Chapter 29 Chapter Twenty Nine
CANDY’S POV
The moment I shut the door of my room, leaving my sister closed inside the toxic bubble she’s so willingly accepted and is so smitten with, the smiles and assurances I’d just showered her with melts away like snow at the first kiss of clear skies and sun, giving way for my inner doubts and the knots that have taken residence in my gut to take hold of me again.
Fueled by that and my need to sink my claws into something else before I go insane, I stalk downstairs and in the general direction of the kitchen where I’m sure I’ll find mommy dearest. The sweet aroma of good food filling the house and luring everyone to its source tells me I’m right.
With my head still whirring and my gut still knotted, I match into the kitchen to find her slightly rotund figure at the stove, backing the doorway as she attends to her bubbling sauce, looking happier than I remember seeing her in any recent memory, humming as she shuffles from burner to burner, cooking, stirring, garnishing.
The sight Infuriates me almost as much as I find it cute and before I can stop myself from indulging my subconscious, my angry word vomit syndrome craving where to show itself off comes flying out.
“The first time I’ve seen you genuinely happy at something in years and it’s at the prospect of having your husband trade your youngest child to keep your financial security and save your vain lifestyle.” I accuse bitterly.
I watch her pause instantly, her back stiffening mid stir, before turning to me and I half wish I hadn’t said anything. This is just going to be me and Peach all over again, going in circles because apparently I’m the only one in this family sane enough at the moment to see how wrong this is and the adverse effects it definitely will drag along with it into our lives.
“You need to get over yourself, Candy. Peach is not an extension of you that you can control, or play dough that you can mold and shape into whatever you want!”
“But you and dad can?” I spit, angrier than I started out.
“You watch your damn tone with me Candy Amber Kane.” She warns, flashing me a side of her that I’d watched die and be buried over the years. The only part of her I embody to perfection.
“You have no inkling of an idea of what’s going on and how your sister’s sacrifice is the only thing keeping all of our heads on our damn neck.”
“Oh trust me, I know. Dad’s other not-so-clean business he’s gate kept from me, the mess it’s landed him in and this stinking plan to get Peach married off to next available rich man so he can sink his grubby fingers into enough money to pay back? Trust me mom, I did my due diligence.”
Her eyes dart away from mine mid tirade but not before I spy the small flash of relief that cross them…..relief that’d appeared as soon as I’d said “the next available rich man”. God, no. I’ve had it wrong all this time…..
“That’s not what you’re doing, is it? I say in a small voice as the realization hits me like a slap to the face, forcing me a step back.
“You are not marrying her off to get the money to pay back, she’s the payment itself, isn’t she?” I scoff bitterly.
“You are giving her to them in exchange. You are willing to lose another child, to the worst group of humans God let’s walk the face of earth, criminals that dad got us roped in with, just for financial freedom? Does she know that?”
Tears blur my vision, anger tearing through my soul.
No wonder he didn’t ask me, he knew there was no way in hell I would give in to his bloody ridiculousness.
“Candy…..” Mom starts to say softly, reaching for me but I recoil with revulsion before she can make contact, riddled with disgust.
“I’m going to end all this, I’m going to tell her everything and make sure she understands the life you are really signing her up for.”
“You will do no such thing.” The surprising command flies in from the doorway in a familiar voice that’s become a stranger’s to me ever since I got back to this damn house.
“This is bigger than your savior complex and stupid pride, Candy, it’s the only way any of us in this family gets to stay alive, don’t you get it?.” My father barks in my face, his veins popping from the exertion I think for a second that he might give himself another cardiac arrest right here.
“S-stay alive? This is your mess, dad.” I tell him, defeated.
“I never said it wasn’t and it’s why I need you to stop butting in while I work hard to clean it up. Give up this petulance and fucking grow up. Harassing everyone in this house won’t change a damn thing.”
“She’s just twenty one.” The tears I’ve fought so hard to hold back finally escapes, running down my face. “ She’s a child and you are supposed to be protecting her but instead it’s you who’s throwing her to the wolves.” I sob for the lack of a better medium to express all the emotions surging inside me, the heel of my palm dashing angrily under my eyes to wipe the evidence of my weakness.
Before he can counter that with another one of his irrational arguments that I really don’t care to listen to, my phone goes off in the pockets of the baggy sweat pants I threw on this morning. Pushing past my dad without even a last glance at him and his wife, I can’t bear to think of them as my parents right now, I fish in my pocket until I grab and pull out my phone.
The caller ID flashing on my screen only makes me feel even worse. It’s the weekend, why the hell is the devil’s first born son calling me? What does he want from me, my blood?
“Mr. Cunsulo.” I breathe into the phone with resignation after I went against my better judgment to accept the call.
“I need you at the office now, Miss Kane.” Adrian’s voice booms from the other end without any preamble.
I pull the phone from my ear to glare at it for a second, like that would help me hear this man better and maybe understand his audacity.
“Excuse you? With all due respect, It was clearly specified in my contract that my weekends are mine alone to recover from the torture you put me through everyday……..sir.”
It might just be me, but I hear a small amused sound from his end.
“This is an exception. The representatives from Berger group moved our meeting with them up to today and you’re the one who’s been in charge of their file and everything else from the jump. I could do it on my own, but, I’d prefer to have you, my assistant who’s prepared with me all week, with me.”
I contemplate saying no because there’s no universe, no alternate life form where I owe him the courtesy or the favor but a small voice in my head stops me before I can reinforce my refusal and end the call on him, reminding me that this might be the only out I get.
It’s either take him up on my favorite distraction, work, and catch a little break to clear my head or stay back here and to die piece by piece as I watch my sister shred herself into a beautiful piece of sacrifice at my father’s altar. In probably what’s the first time in his life, Adrian Cunsulo is the lesser of two evils.
“Okay sir.”
“Oh…” He said that like he’d expected me to put up more fight and had been prepared for the occasion only to be surprised by my response.
“That’s settled then, I’ll pick you up at six and I’ll have a stylist bring you a dress for the event, you can’t say no. It’s an early dinner affair and we have an impression to make.”
And before I can rethink this decision or argue, he ends the call.
Just great.