AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My father shot himself.
Dark times created something new inside me. Grief, desperation, sadness, worry, pain, and hope.
That last emotion was the one that got me through. It drove the pain away and gave me something to focus on.
Perhaps now my life would be different. We had lost it all and I would be just like any other girl scratching for a living.
Then my brothers turned it around, and the crisis was averted. We miraculously got our billions back and I am still the heiress, with a multitude of sleaze bags staring in my direction. Men like Julian Jones, who want the perfect wife by their side, assured of my inheritance to keep the wolves at bay.
A socially acceptable wife in public and whores and strippers in private. I understand what these guys are like and thank God my own brothers are nothing like them.
If anything, I’m the wild one in our family and I am craving some serious excitement in my life. It’s why I went to Dark Shadows in the first place. It’s why when I got home last night, I could only focus on the adrenalin rush it gave me when I looked back on my experience.
Who was that guy?
My knight in deepening shadows.
He saved me and I don’t even know his name or what he looks like.
I’m tempted to return there tonight to seek him out. Will he be there? It’s worth a shot at least.
I stare at my reflection and note the light flickering in my eyes. That incident shocked my body into life. I may have been shit scared, but at least I experienced something. I felt alive and for a woman who goes through the motions most days, it’s better than any drug the likes of Jacob and Julian could provide.
I manage to rush past the Jones’ table and head back to mine just as Katy cuts her call.
“I’m so happy.” She smiles dreamily as I reach for the champagne.
“Lucky you.”
She pouts like a spoiled bitch.
“I told Jacob he needs to impress me because last night he took me to a restaurant that’s not even featured in the top five in the city. It was severely neglectful on his part, and I insisted he do better next time.”
“What a disaster.” I resist yawning because who gives a fuck how high up on the list the restaurant is? The trouble is, it’s all about social climbing with these people. Being seen in the best restaurants with the most influential people is a networking exercise that reaps billions. I should know, I’ve accompanied Troy and Harrison to mind dulling events many times and one night in Dark Shadows is preferable over any of them.
Katy signals to the waiter and says briskly, “I’m heading to Dior. I need some retail therapy after my disappointment last night.”
“Disappointment?”
She raises her eyes. “The restaurant, Melissa. Please keep up.”
She hands the waiter her platinum credit card that was provided by daddy and says as an aside. “My treat.”
Then she pushes back her chair and nods toward the door. “Shall we?”
I can sense Julian Jones’ eyes burning into my back and jump to my feet in haste.
“Sure, but I’m heading home. Mom will be needing the company.”
“Of course.”
Katy feigns interest. “How is she? It’s such a terrible time for her.”
The fact Katy hasn’t mentioned her once so far tells me she’s just saying words that have no genuine meaning behind them.
“She’s good, thanks. No need for concern.”
She raises her perfect brow and I know she will be gossiping with Adele Harvard later today about how terrible it must be for me to have a crazy mom to deal with. I understand how this world operates and I’m resigned to it.
