. In the end, I was just scared of getting rejected."

I paused, stricken by the image before me. Instead of a despicable man, I saw myself saying those words with a lament expression. Shivers coursed through my bones before the terrifying image disappeared.

We continued to eat without exchanging another word or glance that we might as well have been strangers who so happened to dine at the same spot.

"Feel better?" Beswick suddenly asked as we were walking out.

I parted my lips, surprised to find it was empty of venom. "Yeah... I do."

I hadn't registered when all the agitation had left me, even Beswick's face wasn't irritating. It dawned on me the spontaneous burst of so-called anger had been induced from my hunger. I'd only heard jokes from Ashton or Liam about it, never did I think it was true. More mystifying, Beswick had figured this out.

I still didn't understand his motive in helping but maybe he just didn't want a moody teen in his car.

A while into resuming the drive, my phone rang with an unknown number flashing on the screen.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Stevie, it's me."

“Ms. Shepherd." My voice was naked of the hurling emotions inside me without a strand of composure to attempt to conceal it.

"I just received a call from miss Ivanov saying you stormed out of the campus without doing the interview. What's the meaning of this?"

"I'll explain it first thing in your office tomorrow."

"You do not get to make the decisions here." Her tone was audibly enraged which served to aggravate me further. "When I asked you something, you answer me young lady. Do you understand? Do you understand that or do I need to carve it on to your head with a needle?"

I certainly wanted to carve a few things. "No, miss."

"Tell me your location so I can send a car-"

"There's no need to. I'm getting a lift from..." I peered to Beswick, ransacking every word I knew in the English language for the right descriptive. "Yeah, anyway, I'm already on my way back. I'll probably be in town in about forty minutes."

"Then I'll be waiting at the hotel."

I could feel my skin crawling at her stepping foot in my uncle's domain. "Yes, miss."

The call ended and I couldn't help but glare down at my phone, wanting to scold it for allowing that line through. Couldn't I just go home and rest? If Beswick noticed my grouchy mood, he didn't mention it or maybe it was in respect to that he made no follow up crude jabs at me for the rest of the journey.

The Grandeur hotel eventually appeared in my window frame and as I exited the car, I quickly muttered, "Thanks." Then hurried out.

I didn't dare glance back as the car drove off. As much as that took out of me to do, I couldn't even catch my breath with what was waiting for me onwards.

Sat by my dresser, watching the local news on the flat screen was the first person I'd ever fantasised about inflicting pain on. "Ah, finally." She flattened out the creases on her pencil skirt before rising to her feet.

"I thought you'd be waiting at the lobby." I started.

"I wanted to catch the highlights."

"How did you get in?"

"Not important. Oh and by the way, congrats."

My brows knitted. "On what?"

"Your relationship." She swiped one of the skin lotions I had yet to apply, marveling at it. "Buying you wonderful delicacies like this— the fellow is quite a catch."

It was then I noticed my new outfits I had stored by my bed were in different arrangements. Where? Where else had she touched without my consent? It had my blood boiling while she kept rambling on about the damn lotion.

"I've never known of a man to have such good taste in these areas..." She stopped, a thought crossing her mind. "It's not a woman you're dating, is it?"

"I thought you were here to have me explain why I didn't do the interview."

Ms. Shepherd rose a brow, finally freeing the lotion from her clutches as she placed it down. "Yes." She fitted her boney fingers together. "Out with it then."

"I felt the interview wasn't necessary so I told miss Ivanov I wanted to leave."

I counted so far out of the tense silences to fall in this iron woman's presence, it had came to this one being one of the longest. "That's it?"

I nodded.

Ms. Shepherd blinked repeatedly, chuckles escaping. "Oh that had better be a joke you're making there. It better be a bloody joke." Her gaze hardened. "Now, I've had reports from your teachers on how you've been skipping their classes recently and I decided to give you some leniency on it but don't you for one second confuse that with getting to do as you please.

Let me refresh your memory on how things work; when I give you an instruction, you follow through with it. No exceptions. Allow me to also remind you that I hold the power to have your scholarship revoked. Not the board or director but me. At any time."

That itch spiked on my fingers, more larger than the last time. Whatever expression I stood standing speechless that had her thinking it was from fear- she had barely scratched the surface of it all.

I didn't let her on to that of course and made my posture timid, like she wanted to see. She wanted me to squirm and squeak. The type of prey to toy with before devouring. "Are you allowed to do that?" I questioned.

"I made the scholarship, darling. It has no records so if I say so, it won't exist-" she clipped her fingers, "just like that. I could buy out that barn you call a neighborhood and your parents' little workshop too into my own field. Or I could get this hotel filed with so many law suits it'll be out of business if you need any more reminders why you shouldn't cross me. Well? How does that sound?"

Perfect. "That sounds..." I trailed off when I saw it. The girl standing in my vanity mirror and I gaped.

I hurried closer, shoving past the figure that obstructed the full view. I now understood why I got odd stares from that couple at the restaurant.

I was the definition of unsightly.

My dark hair was frazzled by the downpour with the locks in large, tangled clumps and strands clinging to my face. My clothes were toasted off from the car heating that my the curves in my body were missing from the crispy baseline. I even had potato crumbs on my lips that bastard Beswick never cared to point out to me.

"Miss Powell!" screeched an unwanted voice. I whipped my head to the obstacle that was fuming, but that was the least of my worries at the moment. "I am still talking."

I leant a hand on the dresser. "You're gonna have to go."

"Excuse me?"

"Look, I already told you why I didn't do the interview so can you just leave? I want to take a bath and change."

Ms. Shepherd’s eyes grew wide. “Have you lost all sense?"

I folded my arms. "No, miss. I've just lost all patience for someone who thinks they can invade my personal space by hiding wires in my suite."

I had to hand it to the maniac. Her poker face was undeniably the most solid rock I'd ever witnessed. I would've let doubt slip in and cowered but I knew. I knew I wasn't wrong.

"I will see to it you have a medical examination to clean out whatever narcotics you've been taking." said Ms. Shepherd. "And after that, you'll serve your punishment for what you pulled today."

"Don't bother acting, miss. You know exactly what I'm talking about."

"On the nonsense you just said about wires— no, I do not."

"Right, because even if I searched this room and found them, I'd have no evidence to say you had anything to do with it." I concurred. "But here's the thing, I don't need that type of proof when I have your voice in the recordings threatening me, my family and how you abused your power to manipulate the authenticity of a scholarship with no consultation from the school board. Which I believe is a chargeable offence to name a few. And let's not get into the fact your office as the head will be gone instantly."

Another silence descended but this one wasn't tense. It was eerily still as I stared down the woman who was unflinching to the trap I'd laid out. Unflinching for at least twenty seconds before her left eye began twitching.

My whole body stiffened when she began to approach. She came up close enough for me to see every speck of grey in her slit green eyes. A sturdy hand held the dresser chair and I was ready to tackle her down if necessary. "That's not a game you want to play with me, dear." She spoke in a hush so chilling that every one of my neck hairs stood on end.

"Maybe," I admitted. "But, I will if I have to."

Ms. Shepherd's brows arched and I bore firsthand witness to the seams of her mouth curl into a smile that would put the Cheshire cat to shame. My breath hitched when her talon nails brushed back a strand of my hair behind my ear. Her eyes coldly sweeping over me one last time before walking out of my suite.

**

A/N: this chapter was a LOT to handle writing for me. Any comments or feedback would be deeply appreciated.

And it might make me update sooner— who knows? ;)