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Hoping to get a phone call.
CHAPTER14
Sitting at the back of the van, with Curtis by my side, it’s hard to understand the difference less than forty-eight hours can make.
It had never even crossed my mind that I would find Harrison James—my Harrison James—at the college auctions. But I did, and I had a great time.
My bank account is much richer, but my heart feels empty.
I was so eager yesterday when we arrived at the stately mansion and now I’m sad driving away fromhim. I’m supposed to be excited, supposed to be making plans like the rest of the acquisitions. On our drive up yesterday, the van was quiet, but now, it’s abuzz with the animated voices and laughter of the occupants. I’m drained, emotionally and physically.
“You okay, babe?” Curtis asks, draping his arm around my shoulder.
“Yeah, I think so,” I reply, studying the business card in my hand.
“What the fuck!” I hear Curtis exclaim before blood-red fingernails snatch the card from my grip. I look up to see plastic Barbie herself peering at my card and my blood starts to boil. What is her problem?
“Give it back, Merissa,” I demand, holding my hand out.
“Oh, I don’t think so. I think I’ll keep this for myself. Your buyer looks like a good lay. Maybe I’ll call him up …” Her face is full of malice, her eyes cold and her mouth pulled into a sneer. How anyone thinks she’s attractive is beyond me. But, unlike yesterday, I’m not going to keep my mouth shut. I’m done with being the ‘bigger’ person. That card is mine—and I want it back.
“Poor Merissa. Your bidder probably bid on you to get the artwork.” I laugh at her, then end with the closing blow, “Just remember Harrison could’ve bid on you if he wanted to … but he didn’t. So, there’s that, and he doesn’t like plastic.” I shrug at her. “Now, give me back the card.”
“You bitch,” she snarls at me.
Before I know what’s happening, a sharp sting of pain and heat blazes across my cheek.
“Bitch!” Curtis says, shoving her away from me.
“What’s going on back there?” the driver calls out.
“Merissa just slapped Elle across the face,” one of the girls at the front answers.
The van slows down and pulls over to the side of the road.
“Don’t touch me, faggot,” Merissa squeals when Curtis stops her from hitting me again.
“What did you just say to me?” Curtis says, his voice dropping an octave, but before either of them can say anything else, the side door opens.
“Miss Lawton, please exit the vehicle,” the driver says.
“I’m not getting out. You can’t make me get out!” she screeches, turning toward the door and the driver.
“If you don’t remove yourself, you will force me to retrieve you, and you are not going to like that,” he deadpans, staring her down.
“No one talks to me that way,” she whines to the crowd.
“I just did,” I say calmly from behind her.
“You better leave, Barbie. I don’t think you want to keep the driver waiting,” Curtis says. “And you sure as shit don’t want to stay here with me.”
“Assholes,” she mutters, but when no one takes her side, she grabs her things and moves to the door.
“Get up in front with me, Miss Lawton, and I don’t want to hear another word from you. I’ve already informed Triss of your actions, and a representative will be waiting for you at the train station.”
“What? Why?” she starts, but a lift of the driver’s eyebrow silences Merissa and she climbs into the front of the van with him, but not before she tears up the card and throws it into the bushes by the side of the road, sneering at me.
Shit.
