LIA POV
“Oh my goodness! What are you doing here?!” I screamed, turning on my bedside lamp. Fred was sitting by the side of my bed, his hands trailing my leg to my hips.
“Felt you wouldn't wake up,” he said as if he was drunk then he held my hand. I withdrew my hand from his and made to stand up from the bed. “You're drunk. You should leave,” I said.
“No, I'm not. I went to a friend's party, was given a task so I had to come home early,” he said. He was obviously drunk but still conscious though.
“Early at 1am? You're drunk. I'll help you to your room. Let me get the maid,” I said but he grabbed my hand back and threw me back on the bed.
“I said I'm not drunk! When I was at my friend's party, we played a truth and dare game. They all knew that I was in love with you so —,” he said and hiccuped in between.
In love with me? Felt that word was used by lovers. He's probably ranting because he was drunk so I discarded what he had said and dragged him off the bed.
“You're drunk, brother. You need to leave. I've got school tomorrow,” I said.
“Stop calling me that. I'm not your brother. I'm a man with feelings. My name is Fred. That's what you should call me. As I was saying, my friends knew that I liked you so they dared me to have sex with you,” he said.
My eyes were wide open as he said those last words. “Have sex with me?! They are all crazy! How could they think of such an abomination! You should stop being friends with them. They're not good people,” I said.
“Of course, they are. You're the bad one here. You keep hiding from me after seducing me,” he said.
“You must be hallucinating,” I said and stood up from the bed despite his strong hand holding me back. He stood upright and approached me, “I'm not drunk, Lia. I'm aware of what I'm doing. Now, be a good girl and hop on the bed. It'll be over in a few minutes,” he said.
“You must be crazy and stupid. I'll never do anything with you,” I said and before he could get a hold of me, I ran out of the room. My heart was beating like crazy. I wanted to hide from it all. I could feel the weight of his words piercing my soul. Sleep with me? He was conscious and still said that. I must be dreaming. Someone should wake me up, I thought as I ran to the wine cellar and hid there. I sneaked into my room the next morning and got ready for school. Unknown to me, he was already at the entrance of the house, by the car, ready to drive me to school.
“I asked the driver to leave. I'll be your driver for the day, ready to do whatever you want or take you to wherever you please. I'm at your service,” he said and bowed. He was such a pretender.
“I'd rather walk to school than have you drive me,” I said and made to leave but Pat's voice stopped me.
“And why would you prefer that? Don't tell me you two are already at loggerheads with each other,” he said.
“No Dad. How can I ever be at loggerheads with my sweet sister,” he said, gawking at me. I scoffed and looked away.
“Can I follow you instead Father?” I asked.
“I'm afraid you can't. I have a meeting in a few minutes. Let Fred take you instead. I can’t have any member of my family walking the streets,” he said and left. I bit my lower lips because I wanted to cry. He was right. He was a public figure so I could not be walking the streets when news just got out recently that he had adopted me.
“This way, princess,” Fred said with a wicked grin. I breathed in deeply then stepped into the car.
“You know you can't avoid me for so long, right,” he said on our way to school. I didn't say a word nor did I look his way. My eyes were fixated on the car window in front of me.
“I’m not as patient as you might think. I want the cookie today. If you try to run off again, I'll make sure that I snare you in every disgusting trap possible. I'll take everything from you. You'll return to the slum you came from. You can trust my word for it,” he said with an expressionless face. I turned to face him but he kept his eyes on the road.
“Why are you doing this? I'm your sister!” I cried.
He parked the car abruptly by the side of the road and faced me. “ You're not my sister. I don't know what my parents were thinking to adopt a shabby girl like you. You better cooperate and give me what I want or I'll make your life a living hell,” he said, started the car and we drove off.
My mind was not at peace the moment I got back to the Richardson house after school. I was so troubled that I almost got hit by a car right inside the compound. My fears manifested in the night when everyone was asleep. Dad and mum were not home which left me and Fred alone. The maids were not anywhere near so there was no one to save. Fred walked in majestically into my room and ordered me to lie down. At first, I was stubborn. I opposed with all my night and even screamed loudly but he was so prepared for me. He had turned on a loud music right there in my room so it would seem I was studying or partying. In a swift moment, he held me captive on the bed, tearing my cloths like a lion rushing to devour an antelope.
THE PRESENT
It was a foolish thing to hope that there was a savior somewhere who would rescue me from the Richardson. I was cornered on all sides. It was my reality even though I denied it whenever I was with Greg. I wished Greg could save me. I longed to be saved.
The cab driver parked right in front if my apartment. Pat stood akimbo as if he was ready to engage in combat.
“You've grown so much wings because I let you live here on your own, right?” he said, his head obviously on fire from all that anger.
“I'm sorry, sir,” was all I could muster courage to utter. He had my life in his hands so I could not cross him. I was dumb to refuse him the previous day. While I was swimming in my thoughts, a dazing slap landed on my face, right there, in front of the whole neighborhood. I wondered how many people saw him slap me.