Chapter 4

DREW.

"So how's work going? " my mom asked.

I'd been here just ten minutes and I already regretted being persuaded by my mom to come here.

"You've asked me that before. " I killed my mom's hope of starting a conversation.

Chase threw a french fry at me. I gave him a look. He sighed.

My Dad ignored me totally. Asking Chase questions about work and about his personal life, not because he cared but because he wanted to make me jealous. I couldn't, for the life of me, be jealous because I wouldn't want that man anywhere near my personal business.

"Oh, that reminds me. Deanna Johnson said to say hello to you. " my mom smiled.

"Of course she did. " my voice dripped sarcasm.

"She's a nice young lady. " she added.

"I could give a fuck if she invented the cure for cancer. I have no interest in her. "

Mom paled.

My father snapped, "You will treat your mother with respect, you mannerless swine. "

I smirked. Finally. "Like how you treat her? "

"She deserves better than you. " he spat, his face red.

I knew he had been looking for an in to go apeshit on me, he always did. And I liked to push him.

"That's rich coming from you. You treat her like shit. "

"You're a disgrace to this family. I honestly wish your mother hadn't kept you. "

Chase stared at his plate and my mom tried to get my dad to shut up.

"Now that's okay, Thomas. " but he wasn't done.

"You're not fit to be a Rutledge. I wish I never had you. "

I flinched inside but outside, I kept a blank face. He wasn't going to get a reaction out of me. I knew better than to show him it hurt because he would feed off it and strike again. He always searched for a weak spot in me.

I got up silently. The damage was done. I had no reason to stay any longer.

"Have a good day, Mom. " I could see her lower lip trembling but I was way past caring. I blamed her for bringing me into this world through the pile of waste that was my father. I loathed him. He was like a sickness, his presence ate at me.

Stand up to him, my eyes said. But of course she didn't. She would never.

I left without sparing a glance at Chase. He was an asshole. I knew he couldn't have stood up to Dad for fear he would ruin their "precious" relationship but I was mad at him. Don't ask me why, even I don't know.

I couldn't go home like this. So instead, I went to a high profile bar where people wouldn't care much about my presence. I took a seat at a secluded corner and sipped my drink. I polished off the glass in no time and asked the bartender to give me the whole bottle of the drink. He did this without batting an eye, after all, there were worse orders.

As I drank straight from the bottle, I noticed a girl staring at me. She got up, sauntering towards me. I ran my eyes over her. She was a brunette, tall with moderate curves. She sat in front of me.

"Hey handsome. " she purred and I disliked her instantly. Too much sugar.

She raked her nails down my thigh and if she was hoping to get a reaction out of me, she failed. Her smile wilted but it was only for a second.

She sidled closer, "Not much of a talker, are you? "

You seem to be doing all the talking just fine.

She lowered her voice, "You look bored. Mind if I keep you company? " she gave me a carefully practiced sexy look that did nothing for me.

I thought about it. I was obviously in a bad mood and needed to let off some steam but I wondered if it was a good idea to take her with me. Would she leak my location? Did she want money or just a good fuck? Giving how desperate she was, I leaned toward the former. That worked for me.

"Come. " I said just one word and she practically leaped out of her chair. With the level of enthusiasm she showed, my suspicion was confirmed. She was in it for the money.

When we got to the hotel, she started a striptease. I shook my head. "Stop. " she frowned, "Come here. " I crooked my finger. Her breath hitched.

She cat walked over and stood between my legs. Exactly where I wanted her but not quite how I wanted her.

"Suck my cock. "

She blinked, "What? "

"Take out my dick and -"

"I heard you the first time. " she said quickly, her face turning a nice shade of red. You'd think with the way she propositioned me, she didn't have a shy bone in her body.

"Then what are you waiting for? " I raised a brow.

She blushed some more, "I just thought maybe ... " she sputtered, I raised my second brow, "y-you'd go down on me first and... "

I hooded my eyes and licked my lips. The look worked as I expected. She dropped to her knees and loosened my belt so fast you'd think she was unwrapping a gift. She bared me, sucking in a breath at my size.

I watched her with mild interest as she started licking me like a lollipop. Five minutes passed. Ten. Fifteen. And she was still blowing me. I admired her enthusiasm, really. Mentally, I checked out ten minutes ago. I had to hand it to her -she gave lousy head.

Growing impatient, I grabbed her hair and she started panting, then I fucked her throat the way I wanted to. Hard and rough. I imagined she had grey eyes and in an instant, I came.

I pushed her away before she could right herself and she fell face down on the bed. As I tucked myself into my trousers, she pushed off the bed and j saw cum leaked from her mouth on the bed. What a mess.

I turned away from her, dropping two thousand on the dresser as I made for the door.

"You're leaving? " I heard confusion in her voice.

"You're observant. "

She got up from the bed and walked to me, thrusting her breasts out for good major. She ran a finger down the front of my shirt, "You sure you don't want to stay? I'll make it worth your while. "

"Doubt it. But by all means you can call someone else to fuck you if that's what you want. " her eyes widened in shock, "I paid for the night. "

"Oh my God, you're such an asshole." I gave her a look, collecting my phone. "I hope you rot in hell, bastard." she yelled.

"Get in line. " I deadpanned.

All of a sudden, she panicked, "B-but you can't just leave me like that. How do -"

"Check the dresser. "

As I opened the door, I heard her gasp. "Two thousand? " then she transformed into a siren, you'd be shocked how many personalities she hid behind her make up. "You know, we could hook up sometime, if you need my number -"

I shook my head. Women. "I don't. "

I left the hotel with the secretary doing everything she could to get my attention. Everyone knew me here. Why? Because this was Chase's hotel. His inheritance from my father. And whaddya know? Dad happily gave it over to him but couldn't give me mine.

I drove to the Penthouse, my mood sour. I hated that whats-your-face couldn't make me come in twenty minutes but I came in a second when I pictured it was Kate's lips around my cock.

I stagerred into my apartment, intent on going to the kitchen. I blindly reached for a glass and I placed it under a faucet, swallowing gulps of water. My vision was blurry as I made my way to my bedroom. I needed to sleep and in order to sleep, I needed my pills. I opened my drawer, took my pill bottle out and swallowed one dry. Fuck it. I took another one then slammed the bottle closed.

Every muscle in my body screamed at me to sleep but for some reason, I couldn't resist going to my bathroom and standing in front of the mirror.

I looked at myself, really looked, as much as my drunken state would let me. Green eyes stared back at me. I had dark hair like my Dad's and a stubbled square jaw, due to the fact that I hadn't shaved in two days. I asked myself what I saw.

I saw a six-foot-three man with tan skin and green eyes that had seen too much in this world. I saw the splitting image of my father. I saw what the whole world saw and I saw the truth hidden in my lie.

I looked away from the mirror and stripped, leaving just my briefs on.

I checked my phone to see if I had any messages or missed calls. None. I plugged it and plopped down on my bed, I could feel the drugs kicking in already. I thought about my family, then work then Kate, who also classified as work because that was what she was -a pending deal. Nothing more.

My lids became heavy and I succumbed to sleep, hoping that tomorrow, I wouldn't remember much of what happened today.

I had no such luck.

Kate.

The nose was coming off great, the eyes -not so much. I'd cleaned and erased several times but there was still something missing, something otherworldly about the eyes that I couldn't get just right.

I sighed in frustration then dropped my sketch pad on the table. I stared at the drawing, questioning myself for the fifteenth time why I was making a sketch of my boss. The answer was simple, yet complicated.

Simple answer : I doodled on my spare time.

Complicated answer : I don't know why it had to be a drawing of him.

I stretched and leaned back in my hand-me-down couch. I'd gotten it at a rare price and it was one of my most valued possessions.

Today was a lazy day for me. I'd done my laundry then watched a movie on the new TV I bought with my first paycheck. Being so lonely now, had me thinking about how bad I needed friends. I didn't hang out anymore with the snobby friends I used to have after I realized they only hung out with me because I came from a rich family.

My phone beeped. I picked it up from the table and checked who it was. It was a message from Bailey.

Where are you?

Home, why? . I shot back.

Can I come over? Two more minutes doing nothing, you'll be getting an invite to my funeral.

I laughed. This girl.

I'll let the front desk know you're coming.

I tidied up and checked my fridge if I had something to drink. I saw a wine. Perfect. I pondered if I should change or not. I was currently wearing super short shorts and a baggie sweatshirt -my regular house attire- but then I thought fuck it. I didn't need to change. She was just a girl, like me.

Twenty minutes later, I heard my doorbell ring. I opened the door and waved a smiling Bailey in.

I hugged her, "Hey. How are you? "

"I'm great. How are you? "

"I can't complain. "

She looked around, her eyes taking in everything, "Your place is nice " she said.

"Thanks. Do you want something? " I asked.

"Water would be nice thanks. "

When I came back to the living room, I saw her looking through my sketchpad. I placed the glass of water in front of her. She looked up at me.

"You drew these? " she asked, wide-eyed.

I sat beside her and watched as she flipped, "Yeah. It's just doodling. "

"You're just being modest. " she turned to a page where there was a drawing of my mom. She traced the contours of the drawing, "Who is this?"

My throat closed up, "My mom. "

She glanced up at me, "Does she live here? "

"Did. " I whispered, "she's dead. "

Her eyes turned sympathetic, "Oh baby. "

I cried in her arms for the next ten minutes or so before she flipped the last page.

"This is a man. A gorgeous man. " she sighed, "Wait, he looks familiar. Is this -"

"Drew. " I supplied.

Her brows rose, "You guys are on a first name basis? "

I blushed, "What? No. That's just what I call him. "

Her brows rose even more, "What you call him? "

I covered my face with my palms. I'd always been a terrible liar. She pried my hands away from my face.

"Kate? " she raised her brows, "What are you not telling me? "

"I met him. " I blurted out.

"I can tell by the way you're blushing, that you didn't just meet him. " she said.

"I didn't. " I shook my head. What is wrong with me?, I thought. I wasn't naturally a blusher but I couldn't for the life of me, keep a straight face now.

"I want to hear it. "she grinned.

And I told her. Everything.

Her eyes nearly buleged out of her head. "Wait, hold up. You danced with Drew freaking Rutledge? " she squealed.

I covered my ears with my palms, "Tone it down will you? "

She sighed and fell back on the couch, a dreamy simple on her face, "I can't imagine. "

"I don't have to imagine. "

She side-eyed me, "Yeah, you lucky bitch. You danced with him! "

"I know. I was there. " I deadpanned.

She sat up, "So... What's up with you guys? "

I stared at her, "Did you not listen to what I just told you? He's been ignoring my ass. He acted like like the whole thing didn't happen. "

She frowned, "I know, but there has to be a reason for that, right? "

I sighed in frustration, "I don't know. "

"He couldn't just go from making you feel like the only woman in the world to no-one at all. I mean, we're talking about Drew Rutledge here. That man has never gotten serious with a woman. Ever. And he's only been photographed with a handful of women, Kate. There has to be a reason. "

I leaned back on the couch, absorbing the new information. So Drew wasn't a big fan of women? That explained why his brother was so curious right? But then if he was only curious why had he asked me out? . I massaged my temple, "I'm so confused. "

There was silence, then "Hey. " Bailey slapped my thigh lightly, "Don't stress yourself by thinking too much. I know how to get you to loosen up. "

I raised an eyebrow, "How? "

"I have a friend. He's throwing a birthday party tonight and he invited me. Come with me, it'll be fun. "

I thought about it, "I don't know. I didn't plan for it. "

She waved it away, "I'm sure you'll have something to wear. " she stood, pulling me up with her, "let's go glam you up. "

I sighed in defeat, leading the way to my room.

•••••••••

The mansion is huge, that's what I thought as I stared at it. The party was in full-on blast. Music from different speakers assaulted our ears as we walked in. This had to be a rich guy's place. The interior decorating was amazing and this was just the pool house, the main house would be mind-blowing.

Bailey pointed at a group, standing to the side, "He's over there. "

We walked over and said hellos while Bailey introduced me. There were four men in total and one of them had his hand around a woman's waist. I assumed she was his girlfriend.

"Hey, I'm Jackson. " the blonde one said. I waved at him. The second guy was Eli, the third guy who had his hand around a girl was Andre and the fourth guy, the one who gave me pause, was Trent.

He had a somewhat dark skin and pale blue eyes. The combo was eye catching. He was gorgeous and he looked like he could be a model.

"Are you a model? " I blurted out and I saw red stain his cheeks. It was almost imperceptible because of his skin colour but I saw it.

"No. Everyone asks that. "

"You could be one. " I shrugged and he smiled. It took me a while to notice that everyone was watching us. Bailey tried to hide her smile.

The blonde one mock frowned, "It's my birthday and you're getting all the attention? Not cool, man. "

We all laughed.

"Happy Birthday, Jackson" I said.

He smirked, "A night with you would be the best gift. " he wiggled his brows, "What do you think? "

I laughed, "Of course. But no thank you. "

"Oh well, I'll find someone else to mend my broken heart. "

I laughed again. This guy was a massive flirt! It was a great idea to come here with Bailey, I was having fun already.

Bailey hooted, "Where are the drinks guys? "

Jackson slapped his head, "Right, my bad. Follow me. "

As we made our way to where a round table was, Trent slowed down so we walked together.

"So you're a friend of Bailey. I've never seen you around her. " he said, conversationally. His voice was smooth and cultured.

"Yeah. We stared hanging out lately." I said.

"So you haven't known each other long? "

"Not really. "

He regarded me with curiosity. "She seems so relaxed around you."

I shrugged. I was equally relaxed around her. It felt like I had known her longer than I really did.

We took our seats, Trent sitting next to me and Bailey on my other side. It felt like Trent had staken a claim on me because no one made flirty comments to me anymore. It made me feel giddy. Men were rarely interested in me, maybe because I didn't go out much, but whenever they were, it was just to get laid. And I couldn't blame them. I'd been told by several guys even girls that I had a look about me that said I liked a nice tumble between the sheets. That was a lie -at least the nice part.

"Bailey mentioned you work for Rutledge Towers. " he said, his body tilted towards mine.

I took a sip of my wine then dropped the glass on the table. "Yeah. I'm an assistant to the head of HR. "

He grinned, "That's great. "

It really was. "What do you do? " I asked him.

He shifted in his seat, "Oh. I'm a sculptor. "

I raised my brows, shocked. "Really? Wow. That's amazing. "

He shrugged, his eyes on his drink.

"I'd really love to see your work if you don't mind. " I told him but he didn't really look interested. I watched him closely and saw that he was uncomfortable. What was happening?

That's when Bailey said, "Trent is embarrassed because his sculptures are of naked women. " she said with a smile.

Understanding dawned on me, "Oh. "

I looked around and saw his friends grinning. So his job was a sore subject for him. I bit my lip trying not to laugh but of course a snicker came out.

He stared at me, unimpressed, "Don't you dare laugh. " and that's when I burst out laughing.

He glared at me then gave in and smiled.

"Why naked women though? " I asked, unable to stop laughing.

"They're not all naked women. They're just mainly naked women. " he explained.

I wiped my eyes then sobbered up, "Okay. Okay. "

The conversation picked up from there. Bailey said she needed to dance to get some "vibes". We got on the dance floor and got down. When Nicki Minaj's Anaconda came on, I killed it. This was one if the times where I could put my big ass to use.

By the next song, I felt arms around me and I saw that it was Trent. He asked me with a raised brow if it was okay and I nodded. It was only dancing after all.

When it was time to go, after saying our goodbyes, Trent sidled closer to me.

"Um... So goodnight. " he said. He looked like he wanted to say something else.

I bit my lip, amused. "Okay. Goodnight. "

He looked around then sighed, muttering to himself, "Can I have your number so we can hang out later? " he asked.

I glanced over at Bailey and she gave me two thumbs up. I rolled my eyes. Like I was going to say no. Trent was a nice guy.

I nodded. "Yeah. Sure. "

He saved it then looked almost unsure how to leave. I put him out of his misery and hugged him. His arms immediately came around me.

I stepped back, "Goodnight, Trent. "

"Goodnight. " he said.

Bailey beamed as she came over, "You just made his night! " she said.

I threw an arm around her as we flagged a taxi. I knew that I was going to have to go out with Trent now because I'd obviously led him to believe there could be something between us but I didn't want to think about it.

"Let's get out of here. The margaritas are hitting me hard. "

Bailey laughed, "Oh my God. You had just four."

I pouted, "I'm a lightweight. "

"Oops, let's get you home then. "

I laid my head on the backseat of the taxi as the night breeze hit me.