AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m not flying economy,” I whisper dejectedly. “Why do you want to torture me?”
“Torture?” Mr. Asshole scoffs from behind me. “You don’t even know what torture is,” he insists. I’m pretty sure he’s going to carry on insulting my intelligence, but Richard obviously feels sorry for me because he holds up his hand and Mr. Asshole falls silent.
Richard leans forward. I know what he’s going to say. I don’t want to hear it.
“And I don’t want to leave today. I won’t even be able to say goodbye to my friends!” The sadness in my tone is real. I’m not exaggerating it for effect or anything else. I’m genuinely upset at this news that has been thrust upon me. My life is being turned upside down and I’m actually meant to just accept it?
“You’re not going forever, Jade,” Richard reminds me, slightly impatiently. I don’t know whyhe’sthe impatient one. This is his choice, after all. His and my father’s. Not mine. And really, how did he expect me to react? Surely he didn’t think I’d be happy about this?
I don’t answer him. Maybe I’m not going forever, but with the way I feel right now, I might as well be.
“You’ll be back before you know it. Plus, you have your phone,” he points out way too cheerily, like I’m a toddler who can be cajoled into a better mood with a cheerful voice.
“Oh, so you’re not cutting my phone off then? Good to know.” I don’t even try to keep the snark out of my voice. He doesn’t deserve a respectful tone. Not with what he’s doing to me.
Richard sighs and leans back in his chair. Clearly, this isn’t going as well as he’d hoped. I don’t know why, though. He knew I wouldn’t be happy about this when he booked me aneconomyflight on a commercial airline. Not even first class!
“No, Jade, we’re not cutting off your phone.” He sounds weary. Old and tired. A pang of guilt hits me when I hear the exhaustion in his voice but I force it away. I refuse to feel guilty for something that is his fault.
“Just my money.” Even though it’s technically my father’s money that I spend, it doesn’t make it any easier when he cuts off my cards.
He sighs again.
“You’ll still be able to get everything you need,” he assures me firmly. “And in a month or two you’ll be earning your own money again. This intervention is exactly what you need, Jade. If you keep going the way you have been you’re going to end up in jail and there will be nothing we will be able to do about it.” He doesn’t sound tired anymore. Now he sounds more annoyed than anything else. As though my landing myself in jail would be an inconvenience for him. For Dad. Like it would interfere with their lives or their business.
“Fine.” I’m curt, my tone is sharp. “But I’m not flying economy. Upgrade my seat to first class, and I’ll go without complaint. I’ll get myself clean and make this movie. But not if you make me fly cattle class.” I’m not usually a very good negotiator. I make demands and I throw tantrums and I expect things to go my way. Compromising is not something I’m particularly good at. And going by the tight expression on Richard’s face, my pitiful attempt at a compromise hasn’t gone down well.
“No.” He shakes his head. “I’ve already booked the tickets. You’re flying out this afternoon, Jade, and you’re flying economy. You’re not going to act like a diva anymore.”
My mouth hangs open. I can’t believe Richard is doing this, or that my father is letting him. Why now? Why, after so many years of treating me as his princess, has he decided to be so mean?
Emotions well up inside me. Fury. Betrayal. Fire rages in my head, threatening to overwhelm me. I can’t think straight, I can barely even see straight. I want to scream. I want to…
Suddenly, I grab the tickets up off the desk where they lie discarded, unwanted, and I rip them in half furiously before I’m even fully aware of what I’m doing. Just as fast, Jaxon steps forward from behind me, grabs my wrist, and slaps the back of my hand so hard his fingers leave red imprints with white edges on my skin. The sting takes my breath away. I want to scream, but I can’t suck in enough air. Still holding my wrist, Mr. Asshole snatches the tickets from me and shakes his head when he sees I’ve actually ripped them completely in half. He slips them into his pocket, then drops my wrist.
“Just as well, I can check us in online,” he says with a smirk.
“Gah!” It’s a scream of pure frustration. No matter what, he’s always one step ahead of me. I’m wound up as tight as a spring and something in me is going to explode any second, but there’s literally nothing I can do to change anything. I swallow hard, trying to get a hold of my feelings, trying to rein in my emotions. To be rational. It’s been a long time since I’ve had to be rational; I’m out of practice.
Across the table, Richard is sitting up straight, a deep frown fixed to his face. He’s clearly unimpressed, but I’m not sure if his displeasure is directed at me or Mr. Asshole behind me. Even though he’s decided to play hardball all of a sudden, it can’t be easy for him watching me be manhandled by a six-foot-four savage brute. I rub the back of my hand miserably. Red raised welts in the shape of Mr. Asshole’s fingers still burn fiercely. I want to curl up into a ball and cry, but no way am I giving him that satisfaction. Instead, I revert to guilt-tripping Richard in a last-ditch attempt to make him change his mind, about the economy class tickets, at least. I fix him with what I know is my cutest little girl expression, the one that’s always been able to melt his heart. Big eyes, pouty lips.
“Please don’t do this to me,” I implore, my voice deliberately sad. “Please don’t let Jaxon hurt me anymore.”
Richard doesn’t answer. But Jaxon does. He steps forward, then leans down until he’s so close to me I can feel his breath on the side of my neck.
“Behave yourself then, young lady, and we won’t have any problems.” His low, rumbly voice sends tingles down my spine.
“I wasn’t talking to you,” I hiss.
“Jade, please.” Richard speaks softly, and when our gazes lock, there’s so much disappointment in his eyes that my guilt starts up all over again. I can’t even force it away this time. Why is it that I’m the one feeling guilty when he’s the one doing this?
“You need to leave for the airport in a few hours,” he continues gently. “Why don’t you go and pack a suitcase and then we’ll have a coffee together before you go?” He tries to smile but it falters almost instantly. The heartbroken look in his eyes hauntsme. He stands up, his chair scraping across the carpet, and reaches across his desk to touch my arm. “Please don’t make this any harder than it has to be, Jade.”
Fury wells up within me, overriding the guilt that’s pricking at the edges of my conscience.
“Don’t you dare put this on me,” I whisper furiously. “This is your doing, not mine. Yours and Dad’s.”
Richard strokes my arm. “No, Jade,” he corrects me sadly. “We’re doing this for you. Call it an intervention if you like. I don’t want to see you in jail, my love. And sadly, that’s where you’re headed. I know you don’t like Jaxon’s methods, but you have to admit, he gets results.” He paused for a moment. “So please, don’t argue with me anymore. Go and pack your suitcase and I’ll see you soon.”
