Chapter 21 The Price of Obedience
Gustav stepped into the mansion and tossed his keys onto the table by the front door. A row of hooks hung nearby, one with his name engraved above it. He never actually used them, yet every morning, he’d find his keys hanging there perfectly. That was just how this house worked. Everything had a specific spot, and the staff made sure the world looked exactly how Madam Dorcie expected it to.
To Gustav, it never felt like a home. He preferred Dalton's place. Even with servants rushing around there to clean up messes, Dalton's house felt lived-in and comfortable. This mansion felt like a museum — stiff, cold, and not meant for actual use. There were even things in his own bedroom he wasn't allowed to touch. Weird, isn't it?
"Ah, there you are." A woman stepped out of the dining hall, dressed in a sharp black Armani suit and a crisp white blouse. She was busy sliding a diamond earring into place, her dark hair pulled back into a tight, flawless bun.
"Gustavo," she said, using the full name he absolutely hated. "You didn't come home last night. I called the Murphys, but they said you weren't there."
"I picked up a girl at a club and went home with her," Gustav answered. He knew she wasn't really listening anyway.
His mother began sorting through a stack of mail on the table, absentmindedly moving his keys from the tabletop to their designated hook. "Doesn't matter. You’re here now." She waved a hand dismissively. "Kordell Industries is hosting a gathering. You’ve met Mr. Kordell before, haven't you? His two daughters are single. I haven't seen the oldest in a while — I hear she’s been traveling through Europe — but she should be back soon."
"Is there a point to this, Mother?"
She looked up, her gaze sharpening. "Do you realize what it would mean for our business if you married one of them? Especially the eldest; she’s the heiress. You should aim for her. You have a way with women, Gustavo. I’m sure it wouldn't be a difficult feat for you. Besides, both girls have modeled. I’m sure they’ll suit your tastes."
Gustav kept his face like stone, fighting the urge to roll his eyes.
"To be honest, I doubt Kordell would see you as marriage material for his daughters," she continued, her tone turning blunt. "We look like paupers next to him. However, if you could find your way into her bed…"
"Mother!"
She looked surprised by his shout but didn't stop. "Anyway, before I was so rudely interrupted... if you could get the girl pregnant, Kordell would have no choice but to allow the marriage." She offered a small, cold grin as she dropped the mail back onto the table. "It’s sneaky, and I’m sure a man as smart as Kordell would see through it eventually. But you just have to keep it quiet until the girl is madly in love with you."
"I won't do it," he answered, with a sound of protest in his tone.
She pressed her lips together. "Yes, yes. I know you have a soft spot for the poor, but these girls could save our business. With the economy struggling, people are going bankrupt every day. Don’t you want to help your family?"
"Yes, but not by trapping a girl with a baby!"
She rolled her eyes. "You’ll fall in love with her, I’m sure. I hear they’re charming and beautiful. Like I said, they’re models." She began muttering the rest to herself, lost in her own plans.
Gustav watched her, feeling a familiar weight in his chest. At a distance, his mother looked kind and elegant. But the moment she spoke, that illusion vanished — unless, of course, the person she was talking to had more money than she did. The wealthier someone was, the nicer she became. Kordell was clearly at the top of her list.
Kordell Industries was a titan. They owned a massive share of the world’s oil, car companies, and the largest shipyards on the planet. On top of that, they had moved into high-end technology and were securing massive government military contracts. When his mother called them wealthy, she was actually understating it.
Gustav realized she was staring at him, waiting for a reply to something he hadn't heard. "What?"
She sighed, annoyed. "Go get dressed. You have an hour."
Instead, Gustav reached out, snatched his keys off the wall, and headed for the door.
"Where are you going?" his mother screamed as the door slammed shut.
He ran down the steps to his black Bentley Azure and vaulted into the driver's seat from the top down.
"Gustavo Clet Dorcie!" she yelled, sprinting down the stairs as the engine roared to life. She reached in and grabbed his arm. "Get out of this car and go change into something decent!"
"I’m not going! You can’t use me to make yourself richer! I’m a human being, for God's sake!" He snapped, jerking his arm away.
He slammed his foot on the pedal and peeled away. His mother jumped back, watching him speed down the long driveway. In the rearview mirror, he could see the fury in her eyes. He knew there would be a price to pay. The last time he defied her, she froze his credit cards and locked him out of the house. She’d do it again to prove he couldn't survive without her money. By tomorrow morning, she’d probably send someone to Dalton's house to repossess the car. He was about to be broke.
He knew he’d eventually have to apologize and admit defeat. He felt bad already, knowing he’d have to mooch off Dalton again. Dalton was generous, but everyone had their limits. With a heavy sigh, Gustav pulled into Dalton's driveway. He wasn't looking forward to explaining why he was back so soon.
Gustav walked into the large, white living room to find Dalton sprawled out on the couch, staring at his phone.
"Your mother called, and she said that I shouldn't give you a place to stay," Dalton mumbled without looking up.
Gustav sat in a chair near the couch. He always wondered why Dalton spent so much time staring at a blank TV screen. He’d been doing it since they were twelve. In the nine years they’d been friends, Gustav had never actually seen that TV turned on, even though Dalton upgraded it to a newer model twice a year.
"Are you asking me to leave?" Gustav asked, propping his feet on the coffee table.
"Nope," Dalton muttered.
Gustav smiled. Dalton could be a real jerk — he'd been in fights with everyone in their friend group and had even put their friend Blake in the hospital once. He got angry over nothing and rarely showed he cared about anyone. Yet, he was always the first one to help when things went south, even if he complained the whole time.
"Where is everyone?" Gustav asked.
Dalton looked around as if he’d just realized he was alone. "They were here a minute ago."
Gustav called Blake. "Hey, where are you guys?"
"We went to that café where that girl works," Blake answered. "Dalton is in one of his moods, so we tried to get her to come over, but she’d already finished her shift."
"Dalton said you guys were just here."
Blake laughed. "We left three hours ago, man. We stopped for food first. Like I said, he’s in a fog. He’s not really there."
"Are you coming back?"
"Yeah, we'll be there in a bit."
Gustav hung up. "They’re on their way. They actually left hours ago, by the way."
"Oh," Dalton replied. There was a long silence before he spoke again. "What got you kicked out this time?"
The sound of an engine starting drifted in from the driveway. Gustav stood up and moved to the window. He watched through the curtains as a driver steered his Bentley through the main gates.
"She wants me to knock up one of the Kordell daughters so they’re forced to let me marry into the family."
"That’s pretty low," Dalton said, his voice flat. "You should have just gone to the party and pretended to try. Then just find something you 'dislike' about the girls. That’s what I do when my mom tries to set me up."
Gustav sat back down with a chuckle. "But you don't like anything anyone does. You don't like much of anything at all."
"I like some things."
"Like what?"
Dalton didn't move. "Whatever she likes, I’ll like too," he murmured.
Gustav went quiet, realizing what this was about. He remembered Blake mentioning something about a girl named Mayzie the day before. "She? You mean your charity case?"
Dalton didn't answer. He didn't have to.
Gustav shook his head, a grin spreading across his face. Dalton couldn't go five minutes without bringing her up lately. Before they even officially met her, Dalton used to stare at her. He’d even make the guys take the long way to lunch just so he could see her on the stairs.
"What’s so great about her?" Gustav asked.
"Everything. I like being around her, even when she’s mad at me," Dalton said softly. "She doesn't have that fake, money-hungry look in her eyes. When she looks at me, she just sees me."
"I think she mostly sees someone she hates because of your money," Gustav pointed out.
"Doesn't matter how she feels right now." A flash of intensity entered Dalton's voice. "I won't stop until she wants me as much as I want her."
"Wants? You mean like... desire?"
"I mean everything. Love, lust, whatever. I want her to feel exactly what I feel."
Gustav smiled. "You’re a strange guy, Dalton."
"Am I?"
"Yeah. A great friend, but definitely strange."
Dalton smirked. "I know what I want."
"I just hope you know what you're getting into," Gustav said, his voice turning serious. "Winning her over is the easy part. She doesn't want to be bought, and you’re not exactly easy to befriend. Plus, your family isn't going to want their heir marrying a girl with no money or status. You're both going to hit a wall."
Dalton nodded, his messy hair falling over his eyes. "I know. It took me a year to decide I was willing to deal with that. Once I prove to her that I'm serious, I think a girl like her will be brave enough to face it with me."
"We're back!" Blake shouted as he and the twins walked in.
The room went quiet.
"Figure out what’s wrong with our brooding friend?" Blake asked, slapping Dalton on the shoulder.
"Just a case of love sickness," Gustav said, standing up. "I’m going to go use the bathroom."