Empire High Betrayal Read online

  “It’s not about the money. I agreed for you to go there on a temporary basis. Not for a whole year.”

  “But…”

  “And then there’s the issue of school itself. Until Isabella graduates, I think maybe homeschooling would be best. I’ve been researching a few of the best online options and of course we could have private tutors. Then you won’t have to see Isabella at all.”

  “What? No.”

  “It’s the safest option.”

  “But I don’t want to be in that apartment all day and all night. That’s not a solution. That’s…that’s locking me away.” This conversation was reminding me of the way he’d first treated me. Like I didn’t belong in his world. But screw that. I belonged just as much as Isabella. I was his blood too. He was acting like he wanted to hide me from the world. Like he was embarrassed of me. And I was sick and tired of everyone making me feel like I was trash. “Is that the deal you offered my mom if she stayed? That she could be in that apartment as long as she never left?”

  “I didn’t bargain with your mother. I bought her that apartment because I loved her. I never asked her not to leave. Because she was never mine. You are. I’m trying to protect you.”

  “That’s not the way to protect me. You can’t just keep me separated from the rest of the world. That’s not a solution.”

  “I can’t guarantee your safety at school. Just look at what happened today.”

  “I belong at Empire High just as much as Isabella does. If she gets to keep going, so do I. Or maybe you should lock her up in an apartment and homeschool her because she’s the one causing problems. Not me.”

  He took a deep breath and leaned back in the booth. “As you may have seen…I’ve been having a hard time controlling Isabella’s actions. Finding loopholes to the rules has always been one of her favorite activities. And it’s been worse since she’s found out about you. I can’t control her.”

  “But you can control me?”

  “I need to keep you safe. I can’t let anything happen to you too.”

  I swallowed hard. “Counter proposal. I stay with Matt. And I keep going to Empire High.”

  “That’s not a solution. Isabella will…” his voice trailed off. He pressed his fingers to his forehead like he was fighting off a headache. “I don’t know what she’ll do. That’s the whole problem.”

  He looked defeated. And I realized that maybe my dad’s promises were futile. Because he’d admitted he couldn’t control Isabella. I wondered if maybe a part of him was as scared of her as I was.

  “One thing you should know about me,” I said. “I learned a very important lesson when my mom got sick. Time is limited. And I made a promise to myself to live each and every moment to its fullest. I won’t stay locked up in an apartment. I won’t stay home from school. There’s nothing worse than not living each moment you have.” Isabella wasn’t going to control my life. There wasn’t a chance in hell that I’d let her. That’s why I’d stayed here. To prove that she couldn’t break me. That I belonged here just as much as she did.

  “And I’m sorry that Mr. Caldwell doesn’t like you,” I added. “But I think he’s warming up to me. So I’ll ask him and Mrs. Caldwell myself if I can stay for a year. I’ll figure out what they want for room and board and I’ll make sure I work to give it to them. And I’m going to keep going to Empire High because it’s where my uncle wanted me to go. I’m not going to let Isabella steal a year of my life from me. Because that’s exactly what she wants.”

  Each word that fell out of my mouth made me feel more determined. I nodded, like I was giving myself a pep talk. I was staying in New York. I was done hiding. Someone needed to knock Isabella off her high horse.

  My dad raised his eyebrow. “I guess there’s no changing your mind?”

  I tried to sit up a little straighter. Nunca. “No.”

  “Don’t worry about the Caldwells then,” my dad said. “I’ll talk to them myself. Besides, Matthew’s made it very clear that we’re all to be family soon enough. Let me see the ring.” He put his hand out.

  I placed my hand into his.

  “It suits you,” he said. “Are you sure this is what you want?”

  I nodded.

  “Very well. I’ll have some more paperwork for both of you to fill out.” He dropped my hand and took a sip of his coffee.

  “Speaking of paperwork. Can I have copies of all the documents I’ve signed?” It was like a fire had been lit under my butt. Remembering the promises I’d made to myself after my mom’s death reminded me to stop being stagnant.

  “Of course.”

  Wait, really? That was easy.

  “I’ll make sure Miller gives you copies by tonight. I’m glad that you’re being thorough. I was a little worried you signed the relationship agreement a tad too quickly.”

  I didn’t want him to know that I hadn’t really read either of them. I cleared my throat. “Speaking of Miller. He mentioned that he was leaving. But he’s still here.” I hoped that was vague enough.

  “Much like you, Miller signed documents when he started working for me. All of my employees are family. It’s a mutual understanding. You don’t quit on family.”

  The way he said it made a chill run down my spine. But Miller was an employee, not family. Surely he could quit. That didn’t make any sense. But I was worried questioning it any further would just put suspicion on Miller. I’d have to talk to Miller about it later. Besides, I had a few more questions while I was feeling brave enough to ask.

  “Isabella mentioned that the Hunters owed you a debt. And that James had to marry her to pay it off. Is that true?”

  My dad laughed. “I didn’t realize you’d have so many questions for me this afternoon.” He smiled. “As for Isabella…she has a very active imagination.”

  That isn’t exactly a no.

  “Oh look,” he said. “Our food is here.”

  I looked up as the waitress dropped off a few turkey sandwiches with all the fixings and…chocolate milkshakes. Just like my mom and I used to order.

  I wanted to see the menacing man I always expected him to be. But I didn’t see it. I saw a man who loved my mom fiercely. A man who lost. He wasn’t a monster. I couldn’t believe any of the lies Isabella tried to spread. She was a loophole ninja. She was trying to play me. But I wasn’t her puppet.

  My dad’s response did bother me though. “So Isabella was lying about her and James?”

  “The Hunters came upon rough times several years back. It was actually the start of a joint business venture. Completely unrelated to any of our children. I would never force either of my daughters to marry someone they didn’t want to. Especially for money,” he said with a laugh. “I mean, look at you. I told you that Mason was a better option. His whole future has been laid out in front of him. But I can tell you’re happy with Matthew. And even if he might not provide for you as well, I gave him my blessing. I just want you to be happy, princess.”

  “I don’t need him to provide for me. I’m happiest in places just like this.”

  My dad smiled. “I know. But you don’t have anything to worry about regardless. Your inheritance is now sizably larger than either of the Caldwell boys anyway. If anything, Matthew is a step below you.”

  I would never describe Matt that way. “You know I didn’t ask for any of that.”

  “Which is precisely why I’m giving it to you.” He pushed my milkshake forward. “Aren’t you going to try it? I swear it’s the best in the city.”

  I smiled and took a sip. It tasted just like the ones at the diner back home. I watched my dad take a bite of his sandwich. Sitting in this diner with him felt normal. He didn’t feel like a stranger anymore. He felt like a freaking lifeline.

  “I do have one more question,” I said. I’d found out what the locked room at his secret apartment was for. It was filled with my mom’s things. But there was a locked room in his actual apartment too. And I wanted to know what was in it. “What’s in the room down the
hall from my bedroom at your apartment? The one with the new security key code? Is that filled with my mom’s stuff too?”

  He dabbed a napkin across his lips. “No. That’s…” his voice trailed off. “You know what? I think it would be best if I showed that to you in person. The next time you come over, okay?”

  “Yeah. Okay.” How bad could it be if he was willing to show it to me? I was breathing easier already. I’d asked every single question I’d had for him.

  “Tell me more about your relationship with Matthew,” my dad said. “Is it progressing toward intimacy? I know you mentioned before that it wasn’t, but we need to be safe with these things.”

  Oh God. Not the sex talk again. “Everything’s good, I promise.”

  He nodded. “Good, good.” He took a sip of his milkshake.

  For a minute neither of us said anything at all. And I really hoped that was the end of the conversation. But then he started talking again.

  “But do you mean good as in you are being sexually active?”

  “Dad.” Wasn’t this a weird thing to bring up in public? I looked over to see if any of the waitresses had heard him. Fortunately they all seemed busy.

  “Okay, we don’t have to discuss it any further. But, Brooklyn, if you’re planning on moving in that direction with Matt, I think it’s better to stay in front of all of this. If you’re okay with it, I’d like to go ahead and set that appointment with Dr. Wilson sooner rather than later. It’s better to just get it out of the way, don’t you think?”

  “Sure.” If he was going to keep pressing the issue of birth control maybe it was just better to get it over with. “Do you mind if I do it alone though? This whole thing is very awkward.”

  “Oh. I mean, yes, if that’s what you want. But if you’re uncomfortable talking about it with me, then maybe you aren’t ready to…”

  “It’s fine. Really.” Just because I didn’t want to talk about sex with my dad didn’t mean I wasn’t ready to have sex. I didn’t even think I’d be comfortable having this conversation with my mom.

  “Okay. I won’t mention it again.” He smiled.

  I took a huge bite of my sandwich. Now that the question was out there…was I ready to have sex? I knew Matt was. He said he was waiting for me. And I knew he loved me. I was all in with him. So shouldn’t I go all the way with him?

  “Are you getting excited for the holidays?” my dad asked.

  It was a normal question to ask in the fall. But I honestly hadn’t been thinking about it at all. This would be the first time I didn’t celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas with my mom. “Mhm,” I said, even though my heart wasn’t really in it.

  “I know it’s several weeks away, but no matter what’s going on with Isabella, I’d like you to come over for Thanksgiving. It’s always a pretty big celebration for us. We have family coming in from out of town that I want you to meet. And you can invite whoever else you want. I just…it’s a day for family. And I want you to be there. Besides, Isabella’s always in a lovely mood around Thanksgiving.”

  The Hunters had mentioned Isabella being cheery during the holidays. I couldn’t really imagine a sweet and charming holiday Isabella. But it had to be better than a gun slinging Isabella. “Yeah. That would be nice.”

  He smiled. “It’s so easy to see your mother when I look at you. But I see a lot of myself too. You go after what you want and you get it. You should consider applying to the business school of whatever college you plan on going to.”

  “Did you study business in college?”

  He nodded. “I used to think that Isabella would take over the family business one day. But I’m seeing everything a little differently now.”

  I couldn’t help but smile. I still didn’t know exactly what it was he did. But it was the first time I truly thought that being a Pruitt maybe wasn’t such a bad thing. And no matter how hard I fought it…I was a Pruitt. I belonged here. I just needed to prove it to Isabella too. And I think James and Rob were right. Pudding seemed like a pretty great way to put her in her place.

  Chapter 19

  Tuesday

  “Are you sure you don’t want to come with me to the club?” my dad asked as we pulled up outside Empire High. “I can give you that golf lesson I promised you.”

  “Can we do it another day?” My dad and I had stayed at the diner for hours talking about my mom, holiday traditions, and what I wanted to study in college. And despite how tempting it was to ditch my final class of the day and take him up on his offer…I wanted to go back to school. I knew Matt would be worried about me if I didn’t show up for entrepreneurial studies. Plus, if I was supposed to take over the family business one day, maybe Mr. Hill could actually teach me a few things.

  “Of course, princess. We’ll do it another day,” he said and patted my knee. “Enjoy your last class. And call me if you need anything at all. Or if Isabella talks to you. Or does something that doesn’t involve talking, like getting someone to leave you a threatening message.” He raised his eyebrows at me.

  “I will, I promise.” I unbuckled my seatbelt and climbed out of the car. I waved goodbye as his car sped off.

  I looked up at the ornate wooden doors of Empire High. For the first time, I was going to walk through them knowing that I belonged. I wasn’t there because my uncle was a janitor anymore. And I wasn’t a dirty little secret. I belonged in this world.

  I walked up the stairs and pushed through the doors. Isabella had tried her best to knock me down. All those embarrassing moments in lunch. Literally pointing a gun at my head. Making me feel inadequate. But all she’d done was make me stronger. Isabella could have people paint targets on me all freaking day. It wouldn’t stop me from taking her down.

  I kept my head held high as I walked toward my locker. The bell rang, signaling the end of the class I’d just missed. Students filled the halls. When I reached my locker, Matt was already waiting for me.

  “Hey.” I gave him the most reassuring smile that I could. The last time he’d seen me, James’ hands were on me, trying to help me breathe. Matt had looked like he was in so much pain. I would have texted him if I had my phone, but I’d run out of school with none of my things.

  Instead of reaching out for me, he pushed his hair off his forehead. It was like he was scared to touch me.

  “I’m so sorry about lunch,” I said. “I didn’t mean to freak out…”

  “Brooklyn, I’m the one that’s sorry. I thought I was helping earlier. I thought…” He shook his head. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

  “You didn’t hurt me.” I grabbed his hand. “I promise you didn’t hurt me.”

  “You said you couldn’t breathe.”

  “It was just a panic attack. It was nothing.”

  He nodded even though he didn’t look very convinced. “I didn’t even know that you got panic attacks,” he said. “I had no idea what was going on. Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I was kind of hoping they’d just go away.”

  He lowered his eyebrows slightly. “What if James hadn’t been there?” he asked.

  I shook my head. “He didn’t fix anything. I just needed to make sure my dad was okay. And he is. Isabella was messing with my head, like you said.”

  “So everything’s good now?”

  “Yeah. Everything’s fine.”

  He took a deep breath. “You really scared me, baby.” He pulled me into his arms. “You can tell me anything, you know.”

  “I know.”

  “So what should I have done? In that situation?”

  I leaned back so I could look up at him. He didn’t need to make anything right. But I’m glad he wanted to take care of me. “Maybe if you could just kind of rub your hand up and down my back and remind me to breathe?” I tried not to wince. It was exactly what James had done. I hoped Matt didn’t remember.

  He dropped his forehead to mine. “I can do that,” he said, his cinnamon scent surrounding me. “How often do you get them?”

 
I sighed. “Just when Isabella scares me.”

  “So a lot then?” he said with a laugh.

  I gently hit his arm.

  “We should probably get to class,” Matt said. “We don’t want to piss off Mr. Hill.”

  No we do not. “One sec.” I opened my locker and grabbed my entrepreneurial studies book. I usually looked forward to class to see Matt but dreaded it because of Mr. Hill. But Mr. Hill had actually been a little nicer to me recently. He hadn’t made me read out loud in ages. The last time he’d called me out at all was when I was dancing too close to Rob at homecoming. I wanted to think it was because he was friends with my uncle. But maybe me suddenly having tons of money played a role too.

  We made our way to class with my hand in his. It was the first time I’d been to class with him like this. It was only several weeks ago that I stared at the back of his head and daydreamed. And now we were engaged. Engaged. That hadn’t really sunk in yet. I’m freaking engaged to Matthew Caldwell.

  “No way,” Matt said when I went to my normal seat. “Sit next to me.”

  “Won’t Rob be mad that I stole his seat?”

  Matt shrugged. “Yeah, I don’t really care what the hell he thinks. You’re sitting with me.” He pulled the desk slightly closer to his and I laughed.

  Rob walked in right when I sat down.

  He smiled at me and stopped right next to his old desk. “Did you seriously steal my seat, Sanders?”

  “I can move…”

  “I’m just messing with you,” he said with a wink. “If it were anyone else, I’d complain. But now I just get to stare at you during class, so it’s a win-win for me.” He sat down in my old seat and whistled. “Yeah, this is a great view.”

  Matt turned around. “I swear to God…”

  “Did you hear something, Sanders?” Rob asked. “It sounds like there’s a really high-pitched little girl complaining about something, but I don’t see anyone…”