It's fair to say Papa Knight and I started off on the wrong foot. I'm glad he didn't take my overreaction personally or let it stand in the way of what I was beginning to realize could turn out to be a wonderful relationship.
Did I wish things had been different?
Of course. I'm a daddy's girl I'd come to learn in the short time I've gotten to know him. All my life I've wanted this. I'm not going to mess it up. Already the seed of hope had sprung. A happy little image of us had formed in my mind and I would let nothing and no one get in the way of the life I was now aiming for.
Now I know you're wondering, did step-monster and her spawns warm up to me, and we all became one big happy family.
Hell no. Those three hated me like poison. And poor me, didn't understand at the time how deep of a cesspool I'd stepped into agreeing to share a roof with these people. The whole family's power hungry, archaic in their ways, and fight like dogs over the simplest disagreement. But I will say this, when it came to having each other's backs against an enemy, you'll not find a more tightly knit bunch.
I was an anomaly, a question mark in their ranks. Being under Papa Knight's protection meant no one dared step out of line. They may stare, turned to curdled milk whenever I walked by, yet they kept their thoughts to themselves.
Shit, they didn't talk to me at all. You'd think I'd care.
Please.
After the past couple weeks I've had, dealing with the greatest loss of my life. Nope, I was done with the pity party. When Papa Knight said Alana would set me up with everything I needed, he was not lying.
By the next morning, I had an account in my name with more money than I ever dreamed of having, a new phone, new car, and a closet full of 'seasonal' wear. Every damned thing tailored to fit me to a T, all from name brand houses, some of which I've never heard of. I won't even start on the shoes.
My princess suite came with a canopied bed, on-suite bathroom and two walk-in closets. One was strictly for my precious darlings. As if, Papa knew my weakness and thought what better way to spoil me than to enable my shoe addiction.
What was a bitch to do? For the first time in my life, I had everything I could want at my fingertips, nowhere to go and no one to share it with. Fleetingly, I thought of calling up some numbers, see who answered. The urge quickly died when I realized, not a single person on that list of contacts deserved my attention.
Materialistic-wise I had no complaints, but a bitch was lonely. I'm a social butterfly. After a week padding around that big ass mansion, I needed an outlet. Figured I'd spent some of that energy getting to know Bash. Only, the bastard had either been warned to stay away from me, or he kept a crazy busy schedule.
I'd heard, more than seen, Calista throughout the week, barking at the unfortunate woman hired to plan the wretch's birthday party. I didn't know much about the event. Didn't care much about it either. If not for Alana, the day would have come and gone without my knowing. Unfortunately, I was expected to attend.
"We need to go shopping," I shouted loud enough for Alana to hear me over the racket she was making in the closet arraigning my things.
Seconds later she stood in the wide mouth of the doorway. Tablet in hand and eyes wide as a curious baby experiencing a new sensation, waiting for me to add to her 'Get Hollis' list.
"Put the tablet away," I waved off.
Of course she didn't listen to me. Some companion she was. On my first night I'd learned in the time it took her to walk me from the foyer to my suite; she was eighteen, an orphan and became a charge of the Knight's estate at six. The Head Housekeeper Maude raised her and five other charges of the estate.
Don't ask. I keep telling myself this is rich people shit I have no business feeling one way or the other about. She seemed happy, proud even to be my companion.
Actually, her exact words were 'it's a privilege and honour' to serve me. I don't begrudge her, though maybe I should. At eighteen, she spoke three different languages, had completed her post-grad education, was gainfully employed and happy with the trajectory of her life. Whereas I was an unemployed, college dropout.
Yeah, I needed to get my shit together. Money was no longer the problem, so you can bet your ass I'm enrolling in the fall. Until then I planned on spending time with the old man and have a little fun while getting to know him.
"What was it you wanted me to get?"
"I don't want you to get me anything." I jumped up and pushed to the edge of my bed. "Calista's birthday is when again?"
"End of October."
Real scare queen, that one. "It's a masquerade isn't it." The girl, nodded. "Well, I don' have a costume."
"Oh," Alana let out a nervous little chuckle. "No worries; your gown was ordered weeks ago."
Presumptuous, no?
"What about the mask?" I was itching to get out and do something, even if it was to go and buy a chocolate bar.
The mansion was tomb quiet during the day and a hive of activity as soon as dusk cloaked the sky in grey.
"That too."
"Jeez Alana, I'm going crazy looking at these walls. What about you, is there something you want."
Her eyes bugged at the suggestion. "N-no. Oh, no." she sputtered.
"Oh, come on. My treat, swear. Anything you want. Where do you hang for fun, when you're not working?"
"I usually stick close to home," she mumbled sheepishly.
"God," I groaned, seconds away from doing something impulsive.
I needed stimulation. Excitement. Or I might just scream for the hell of it.
Alana nibbled on her bottom lip, deep in thought. She looked from me to the closed double doors and back, as if she suspected someone was on the other side listening in on our conversation.
"Well," she began inching closer, voice dropping to a whisper. "There is…" shaking her, she quickly changed her mind. "I shouldn't."
"Tell me or I'm telling Papa Knight you're mean to me and it's not working out between us."
Say nothing. I'm aware, I'm ridiculous.
Snapping her mouth shut, Alana huffed. "That's not fair."
"Allie baby, life's not fair. Now spill."
Releasing her breath, she slumped down on the bed next to me. "I've always wanted to go clubbing."
"Say less." I jumped up, excited. "I know just the place."
Hopping off the bed Alana followed me into the closet. "Really?" She bit her lip falling silent in thought again.
I sized her up and did some mental calculation. She was about six inches taller than my five-three frame. So, I skipped the pants section and veered straight to a rack of maxi dresses.
Other than our height difference we were roughly the same size. Maybe we'd run into a little trouble with the bust, I thought as I flicked through the dresses. My breasts were considerably larger than hers. Never mind being a staunch member of the itty-bitty community, the girl had a behind that'd stop traffic.
"There's just one thing," she said straightening her spine as I placed a dress up against her frame.
"Nah," I dismissed, and tossed the dress, not liking the colour on her. "What's the thing?" I pressed, reaching for another.
Alana hurried to pick up the dress off the bench where it landed and hung it up. I should be more considerate.
"We have to be back by midnight."
"Girl the best party don't pop off until after midnight."
"Hollis, promise me."
She's eighteen, Hollis, I reminded myself. Of course she had a curfew. Which meant club Heat, my original plan, was out of the question. "Alright Cinderella, I promise. Midnight, we're out of there."
"No." She giggled at my antics. "We're home by midnight."
Not a problem. I knew just the place for us to get into a little trouble.