"You got caught trying to freeload off rich people?"
Freeload? The word didn't even make sense in my head.
"I didn't freeload!"
"You're clearly a gold digger," my stepmother snapped. "Your father must hear this news."
My jaw dropped. "What?!"
"Don't act innocent."
Kane smirked. "People like you always try to latch onto someone richer."
People like me? What's that supposed to mean?
"I worked there!"
"Sure you did."
My chest tightened. "If you watched the whole news you'd see I didn't steal anything!"
But Kane was barely listening. He leaned back, stretching his legs on the table. Then he grinned. "I knew it."
"I said I'm not…"
"When I saw the money in your box yesterday…" he cut me off.
My heart stopped.
"…I knew you must have stolen it."
My head snapped toward him. "You really took it?"
He shrugged casually. "You can't possibly earn that much money."
"You knew we needed money in this house," my stepmother snapped. "You're so ungrateful."
Ungrateful?!!
"I went through your things and took the money," Kane said casually.
He actually laughed.
God. My legs felt weak.
That was months of skipping meals. I was so close. I was so fucking close to my target!
"That's… my tuition." My voice cracked.
"Please…" I begged. "Can you just give some of it back? I need to pay for school next month."
Kane tilted his head. "Aww. Now he's sad."
My hands trembled.
"You like pretending you're tough, right?"
I shook my head quickly. "Please. I'm begging."
I dropped to my knees in front of stepmother, tapping my fingers nervously against my thighs. "Please just give me a little back." I took a deep breath for what i was about to say next. "For the sake of family."
My stepmother burst out laughing. "You called us your family?"
Kane pointed at me like I was something disgusting. "You're nothing but a charity case. And a burden."
Then, he groaned. "Honestly...sometimes I wish you'd just disappear from our lives."
A tear slipped down my face.
I didn't say anything. I just stood up slowly, and walked toward the door.
Before I reached it, I heard quick paws on the floor behind me.
Poppy looked up at me, like she knew something was wrong. She must've heard the argument.
I crouched down, and slipped my fingers through the soft fur on her head.
"Hey," I whispered.
She started purring.
Cats don't purr just when they're happy. Sometimes they do it when their person is upset too. Like they're trying to help.
"I'll be okay," I lied quietly. "I'll come back."
Would I?
"Be good, poppy." I stood up before I could lose myself completely
"Don't forget to buy groceries if you get paid again!" my stepmother called after me.
I slammed the door behind me.
And when I stepped onto the street…the tears finally came.
My chest felt like it was collapsing.
Everything was gone. My money, my pocket watch, even my dignity.
I wrapped my arms around myself as I walked down the cold street.
"Eli!"
My head snapped up.
Bright lights exploded in my face. Cameras. Microphones.
Dozens of people started running toward me.
What the hell was happening?
"Eli! Look over here!"
Why are they calling my name?
"Is it true you forced Dylan Donovan to apologize?"
Why is the paparazzi after me?
"You're trending everywhere!"
Am I?!
Another reporter shouted. "They're calling you Mr Make-Him-Apologize all over the internet."
"Did you blackmail him? Or threaten him?"
"What power do you have over the Donovans?"
My heart started racing.
I stepped back. "I…I didn't…"
"Tell us your secret!"
My breathing became uneven. They kept asking too many questions, suffocating me with their words and actions. "I can't breathe…"
Someone suddenly grabbed my wrist.
My body snapped instantly. "No!"
I jerked back violently, raising my hand. "Don't touch me!"
Flashes kept going off.
"Eli! Say something!"
The hand tightened again.
I felt like I was drowning. I couldn't focus or breath properly.
Then suddenly….
A black luxury car screeched to a stop beside us.
Two huge men stepped out. Before I could react….one carried me on his shoulder towards the car.
"What are you doing?!"
"Wait!" I tried to scream. "Who are you?"
I started hitting his back, shaking my legs. "I'm not going anywhere!"
My voice cracked. "Don't kidnap me! No one will pay my ransom!"
The car door slammed shut. The noise outside vanished instantly.
Like someone paused the chaos outside.
My hands trembled in my lap.
Calm down. Think. Say something.
But my brain wouldn't work.
I turned my head. There were two huge men, dressed in black suits and sunglasses, on each side of me.
Their bodies pressed in close, leaving barely any space. Like they were making sure I didn't move. Not that I could.
The car was as one of those long, fancy ones.
My chest tightened.
There's no way out. I'm trapped.
I lifted my head.
And froze.
Sitting across me…was the old man from last night. His silver hair was neatly combed back, catching the faint light from the window.
He sat straight, with both hands resting over the head of a black walking stick.
The handle was carved like a lion's head.
My stomach dropped. Oh God.
I'm dead. He's going to destroy me. He sent them to kidnap me.
I bowed my head immediately. "I'm sorry," I said quickly. "I'm sorry for ruining your party yesterday, sir."
My fingers curled tightly against my palms. "Please don't punish me. It won't happen again."
He chuckled softly. "Oh!"
I looked up slowly. "Oh?"
The old man smiled calmly. "You didn't ruin anything."
My brows furrowed. "I didn't?"
He nodded. "In fact…" he continued. "I was quite impressed."
"…Impressed?" That didn't make sense.
Why would he be impressed? I embarrassed his family. I caused a scene.
He took off one glove, and extended his hand toward me. "Hello, Eli."
My heart skipped.
"I'm Davis Donovan." He smiled softly.
"Nice to meet you."
Nice to meet you? Totally normal thing to hear after getting kidnapped and shoved into a luxury car.
My brain was still trying to catch up with reality.
I stared at his hand. At the calm in his eyes.
Why is he being nice? What does he want?
That calmness felt more terrifying than anything else.
Which brings me back to the moment he gave me the most insane offer of my life.