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Anger burst inside me like fireworks, hot and bright behind my eyes until I could hardly see.
I stepped forward, barely able to contain my rage as I said, “Don’t you talk about her. Ever.” Another step closer and I was right in his face. Teeth clenched. Hands in fists.
“Touchy, are we? I don’t understand your fascination with her, but she’s a one-way street to nowhere, especially now that I fired her father. Screw her, get her out of your system, and move on.”
All the blood rushed from my face to my limbs. My muscles coiled and my heart thumped, a drum in my ears.
Is that what he was doing with Ms. Stone? Screwing her and getting her out of his system?
I wanted to say it. Wanted to spew the ugly words. Let him know I knew about the affair, that he wasn’t the pillar of society he made himself out to be. But then something else he said echoed through my thoughts. I’d just been too blinded by my rage to catch it the first time.
She’s a one-way street to nowhere, especially now that I fired her father.
“What do you mean, you fired her father?”
He shrugged. “Men like him are dispensable. Besides, he was due a raise sooner or later. Had been for a long time, really. It’s easier and cheaper just to hire someone new, some college kid looking to make some cash.”
My eyes widened, and if I ever disliked my father before, I hated him now.
I thought of all the things Penelope’s family had been through. The death of her mother. Her father scraping to get by. And now this . . .
My fist curled tighter until my nails bit into my palms, and just as I pulled my arm back, the doorbell rang, and he pivoted for the door. My arm trembled without a target, so I shook it out, ready to use his distraction and move past him and out the door when a familiar voice drifted toward me. “Mr. Elliot, I’d like to have a word with you.”
Penelope.
Chapter 25
PENELOPE
WhenDadtoldmeIcouldn’tgotoSara’sgamebecauseIwasgrounded,Iwasshocked.Ineverwouldhavethoughthe’dstopmefromwatchingherplay.ButthenIrealizeditgavemetheperfectopportunity.I’dhaveplentyoftimetoconfrontMr.Elliotandbebackbeforemyfathergothome.He’dbenonethewiser.IjusthadtopraymytimingwasrightandTopherhadalreadyleftforBucknell.
While my father and Sara were at her game, I snuck out of the house and headed into Lakeview and the Elliot’s affluent neighborhood. Their house was easily the largest among them, and when I pulled up to the giant monster, I turned off the ignition of my car, taking it in. The white brick exterior was pristine under the morning sun. Windows larger than whole rooms in my house showcased the front of the home, providing glimpses of the lavish interior, dripping with crystal chandeliers and oil paintings I was sure cost a fortune.
My stomach did a little flip as I thought of Topher. He grew up here. Lived here, still. And no matter how much he loathed his father, he was his family. And what I was about to do could potentially tear them apart while destroying his trust in me in the process. Whatever semblance of a friendship we had may as well be gone.
I closed my eyes, gathering my strength, wishing there was another way, but knowing there wasn’t. This was my fault. I did this, and now I had to fix it. Even if it meant hurting someone I cared about in the process, because if I did nothing, my family would be the one hurting, and I’d promised my mom. I’d promised her and myself that I’d always take care of Sara, that I’d be there for my father. Make his life better instead of being a burden, which meant I had no choice.
I forced my guilt away and the image of Topher from my head, thinking about how broken my father looked as he told me he lost his job. How he’d tried to explain himself while reigning in tears, when deep down, I was to blame. Simply because I had been a friend to his son. Because Topher had defied him instead of remaining his puppet.
A swell of anger rose inside my chest, propelling me forward as I got out of the car. I made my way carefully over the stamped concrete, stained a rich brown, and toward the front door where I rang the doorbell, unsure of what to expect and who would answer. A butler? A housekeeper? Mrs. Elliot?
The muffled sound of voices from inside stopped, and when the door swung open, his father stared out at me. Eyes wide with shock, it took him a moment to suppress his surprise before he smoothed a hand down the front of his crisp white shirt and opened his mouth to speak.
“You need to give my father his job back,” I said before he could get a word out.
He guffawed like this was some kind of joke. “You’ve got balls, at least. I’ll give you that.”
I shifted on my feet, determined to remain unintimidated. “I’m serious.”
“It’s too late. I’ve already replaced him.” He stepped through the doorway, closer to me on the stoop. “See, that’s how easy it is,” he said, his voice dripping with condescension, “replacing people like you—nobody’s. You’re nothing. It’s easy as that.” He snapped his fingers.
Rage shot through my veins, boiling my blood and heating my cheeks. “Oh, I think you’ll change your mind.”
“And why’s that, hmm?” He shoved his hands inside the pockets of his slacks, so sure of himself, so confident I held zero power.
“Because when the whole school and the entire Lakeview community discovers you’re a cheater and a fraud, they’re going to want nothing to do with you.”
His eyes darkened, along with his smile. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
