Chapter 88 Absent

Chapter 88 The Fairview


Mrs. Vanderbilt sat behind the massive oak desk, she was already waiting for me. Her back straight and her eyes staring straight at me, like she was staring straight into my soul.  

"Close the door," she said.

I closed it.

"Come here."

I walked toward the desk, my bare feet silent on the cold floor. I was still wearing Romeo's T-shirt, my hair was as wild as a bird nest and I felt exposed. I felt like a child being called to the principal's office.

Mrs. Vanderbilt studied me for a long moment, her eyes cold and assessing. Then she spoke.

"Pack your things," she said. "From now own, you’re no longer working for me. I’ll send you whatever I owe you. But you should leave now.” 

I stared at her. "Mrs. Vanderbilt…” 

"I've been very patient with you, Calliope. I've given you chances. I've looked the other way when I shouldn't have. But this…” She gestured at my appearance, at the T-shirt, at everything it implied. "This I cannot ignore."

"Mrs. Vanderbilt, please…” 

"Trust me, this is for your own good. You won’t understand it now, but maybe later, you will." Her voice was flat and final. "You need to leave."

"Where am I supposed to go? I can’t just…” 

"I can call your aunt. You said she’s watching your relative, perhaps she’d come pick you up. Or I can arrange for a car to take you wherever you need to go."

"No." The word came out sharper than I intended. "I don't want my aunt involved. I'll leave on my own."

Mrs. Vanderbilt's eyes narrowed. "And where will you go?"

"I have friends. I'll figure it out."

She studied me for a long moment, something flickering in her expression. Then she nodded slowly.

"Fine. But you're to be gone by noon. I don't want Emma and Ryan to see you when they get back from school."

"Yes, ma'am."

I turned and walked out of the study.

\-—————————-

I pulled my suitcase out from under the bed and started packing. Clothes. Books. The few personal items I'd accumulated, Ryan's drawings, the necklace Romeo had given me, the black lace lingerie I'd never worn and the new clothes I had gotten. 

Romeo appeared in the doorway, his eyes still heavy with sleep.

"I went to look for you, I just woke up. Calliope? What are you doing?"

I didn't look at him. "Packing."

"Packing for what?"

"Mrs Vanderbilt found out. About us. She wants me gone."

Romeo went still. "What?"

"She came to the annex this morning. Saw me in your shirt. She told me to pack my things and leave."

"Where is she?"

"Romeo…” 

"Where is she?"

He was gone before I could stop him.

\-———————-

I found them in the study.

Romeo was standing in front of Mrs. Vanderbilt's desk, his body tense, his hands clenched at his sides. She was sitting behind it, her expression unchanged, her eyes cold.

"You can't do this," Romeo said.

"Excuse me?"

"You can't send her away. You don't have the right."

Mrs. Vanderbilt's voice was sharp. "I have every right. This is my house. I was the one who employed her. She’s just the babysitter. I can fire if if I want.” 

"She's not just a babysitter. She's…” 

"She's what, Romeo?" Mrs. Vanderbilt stood, her hands braced on the desk. "She's your girlfriend?”

"Yes."

The word hung in the air between them.

Mrs. Vanderbilt stared at him, something raw and wounded in her expression. "Do you have any idea what you're doing? Do you have any idea what you're risking?"

"I don't care."

"You should. Your uncle…” 

"To hell with my uncle." Romeo's voice was shaking. "To hell with all of it. I love her, Vivian. And you can't send her away. You don’t have the fucking right to do that!” 

"Don't," she said quietly.

"I'm sorry if the truth makes you uncomfortable."

"You don't get to disrespect me like this!” 

"Why not? You're not my mother. You never were. You married my father, but you never tried to be anything more than a stranger who lived in my house."

Mrs. Vanderbilt's face went pale. "That's not true."

"It is." Romeo stepped closer. "You've spent years pretending I don't exist. Years pretending this family is normal. And now you want to take away the one person who's ever made me feel like I matter?"

"Romeo….” 

"You can't make decisions for me. You can't control my life. And you can't send her away."

I stepped into the room, my heart pounding. "Romeo. Stop."

He turned to look at me, his eyes wild.

"Calliope….” 

"Stop it please.” I crossed the room and took his hand. "This isn't helping."

"She can't…” 

"I know." I squeezed his hand. "But this isn't the way."

"Vivian….” 

"Romeo." I turned to face him. "It's okay. I'll figure something out."

"No."

"I'll stay with Ruby. Or find a hotel. It's not forever."

"Calliope you can’t leave!” 

"It's okay," I said again. "I'll be fine."

\-———————-

I finished packing in silence.

Romeo helped me, his movements sharp and angry. He threw my clothes into the suitcase without folding them, his jaw tight, his eyes burning.

I closed the suitcase and looked around the annex. The room that had been my home for months. The room where I'd fallen in love with Romeo. The room where everything had changed.

"Ready?" he asked.

I nodded.

He picked up my suitcase and walked out.

\-——————-

Mrs. Vanderbilt was waiting by the front door.

She didn't speak as we walked past. Didn't acknowledge us at all. Just stood there, her arms crossed and her face hard as stone.

Romeo loaded my suitcase into his car.

"Get in," he said.

"I can go by…” 

"I'm not letting you stay with Ruby. I'll find you somewhere safe."

I climbed into the passenger seat, and he drove.

\-—————————-

The Fairview Hotel was the most expensive place in town.

Marble floors. Crystal chandeliers. A doorman in a long coat who opened the door for us like we were royalty. Romeo walked to the front desk, his credit card already in his hand.

"I need a suite," he said. "Your best one."

The clerk blinked. "Sir, that's…” 

"I don't care what it costs."

I tugged his sleeve. "Romeo, you don't have to…” 

"Yes, I do."

He handed over his card, and the clerk's eyes went wide. He typed something into the computer, then handed Romeo two key cards.

"Room 1208," he said. "Enjoy your stay."

We rode the elevator in silence. The doors opened onto a hallway that smelled like expensive perfume and fresh flowers. Romeo unlocked the door to the suite and stepped inside.

The room was enormous.

Floor-to-ceiling windows looked out over the city. A king-sized bed dominated the center of the room, dressed in white linens. A marble bathroom with a soaking tub. A sitting area with velvet chairs and a fireplace.

"Romeo, this is too much."

"It's not enough." He set down my suitcase and turned to face me. "You shouldn't be here. You shouldn't have to hide in a hotel because of my family."

"Romeo….” 

"I'm going to fix this." He crossed the room and took my hands. "I'm going to find a way to make this right. I'm going to challenge my uncle. I'm going to win. And then we’ll finally be together safely again.” 

"You don't have to…” 

"I want to." He touched my face, his eyes soft. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. And I'm not going to let anyone take that away."