Dalton (Mistress & Master of Restraint) (30 page)

“Doesn’t he get a choice?” I ask in disgust. I have more freedom as poor white trash than these rich children have. I’d rather be poor than owned.

“No he doesn’t. We marry who our parents tell us to. I was smarter than my brother, Grant. I picked who I wanted and told Daddy. He waited too long and didn’t get to pick.” She responds like this is normal and perfectly acceptable behavior. The world doesn’t operate like this and she is ignorant to that fact.
“What if you pick someone and your parents say no?”
“You have to trust that your parents know better than you do. If he says no then it isn’t a good match. Daddy said it was a perfect match for me and Ezra. Ezra’s mother, Diane, is excited as well. She hasn’t told him. We have to wait for him to grow up some.” She preens like a bird under the parental praise.
“What about Cort?” The looks he k
eeps tossing Ade’s way says he’
s planning her demise and enjoying the thought.
“He’s
a nobody
. His mom just died. She was Diane’s best friend. They fed from her hand and now she has taken in the orphan. It’s disgusting that Cort’s family was looking for a handout, but it was very sweet that Dia
ne would be so charitable. She’
s an incredible woman. I would be proud to call her my mother-in-law.” The haughty tone in Ade’s voice deepens as she speaks. I do love her, but she is the most pretentious person on the planet.
“No, not marry Cort. What about Cort if you try to marry Ezra? They look like a package deal.” I say about the obvious couple. Neither is hiding their mutual affections
for the other. Right now they’
re holding hands.

“It’s just a phase. The rich are never gay. They marry and have a family. I don’t care what my husband does in private as long as it stays private. That is the rules.”
She looks at me like I’
m retarded. I look back at her incredulously. What a fucking way to live. I cringe.

“I gotta get to my next class. I’ll see ya around.” I stand and toss Fate’s discarded lunch on my tray. It’s gross that they never pick up after themselves. I glare at the back of Fate’s head.
“Do you still want to study tonight?” Ade’s big, blue eyes look hopeful. She can’t stand to be alone for a second, while I revel in it.
“Yeah, sure, come over after dinner tonight.” I quickly say as I grab her garbage too. I know she would just leave it for the staff to pick up.
“Come to my house instead.” Her command is
laced with
the sickly-sweet tone she covers her
true voice with. I don’t like the calculating gleam in her eye.
“Why?” I ask in suspicion.
“I-I…” S
he hesitates and I can see she’
s struggling to say what she means. A small V forms between her eyes.
“Just tell me the truth, Ade.” I huff. I need to get to class.
“I don’t like seeing your mother. It freaks me out.” She says of my cancer-riddled mother. I can see her point. I take care of my mother and I still feel uncomfortable. She isn’t used to seeing anything that isn’t perfect. And I don’t doubt that she hates visiting my beaten-down apartment in my shitty neighborhood too.
“Fine, I’ll come to you. Your parents don’t like me, remember? Maybe we should go to the library instead.” I’ve never been to Whittenhower Estates and I don’t think I want to either.
“I’ll send my driver to pick you up at five. You can eat dinner with us.” She looks excited and I don’t want to let her down.
“No on dinner. I have to cook for my mom, you know that.”
“So make her something to eat, but don’t eat
with her. You’re my best friend.
I want my family to meet you. It’s been four years. I think it’s time, don’t you?” The command is back in her voice. I want to disobey it instantly. No one tells me what to do- I am my own person. I force down the growl that wants to erupt from my throat.
“I’ll meet your driver out front of my building at five sharp,” I say over my shoulder and scowl at my best friend. I dump the trash in the garbage and rinse off the trays with the sprayer. The kitchen staff looks at me with kindness and glares at the rest of the students in the cafeteria.
“Yeah, Hillbrook- educating the next generation of pompous asses.”

About the Author

Erica Chilson spends most of her time inside her own imagination, whether awake or asleep. Her love of reading and writing for her book review blog, Wicked Reads, inspired her to begin writing again. Not one that enjoys the norm, her favorite things to read, write, and dream about are on the edge, claws and fangs, and wickedly entertaining things.

www.ericachilson.wordpress.com

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