Chapter 21 SLOANE
Chapter 21
SLOANE
“Sloane, we’re heading out for an ice cream date, wanna come with?” Rave asked as we packed our bags after lectures.
I shook my head, “Sorry guys, I have plans.” I winked, tucking my laptop and, my books. “I’ll see you at Isaac’s house on Sunday for the mini… what do you call it again?” I tilted my head, waiting for Isaac to respond.
He sighed and shook his head, “Even if I remind you, you’d forget again before Sunday. Just make sure you come.”
I pouted, placing my hands on my chest to fake hurt. “That was mean.”
They laughed.
“Have fun.” Daisy waved as I rushed out of the mansion. My phone buzzed as I rushed towards the vacant taxi by the road. I yanked my phone out of my bag. It’s Jasper.
“Hey friend.” I chimed.
He laughed, “Are you free? Let’s go watch a game today.” he said excitedly over the phone.
“Oh, sorry, Jas.. I have… Plans with mum.” I lied, biting my nails inside the taxi as it drove me back to the mansion.
Jasper sighed. Silence.
“Jas, are you there?” I called out.
“You’ve been barely around this last week. You were either at school or hanging out with your new friends which I still have a hard time believing.” He muffled.
My brows arched, “What do you mean you’re having a hard time believing I have friends?”
He scoffed, I could hear him walking around somewhere. Was he home?
“Because you don’t like sharing your space with people. If you said you made one friend then I might believe but three? That’s a stretch.”
I don’t like sharing my space. Where did he come to that conclusion? Did he forget the reason I was timid? The reason I didn't put myself out there?
“Daisy, Rave, and Isaac, those are their names,” I grunted.
“Hey feisty, I didn't mean to offend you, I just… Am I jealous okay? You spend more time with them than with me these days. It’s not fair… I am your best friend, no?” I heard that low whimper in his voice.
My eyes slammed shut for a while, fingers running through my hair. He talked about Daisy, Rave, and Isaac in a way that sounded like they were my imaginary friends. He calls himself my best friend but never agrees to do a single thing that I want.
“Then, should we go to a sing-along show?” I asked, finger fidgeting. I already knew what his answer would be but a part of me wanted to try again. Who knows.
“The one with people singing at the top of their voices?” I asked.
“Yes, that one?”
“But you don’t like that kind of space,” he said, confident.
“What if I do?”
“No you don’t, you’re probably saying that because those new friends of yours want to go. You just want to feel among. If you want to sing along, I can take you to a small restaurant that sings, listen to the live band, or something.” He said nonchalantly.
I sat in the car, silently, eyes buried in my hands sitting on my palm.
“What if I want to go because I want to go.” I persisted, maybe he would take a hint and surrender for me, his best friend.
“That’s not possible. It’s not safe. And I am sure you’re going to hate it. Besides, those places will reek of sweat, people will get sweaty and ridiculously loud. Nope! We’re not going.” he blurted, stern with no room for consideration.
This is it. The reason I hide my true self from him. That judgy tone of his. That ridiculous reasoning that he pushes on me.
Jasper is not a bad person, just self-centered to a degree, a degree that rarely affects me.
I sighed, “You’re right… I gotta go, I have plans.” I ended the call before he responded and tucked the phone into my bag.
I could feel my brain ticking, the rage flowing through me. I want to cuss him out so bad.
What? He knows me?
How the hell can you claim that you know and you don’t know that I love loud music? Even Isaac and the girls whom I met barely over a month ago can already tell the kind of music I like and the sort of beer I drink.
What? I am only saying it to feel among? That motherfucking… ah!!!! It’s been a while since I felt this angry.
“Ma’am, we are here.” The driver called my attention.
Oh!
I completely forgot I was in a taxi.
I stepped out, paid for the ride, and made my way home.
There is only one reason, behind my sudden interest in ditching my friends and rushing home. Xaden!
And no, I am not sneaking around with him… how do I explain this, I have been stalking him.
I took Daisy’s words seriously. If I can’t beat him at his game, then I'd better join him, and what better way to join him than sneaking around until I find some dirt to threaten him with?
It’s been a week. I return him early to stalk him, watch everything he does, and wait for him to slip up a bit.
On the first day I tried, Xaden was mostly in his room, working. He probably didn't expect me to be by his window watching him, with my hair tied up, dressed in a black fitted cargo and a baseball cap. He was mostly on business calls and meetings or he was reading files while listening to slow music.
The second day, he came home late from work, and even while he was home, this man was still working.
Xaden did everything like the default. He never did anything aside from work whenever he stepped into his room. It was like, he had gotten so used to it that there was nothing more he could do.
I heard from my mum once that Xaden’s company, which originally belonged to his father was on the verge of being auctioned because of debts, they were going to declare bankruptcy but somehow, Xaden managed to get that company moving again. Making it one of the top three richest companies in the country. Calling Xaden a billionaire would be an insult. He was beyond rich. Because his company was not just in the top three or top two, it is the very first name on the chart.
But that doesn't mean I’d give up on finding dirt on this man. I need something to blackmail him with.
And today seems to be that day, because not only is he wearing casual fit, but he is driving his BMW and not his Mercedes.
It’s time to follow him around.