Chapter 25: Whore

“Now that ice-cream has finally calmed you down how about we head upstairs to work on our project?” she asked as she made her way out through the corridor and into the lavish living room.

My mood has officially been ruined for the day after the episode I had earlier, and I won’t lie, ice cream considerably helped calm my mood down, but it wasn’t enough to put a smile on my face.

I had merely accepted that there was no running away from my doom and facing it bravely might lessen the pain.

On receiving a nod of affirmation from me she gave me a smile in hopes of making up for my lack of enthusiasm.

“Let’s go then, I have already found a few ideas which we can work on. Don’t forget we need to submit it tomorrow; I say we should immediately get to it,” She said while striding directly towards the wide floating stairs attached to the wall leading to the second floor.

As the first floor, the second floor also was decorated extravagantly. The place was so well maintained that I could see my reflection on the white floor tiles.

The corridor consisted of famous costly paintings hanging on the walls which was a distinct hobby of Denise. I didn’t even know half of the names of these painting and their painters but I knew enough to know that their costs were somewhere around in millions.

There were five doors in this floor, two on each side and one at the end. The first door on our left led to a recreation room, the one beside it led to Denise’s room. While the first door on my right was a shared office used by both Ryan and Denny and the second door beside it led to Ryan’s room.

The last door at the end headed to an outdoor roof pool.

And then she says that this is one of the cheapest penthouses in this area!

I felt myself relaxing after entering her room. Even though it was big enough to fit my whole apartment in it, it had a cozy feel to it.

Baby pink color adorned her walls but it didn’t look like a little girl’s room, not when it was entirely decorated in the Old Victorian theme with antique chandelier and large burgundy curtains framing a wide window through which sun rays entered and glowed in a way causing the room to be filled in a soft pinkish hue.

I dashed towards her grand king-sized bed and with a leap jumped on it falling face first into its cloud like texture. This bed had the ability to make me forget about all my worries and stay in sweet, sweet dreamland.

If only I could sleep in this bed and never wake up.

“Stop molesting my bed and bring your ass here,” Denise shouts from somewhere inside her extensive closet.

Grumbling I remove myself from the floral comforter and skipped across the crimson carpeted floor to the closet.

This huge space probably held more than hundred different outfits and shoes. One whole side was dedicated to the clothes while the other side divided into two parts held all sorts of shoes and accessories.

It was probably every girl’s heaven.

She was at the far end of it near the big dressing table which had a mirror with lights surrounding it giving off a professional salon feel. Sitting on the plush seat in front of it with all the things we needed to create some new eye make-up looks, for our project she looked at me impatiently while I took my time reaching her.

“So, I have got everything ready and I think we should start with this metallic green geometric triangles look,” She said quickly delving into the work, as soon as I was in her vicinity, while showing me a picture similar to what she was describing.

I really liked how passionate she became with any task at hand, giving it her hundred percent. It was one of the reasons why she would become a successful business woman to take after her dad’s place.

My nose scrunched as soon as that man’s thought came to my mind.

Jacob Scott was a man of few words and a cold-hearted businessman. He rarely ever spoke to anyone besides business and was almost always unavailable, even for his own daughter.

The few times he had spoken to me was enough to last me a lifetime and if it was possible even an eternity would be less if I had to meet that man again, at least not after what last happened.

“That would certainly look beautiful but how about we take this back to my place?” My mood a bit dampened by the remembrance of vile events causing me to uncontrollably let the words tumble out.

“Nope, you promised me that we’ll finish this at my house and that’s exactly what we are going to do,” She declared, leaving no place for any arguments, as she had me sit down in front of the mirror.

“But I don’t have a green color shade currently, at least let me go back and bring some,” I tried bargaining with her casting a pleading look at her.

It was pathetic how much I let few past memories and words govern my actions.

“That exact shade along with many others is kept right in front of you Scar; you don’t need to bring anything when we can use these,” She screeched a bit frustrated knowing where this conversation is going again.

When she didn’t get a response out of me, she made a weird grunting noise while mumbling something to herself.

“Are you seriously again thinking about that? It has been two years since that incident happened! Scar, forget about it! You know I don’t think of you like that,” She condemned looking at me through the mirror.

I knew that and I have been constantly working on it for the past two years but sometimes it just triggers on itself.

I bit my lip as the words her father had said to me echoed in my head.

Fake friend.

Gold digger.

Whore.

I am not those things!

I wanted to scream this at his face.

I knew I weren’t, but when a high-profile man like Jacob Scott defiled you with his words it was meant to make you hurt.

He had thrown serious accusations at me when I had been once over at their house, back in high school, when he got to know that his daughter had thrown a birthday party at his house, for me.

He hadn’t been there for more than ten minutes but in that he had already decided that I was using Denise for just her money. I hadn’t even expected Denise to throw me a party, I had always refused one, but it had been a surprise gift on her part.

Easy to say my eighteenth birthday had been a memorable one.

It is why I try to stay away from rich people as much as possible. I couldn’t stand up for myself back then, too much in shock as he insulted me in front of everyone attending that party.

Thankfully, not much gossip spread as people knew the depth of our friendship way better than him but it wasn’t enough to stop the horrible rumors from spreading by the people who hated me.

It worked as a free pass to let them torment me and degrade me in their own petty ways. My senior year was definitely a happening one. I wasn’t a weak person and would never go down without a fight but everything involved together created a complex in me.

Alex had also taken a brunt of the side effects caused by this incident. On many occasions I mistook his kindness for something else but I couldn’t let anyone ever accuse me again of seducing someone for their money.

Denise was a girl for crying out loud!

Didn’t he at least know that his daughter was perfectly straight?

“Yeah I know. It’s just that I don’t want to give your dad another chance to accuse me of being that,” I sighed giving her an apologetic look.

“You don’t need to worry about that I told you I cleared things out with him after the party. He will never accuse you of something again,” I just smiled at her, not wanting to mention the cold eyes full of hatred, that had been shot my way at the few occasions I had been unfortunate to meet him, after the incident.

I had come a long way from back then, I was much more accepting of when Denise tried to buy or do something for me.

She even laid out a detailed plan to help me get over it. It certainly helped me, and we slowly dropped all the rules except the one where she brings coffee for me in the morning.

The morning coffees were her ideas of instilling in me that normal friends showed care in many ways and if it led to spending some money then so be it.

“You know what? You are right. I am done being weak and I am not afraid of your dad,” I said putting on a fake smile.

Fake it till you make it!

I chanted that in my mind reminding me that I can get over it easily and with Denise by my side he wouldn’t actually try harming me.

“That’s the Scarlet I know and love! I am here with you and for you forever,” She giggled and hug me from behind while swaying slightly making me sway with her.

I looked at her through the mirror to see her eyes shining with genuine happiness and I guess that was enough for me to boost me up. I couldn’t let fear control my life and affect others.

My previous burdening emotions were already too much for today and digging another old grave right now would certainly do no good to anyone.

I guess trusting Denny would be best for the both of us right now.

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Illustris ❤