Lola had eaten breakfast with the whole family. Jax's parents went on about the initiation, talking about throwing a big party to celebrate him stepping into the title. They discussed magazines they would allow to attend because not only was he becoming Alpha, but he was also rising as a future CEO of Blackwood Enterprises.
Lola sat idly by as they discussed everything at length. She was surprised to see the lack of devotion on Jax's face. He hadn't seemed excited about any of it.
After breakfast she excused herself. She went upstairs and sat in the den on the second floor and read a book.
"Weathering heights."
She looked up and saw Jax leaning against the wall. He scanned the book cover, and she tilted it back to see what he'd read.
"It's a good one," he said.
"It's all right," she lied. Lola loved anything Jane Austen had written. Jax pushed off the wall and came over to sit on the couch. Lola pulled her legs closer to her chest to make room for him on the two-seater.
"I was thinking." He stated and stared into the wall. When he turned his head, he had a cheeky smile. "Do you want to go back to school?"
Lola's eyes lit up. She pushed herself up, and a laugh escaped her lips.
"Yes!"
Jax chuckled and nodded. "Tomorrow then," he smiled.
She fell back against the headrest and winced. Jax noticed the shift in her demeanor and reached out his hand. "What's wrong?" he asked softly.
"My computer. It was stolen along with everything else. My art assignments were on it," she said in an exhale.
"You'll do them again."
Lola smiled. There was no chance she would be able to do them again. They required a program that you had to download on a computer, something she couldn't afford to buy again. She had saved up for two years to buy the one she had, and it had been secondhand.
"Yeah, it'll be fine," she said and shook her head. Maybe if she talked to her teacher, she could get an expansion or borrow one of the in-school computers to finish the assignments.
They heard a knock on the door downstairs, and Jax turned his head. He listened in and heard the cleaner opening the door.
"Can I help you?" she asked.
"I-I'm, uh, looking for Lola."
Jax recognized the voice. He turned and faced Lola, who raised a brow.
"You have someone at the door."
His face contracted in a grimace, and his brows furrowed in worry.
They walked downstairs together, and the cleaning lady stepped to the side to reveal the guest. Lola ran the last bit and jumped into Melissa's arms.
"I've missed you so much." She felt Melissa's hesitation to reciprocate the hug. When her arms didn't wrap around Lola, Lola gently leaned back and created some space between them. She saw the discomfort on Melissa's face. She even looked a little scared. Her eyes kept flickering over to Jax, who was staring at them from the stairs.
Lola swallowed the lump in her throat and ignored the burn of the tears that pressed their way up to her eyes.
"Do you want to come in?" she asked.
Melissa looked reluctantly around the entrance. When she didn't answer, Lola's heart broke a little.
"Please," Lola said.
Melissa nodded and managed a small smile. She walked past the glaring housekeeper, who immediately rushed off into the kitchen, probably to alert Jax's parents of the new houseguest.
"Melissa," Jax said and walked down the last steps.
"I'm not sure why I came here," she said and looked at Lola. They were both staring in an uncomfortable silence. It was throwing Lola off. She wasn't used to Melissa being silent at all.
"Well, I'm glad you did." Lola smiled.
"You haven't been in school, and I was just... I thought... I don't know." Melissa wrapped her fingers together and looked around the house. She was holding a paper bag. It looked like a gift.
"This is where you've been, huh?" she said under her breath and spun on her feet.
The sound of heels clicking against the floors grew louder and louder. Lola took a deep breath and prepared for the worst. She knew already that if mrs.Blackwood tried to throw Melissa out, Lola was going with her.
She turned around, ready to take the fight.
What she wasn't ready for, however, was the warm greeting and the big embrace that she gave to Melissa.
"How are you, sweetheart?" Mrs. Blackwood said as she brought Melissa closer.
Melissa smiled as they pulled back and looked at each other.
"I've been well," she said, but Lola could see it was a lie.
"And how are your parents? I hear they are doing a remarkable job in the company," she chirped.
Melissa laughed and nodded. "They are. They absolutely love the work they are doing, and they never shy away from mentioning your generosity. They asked me to bring you this," she said and handed the bag to Jax's mom.
"Oh dear! They shouldn't have!" She gasped.
Lola furrowed her brows. She stared bewilderedly at this entirely different person standing in front of her. She didn't know that Margret was capable of smiling, let alone showing gratitude.
"Come, we were just about to have some coffee."
Melissa's lips rounded, and she stepped back.
"Oh no, I have to go. I just came by to drop that off."
Lola's heart sunk into her gut, and she looked down at her feet.
"Nonsense, come on now. The chef made brownies," she said with a wink and hooked her arm around Melissa's.
Lola felt a hand on her shoulder. It felt heavy, as though it was pressing her down, but it wasn't the hand. It was everything else.
She shrugged Jax's hand off. "Don't," she seethed and turned around to head up the stairs.
"Lola." Mrs. Blackwood's voice filled the entrance. "And Jax." Her eyes were back to their usual degrading selves. "Join us," she said like an invitation, but they knew it was an order.
They all sat down around the table. Melissa fought to avoid eye contact with anyone except Jax's mom. They were soon joined by Mr. Blackwood, and not long after, Ash stepped into the room.
Melissa instantly stiffened and looked with unease as he cockily pulled out the chair while keeping contact with her-knowing full well he made her nervous.
"Melissa, good to see you again." He rubbed his finger on his chin. "When was the last time? Lola's apartment, right?" She gulped and looked away.
Lola glared at him, trying to warn him to shut up, but he took it as a job well done. Ash took a bite of a brownie, and Lola quietly hoped he would choke on it.
"How have your parents decided to spend the money?"
Melissa jumped in her seat when Mrs. Blackwood spoke. Lola's eyes narrowed to slits on her as she inquired.
"If everything goes to plan they're expanding to Europe with the investors in the spring. They're thrilled." Melissa smiled.
Mrs. Blackwood's eyes slowly slid over to Lola in a knowing gaze. The deeper she put Melissa's family in debt to them, the tighter she could pull the leash on Lola.
"I'm glad," she said, and her lips turned down in a nasty smirk.