AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I know exactly what happens to people who get in my dad’s way. My last stepmother, Jennifer, realized that he was going to make a sale that would put nearly five hundred people out of jobs. She confronted him about it, and he didn’t care. When she decided to cause a fuss, he left her. Now Jennifer works at the mall and the last time I checked up on her, she was barely making ends meet.
Yeah, my dad isn’t the type of person I go head-to-head with.
Not me.
If Elizabeth is smart, she won’t, either.
“You say that, but you’re his son. You’re his favorite son.”
“I’m aware.” My brothers, Oscar and Phoenix, try to stay out of my father’s way. They’ll do just about anything to stay out of the limelight. When my dad has a new project, he sends it to me. When he needs a photoshoot or someone to talk with reporters, I’m the one he calls. I’m well aware of the fact that one day, I will be the person running his company. We all know it.
What does Elizabeth care about any of that?
“He’s going to hurt her, Ryan. Staying silent isn’t going to benefit you in any way.” Elizabeth’s voice is firm, but there’s an aura of stress there. Unfortunately for her, she’s wrong.
Staying silent is going to benefit me in every way. My mother is gone; not dead, just remarried. I don’t have anyone who can protect me from my father. The only way to get by in this cruel, ugly world is to play his game, and I’m playing it. I have been for a long time. I know perfectly well what happens when you don’t listen to Edgar Shadowvale, and I’m not going to make the same mistake everyone else does.
I have no interest in getting in my own way. I plan to not only surpass my father’s expectations, but I plan to be better than he’s ever been. I have something my dad never had. I have the knowledge that my mother loved me more than anything else in the world.
And before she died, she had me make a promise.
I don’t plan to break it.
When Elizabeth realizes I’m really not going to help her try to save her sister from this marriage or the monster she’s chosen as her man, she makes a sound of disgust, pushes back from the bar, and turns to leave. She pauses, though, and looks back at me.
“You’re going to regret this, Ryan.”
And then she’s gone.
Yeah. I fucking doubt it.
1.
Alex
What are you supposed to do when your entire world falls apart and you don’t have any money?
Beg?
There’s a part of me that thinks being a stripper would be the right choice at this moment in time, but I’m smart enough to know that I don’t have the body, the moves, or the attitude. I also don’t have the work ethic that most dancers do. Those girls are putting themselves out there night after night. Not me.
I’m way too awkward and clumsy. I’m the type of girl who would definitely trip on stage and twist my ankle. Who wants a dance from a non-coordinated girl who limps around feeling sorry for herself? Not many people, I would guess.
“No stripping,” I mutter to myself. I’m scrolling a Reddit thread on my phone. It’s got hundreds of comments from people offering advice. I’m just hoping I’ll find a couple of solid leads.
