EMILY
I woke up in the morning to find that Seth had already left the house.
Yesterday felt like a dream and even though I'd treated him like shit, he'd been sweet and had kissed me, but hadn't gone further than that. He was always respectful of my space, and that's what I loved so much about him. He knew boundaries that most boys refused to keep.
When he'd talked about me getting married to a rich guy and planted the idea of a trophy wife into my head, the reality started setting in. That's what my life would be if Seth wasn't going to be in it.
My father would find a guy of equal social standing and I'd be left playing a part of a perfect wife and I'd have to lay in a bed whereby I'd imagine the man to be someone else, (that someone being Seth) and I'd be expected to have children. Seth would marry some girl, someone pretty, someone he didn't love and we'd be left longing for each other.
I pushed those thoughts aside. It was just too painful to think about and I was getting anxious thinking about a future with a faceless guy.
Nothing was helping much. I needed a break from all of this so I fired up my laptop, called my dad, and booked a flight to Europe where he was currently staying in one of our family's countryside Villa's in Tuscany, Italy. I planned to travel first to Milan and go on a shopping spree so I could drown some of my sorrows into picking up stuff and swiping my card and then make the two-hour train ride to Tuscany.
Dad would hardly notice I was home, the farmhouse villa was so grand, sometimes we wouldn't see each other for an entire day.
The glittery peach pink dress that I picked for prom stared at me from where it hung in the open closet. I wasn't even so keen on going to prom anymore. Since Seth and I had broken up, I wasn't sure prom was part of my plan anymore. I would only be subjected to watching happy couples having a good time and that would only stab at my insides now that I was single.
I texted Ruth letting her know that I was flying to Italy tonight. I didn't tell her that her son was the reason I was doing this, she already had a lot on her plate and no matter how much I hated what he'd done, I didn't want to get Seth into trouble with his mother.
"Emily, listen doll, I know something is bothering you." Indie spoke on the other end of the line, "Did you have a fight with Seth?"
"You can say that," I didn't want to tell him the truth either. If Indie found out about the bet, he would be standing outside Seth's house with a pitchfork.
"Fights are pretty darn normal in relationships unless he cheated on you and this is about some girl."
"Oh no, he didn't cheat." I clarified.
"Then I think you should resolve this by sitting together and talking it out. Running away isn't going to help, you of all people should know that."
"I know. I need a break."
"Break as in, 'I'll-be-hooking-up-with-a-hot-Italian-guy’ kinda break or 'I-just-need-time-to-think"
"The latter one."
"Cool."
*~*
SETH
Emily’s car was in the driveway but no one was opening the door.
That was strange. She was usually home before eight so where was she right now?
If She went to hang out with Indie, her car wouldn’t be in the driveway. I walked around the house to see if any lights were switched on. The porch light was on and I could see the dim light of the foyer.
I had some gruesome images of a break-in, Emily lying on the floor. The place rampaged and there was blood everywhere. There was someone who was breaking into wealthy houses, robbing the place, and killing people.
I quickly called Indie, my hands shaking as I scrolled for his number.
“Hey!”
“Hey man.”
“Do you know where Emily is? She’s not answering the door.”
“She didn’t tell you?” he asked, surprise in his tone.
“Tell me what?”
“She’s flying tonight to Italy to stay with her father for a few days.”
“Oh…um…no, she didn’t tell me.” I mean, why would she? We weren’t exactly dating anymore. We’d broken up. “Any idea how long she’s going to be staying there?”
“Not sure, buddy. Probably a week or two.” A beat later, he asked, “Is there a serious reason you two broke up?”
I suspected she’d told Indie everything, considering that the two were best friends with a capital ‘B’, but I guess not. As much as she was pissed at me, she wasn’t out for my blood or any twisted revenge.
“It was a misunderstanding,” I replied, swallowing the bile rising in my throat.
“I hope things work out for you. Remember the party I was talking about? It’s been postponed. We’re having a prom after-party at my house. You’ll be coming, right?”
I shrugged, “I’m not sure, man. What about Chanel?”
“She left her with me.”
“Is it okay if I take her?”
“You want her cat? Sure, be my guest. I’m not a fan of cats. I’m a dog person and she has already started terrorizing my retriever, Charlie. Just return her to me before Emily comes back so she wouldn’t know you had her.”
My lonely ass was happy to have Chanel at my place, at least for a few days. I missed that cat with a Queen’s attitude. I imagined her turning her nose distastefully when she sees that I didn’t live in a mansion like hers.
I looked up at the empty house. Must be nice to pack and take a trip out of the country with such ease, move from the comfort of one luxurious home to another just because you didn’t want to deal with your emotions or more specifically, me.
I stared at the stuffed teddy bear in my hand. Emily wasn’t even acknowledging me at school anymore. It’s like that kiss that night in the guest bedroom never happened. I was pining over a girl who was so out of my league, maybe she’s had enough.
I sat inside the car and drove the hell out of there. At least her fur-baby still had some affections for me.
*~*
EMILY
I spent the next few days enjoying myself, trying to get my mind off Seth. It worked out for a little longer until it didn't. I was living in an 18th-century luxurious private country home surrounded by green vegetation, and overlooking the Versilia coast from my balcony on the second story. The view from my bedroom was stunning, I could see the village from here as well as the blue coastline.
Here I was in a thirteen-bedroom and fifteen-bathroom home with all their amenities, thinking about the housekeeper's son who'd stolen my heart.
What was he doing right now? Did he miss me? Was he planning on moving onto another girl?
Staying cooped up in my bedroom wasn't going to help. I remembered visiting this home when my mom was alive and things were so much different back then. I quickly changed into a casual outfit and wore my sneakers to go running. I could explore some of the village which would help me get my mind off things.
I went downstairs, greeting the maid on my way. Dad was occupying the patio by the pool area, his nose buried in his iPad, a grand breakfast of freshly baked croissants, Italian baked eggs, and sausages (which was the chef's specialty) with fruit juices were all laid on the table.
"Good morning, Dad." I greeted him, trying to slip out of there, hoping he wouldn't notice.
"G' Morning, honey." He looked up from his reading glasses. "Come join me for breakfast."
"I already had toast and jam. I'm going for a run."
"You can do that later. Sit with me for a while, it's been ages we haven't had a chat."
Dad never bothered with "chats" as far as his kids were concerned. As long as Cale and I managed to get passable grades, and we didn't get into any serious trouble, he preferred us to stay out of his hair.
Reluctantly, I went to sit beside him. And since I was already at the table, I picked up a croissant and bit into it.
He regarded me for a minute, sipping his coffee. "Is there anything you'd like to tell me?"
"There's nothing much to tell." I began picking up the loose threads of my running shorts, a bad habit I had picked for when I was nervous. "I've decided what I want to do. I'm planning to become a graphic designer. I've already started looking at universities that I want to apply for.”
He put the porcelain cup back on the table, "Good to know that you're planning for your future and not allowing distractions into your life."
"Distractions?" I shouldn't have asked but sometimes I tend to speak my thoughts loudly.
"Yes, distractions like Ruth's son, what was his name again, Sean?"
"Seth."
My anxiety level spiked up and my heart was beating into an excessive overdrive.
He knew.
"Right." He said dismissively, "You should steer clear of him."
"And what does that even mean?"
His familiar brown eyes bore into mine, "Let's put it this way. I might not be living with you in the same house but I'm quite aware of what's happening around me, in my kid's lives, who they are seeing, or what's going on behind my back. I have knowledge of every damn thing."
"Why are you telling me all this?"
"Just looking out for you, honey. Boys like Seth are good for what they are. For boosting your school popularity status and teenage fun, but that's where you have to draw a line."
I gaped at him.
"I can't believe you just said that." I sat there, baffled, looking at this man who I thought was better than this. "Is a person's worth measured by how much money they have?"
"In this day and age, I'd say yes. Money is everything."
"So, you're saying that if Mom hadn't married you, you would be worthless?"
"Emily!" He said in a warning tone.
I stood up because I was done with this conversation, "aren't you being a hypocrite? What happened to the rags to riches story? You told us how you traveled to the country, struggled for work, and then started your little food truck using the money you saved from doing hard labor—"
"I don't need to hear more of this."
I recited the story I'd heard a dozen times when I was a kid but somehow my dad seemed to be needing some reminding. "You saved the money to go to a culinary school and you succeeded in doing that, there you met my mother who was...wait, what was that? Oh yes, heir to a multi-million-dollar conglomerate who fell in love with you. This..." I indicated towards the luxurious house, "did not belong to you and it never would have if you hadn't married Mom!"
"You listen here, Emily. I worked hard for my degree, and I was on my way to start a business. Your mother did not pave the way for me, I did it on my own!"
"Yes, of course, you did but it wasn't going to be anywhere close to the wealth we have right now."
He stopped talking because he knew I was right, but I could tell he was trying very hard to keep his temper from blowing up. My dad wasn't a bad guy, he just forgot who he used to be before he let money get to his head. Maybe I'd said a little too much but I needed to get this off my chest.
He started, "People with blue color jobs, they struggle all their life and I've been part of that for far too long before I met you mother. I have experienced what it's like to go without food for days, to overwork myself, to think how I'm going to survive with the little money I have and because I've experienced all that, I don't want you or Cale to go through it."
"Well, I don't choose the boys I like based on how much wealth their daddy has in their bank accounts. My point, dad is..."
"You have made your point." He said dismissively. "You can leave now."
I did not waste time as I started making my way towards the gate when I stopped because I heard him say, "During your birthday dinner, I noticed how he looks at you."
I turned around to face him, "How does he look at me?"
"He looks at you the way I used to look at your mother."
My breath hitched in my throat.
"It can be scary."
*~*
I ended up staying for another week in Italy before I booked my flight back home. Dad and I had formed a sort of truce. He wasn't going to bother me anymore with his poor man, rich man speeches since I told him I'd broken up with Seth. He seemed to be pleased to hear that, and I ran out of energy to make further arguments. If he thought I was going to suddenly start dating Carson or some other guy from his friend's circle, he was dead wrong.
Honestly, I don't know if or when I would be ready to date someone again. My insecurity level was sky-high, all thanks to one gorgeous yet dumb jock.
Weeks passed and it was time for our final exams. I studied hard for it, shoving thoughts about Seth into a box and burying it. I would think about him later. I did bump into him in the hallways and he would find excuses to talk to me during class even if it was to borrow a pen or a textbook.
He wasn’t giving up on us. Maybe someday when the wounds of betrayal weren’t so fresh, I’d forgive him.
Prom night, I switched off my phone because Sky and Carson continued to pester me to tag along with them. Even though Sky wasn’t keen on going for prom at first, Carson had used his stubborn convincing abilities and asked her to be his date, she’d caved in, and now since I didn’t have a date, the two wanted me to go with them.
I’d also deactivated my social media so as not to come across some happy couple pictures that I would have to begrudgingly press like on.
I’d planned to order some food when the doorbell rang.
“Would you guys like freakin give up?” I yelled at no one, I threw my phone on the couch and stalked to the door.
Carson and Sky needed to press the brakes for a while. Why couldn’t they leave me alone?
I opened the door, seething, “I don’t want to go to prom!”
Only, it wasn’t Sky or Carson on my doorstep.
It was Seth, dressed in a black tux, his burly physique hugging the fabric to perfection. The word ‘gorgeous’ was lacking to describe him. He was clean-shaven and his hair was a mass of thick waves that I could give any amount of wealth just to run my fingers through. Maybe I’d even give a leg or a kidney.
Heat pooled between my thighs, he knew the effect he had over women and he wasn’t afraid to use that as a weapon when he wanted something. I also couldn’t help but notice the pink rose boutonniere pinned to the lapels of his suit jacket. He was also holding a matching pink corsage.
“I’m not going to prom. I already sent you the text weeks ago.” It was quite difficult to turn down someone who looked like him.
He pleaded with his emerald eyes, “I thought you would be ready by now, baby. I told you I would pick you up in an hour. Looks like you’re still in your PJs. You’ll have to hurry up.” He said and then mouthed ‘Please.’
What the hell is going on?
I was going to tell him off again when Ruth bulldozed her way into the house, excitement shining in her eyes. “Emily, sweetie, you’re still not ready. Prom starts in an hour.” She waved me quickly towards the stairs, “Let’s go fast. I’ll help you with the dress.”
I realized what this was about.
Ugh. I didn’t want to put a damper on her great mood by saying we weren’t dating, or that I wasn’t attending prom. She looked so hopeful and super excited.
“Alright, give me a few minutes,” I said reluctantly, faking enthusiasm, and then glared at Seth.
Well played.