Chapter 11: Eleven

MICHAEL

I can still hear her voice echoing in my head like a song stuck on repeat.

And the way her grey eyes glowed like fire was in them, she wasn't kidding when she said these hurtful words:

You are an immature brat who loves riding on his daddy’s money.

Her words hit me like a slap on the face, not because she was wrong but because that was who she believed I was, some spoiled kid who was entitled and arrogant, also an oppressor.

The basketball I was holding thudded against the court like my heart thudding against my chest, but it didn’t matter—none of this did. I didn’t want to be here either. All I wanted to do was confront Professor Betty and not walk out looking like the loser she believed I was.

This thought alone is making my blood boil even though my hands are moving, my mind is still trapped in her voice, the way she spoke her tone laced with deep hatred, whatever desire I once had for her was gone now replaced with this huge fear of losing her for good. I can’t let her think of me this way, didn’t she see how I defended her? How I took the blame, it’s all thanks to me that she still has a damn job.

But of course, she would never acknowledge that.

I’m dribbling hard but losing every shot, but like I said, I didn’t care, all I want is for her to be on my bed, lying next to me, we don’t even have to do anything, at least not yet. I tried to seduce her back there in class but she wasn’t having it, she wasn’t even angry, she was serious and full of hate. I guess I must have struck a chord.

“Hey Mike! What are you doing?” Matty called out after I missed about three shots which was so unlike me, I never miss any, especially since I heard the coach was planning on making me captain of the team.

I didn’t respond, I just ignored, and clenched my jaw. This was the last thing I needed, someone trying to add to the fire that was already burning inside of me. Funny how she could control my mood without even trying so hard, she said those words to hurt my feelings and damn, it worked, mission accomplished. What if she had kissed me next, maybe I’ll be the happiest man alive, but maybe that was why I liked her, because she never made it easy.

“What’s going on with you, bro? You never miss a shot!”

“Well, maybe I do now!” I retorted, throwing the ball at Noah, and he tossed it back to me.

“Chill man, you are playing like a zombie, something must be going on,” Noah says.

I rolled my eyes, and wasn't particularly in the mood to talk but Link jogged over, like an idiot, “ Is this about Betty again? You have got to let her go, she is just some old, bitter …”

“Can you all just shut the hell up?”I bawled, throwing the pall so hard into Link’s chest that he stumbled backwards. They all looked at me shocked, this was the first time I was crashing out this way.

“There you go again, always defending the Btch!” Link replied, his tone laced with anger, like he had had enough of my bullshit and was only tolerating me because I was his friend. But the only thing I could think of was, was she right about me? Was I just a spoiled rich kid surviving on his father’s money? Wasn’t I special?

“Shut the fuck up Link, and all of you!”I say yelling at them.

“What the hell, man, we are just trying to help you, that’s all!” Matty chipped in, always the peaceful one or maybe just the sensible one but right now I didn’t need anyone’s help, the only person I needed was Betty.

“ Are you deaf or slow? I said I don’t need anyone's help!”

“Okay, you need to calm down before you ruin practice for all of us, some of us are taking this seriously.” Link shot back, he was trying to get me angry but he wasn’t important, none of them were.

“You think I want to be here?” I snarled,” Oh, you think I give two fucks about what any of you have to say about me? News flash, I don’t give a damn.”

“Chill man, you are acting like a fucking psycho, get your shot together!”Noah says, frowning down at me.

“Fuck you, Noah, fuck all of you,” my voice had risen now and I was ready to punch anyone who dared to push me further, but then the coach's whistle cut through the tension like a blade snapping everyone back to order.

“Quiet!” He yelled at the top of his voice. “ Break time, everyone off the court, just a minute's break only and you are back, “ then he paused and stared directly at me,” seems like someone might need it.”

No one said a word, they just walked off, but the silence was beginning to suffocate me, so I grabbed my bag and left, and no one dared to stop me. Was I the douchebag she thinks I am?

I went straight to my red sports car and drove home, my hands gripping the wheel so tight like my life depended on it, rock music blasted through the speakers, this was to keep me from thinking of Betty, and our conversation this morning, but it was impossible, they still played like my favourite song in my head.

How dare she speak about me like she knew me, she didn’t know what I dealt with every single day, the nightmares of my family, the loneliness that ate me deep down. She knew nothing, she just judged the book by its cover. Brat… daddy’s money…”

She assumed Bolton meant big house, big money, and no worries.

She didn’t know I was living in a simulation where my father was the gamer controlling every aspect of my life. She didn’t know I was chasing his dreams, not mine and this was the only way I knew how to cope, by being angry and annoying. Little did she know that she had become my happiness.

Maybe that’s why it hurt, because I thought she would understand, not fully but at least sense the hurt inside of me.

I pulled into the driveway, ignoring the sets of cars, Range Rovers, and super cars, my father has always had a taste for cars. , he had over ten and he still owned others in his other houses but the black SUV the one he liked driving out was parked in its usual spot, he was probably back from one of his urgent meetings.

I stepped into the foyer and the smell of lemon-flavored soap hit me, my gaze landed on Claire,

She looked miserable scrubbing the staircase, she didn’t even notice I was standing staring at her till I cleared my throat loudly, I didn’t want any more conversations just wanted to go to my room.

“Hey, “ she said, glancing up, her face expressionless. “ Welcome back Mr Michael.”

Oh so, we are back to formalities now, huh? But I think it was for the best. I needed the boundaries anyway.

I was halfway up the stairs when I heard the giggles, it was high-pitched, flirty, and disgusting.

I already knew it was, the familiar clicking of tongue, and her heels thudding against the marble floor.

I stopped moving and turned to see Heather.

My father's personal assistant and Whore.

She was descending the stairs with him, hand in hand with my father. Claire left immediately.

They aren’t even trying to hide their relationship, her dress was wrinkled and her lipstick smudged, her hair was disheveled too. A way that had nothing to do with the wind.

As soon as she saw me her laughter ceased and her smile faded away, replaced with this look of guilt, maybe embarrassment because she looked down at the floor, her hands slowly detangling from his.

My father adjusted his cuffs and wore a smug smile, he didn't look too bothered by my presence, or maybe he didn’t care that I almost caught him banging his assistant in his study. Again.

One time, they turned on the speakers to the fullest because she couldn’t stop shouting while he drilled her.

“Hey Michael, you are back already?” He said his tone was too cool for what I caught him doing.

I had nothing good to say so I turned, intent on leaving.

“Good afternoon to you too!” His tone was stern now. I stopped in my tracks. “ How was school today? Did that stupid professor sort out the grade yet?”

I didn’t know when a bitter laughter slipped out of my lips.

“Of course, she says the whole class must retake the test now, because of me, all thanks to you, I hope you are happy."

I could see Heather’s chest rising and falling like she wanted to explode. But I didn’t care.

My father's smile disappeared, “What’s that supposed to mean son? I saved you from an extra year, you should be thankful!”

“Oh please, you just want someone to manage your silly company.”

He let out a tired sigh, like everything I just said was nonsense.

“I’m done listening to your drama, Michael, I have other things to attend to.”

“Yeah, like Heather's vagina!”

“Watch your tongue, boy,” he snarled venom in his tone.

I turned to face Heather, “ Tell me Heather, you were my mother's best friend? Did this happen before or after Mom died? Or was it while she was dying away in the hospital and you were helping him manage things?”

Tears gathered in her eyes, “Michael… that’s not…”

“Enough Michael!” my father yelled, staring at me hard.

I didn’t blink, I couldn’t. I knew he was furious now.

“Or what? What would you do? You would control me like your favourite toy or slap me into silence like you used to?”

And that was when I saw it coming, his hand met my face, hard and stiff.

Silence descended on the room.

I held my cheek, it itched and burned and I stared at him shocked like I was seeing him for the first time.

He looked shocked as well.

Heather wheezed, “Maybe I should go,” she said looking at my father.

“You aren’t going anywhere,” he said, his gaze still on me and that broke me.