Chapter 2 2

Viola.

I didn't give a damn about what he was saying. I went inside with Mom. I'm only staying here temporarily, I thought. I'll annoy the hell out of him until he divorces Mom or kicks me out himself and tells me to go live with Dad-or I'll go live in your house.

He was arrogant as hell, way too confident for his own good, even if he was rich. He couldn't control me.

Servants followed me to his office-I didn't know if they were assistants or what exactly. There was work stuff behind him, important things, phones next to him.

Mom seemed to know the house inside out. Mom said, "Come on, let me show you your room upstairs."

I went up with her. It was a huge suite-maids in every corner. I couldn't say I wasn't impressed. My background wasn't poor or anything, but honestly, this level was insanely high-end.

He had to be a billionaire. I said to her, "Okay, fine." They opened the door, and I stood there, stunned. Everything I loved was in that room. I turned to Mom and said, "Did you decorate this room?"

She replied, "No, why?"

I was so shocked. "Why?"

I can't even think straight. No way-did Mom's husband do a background check on me and find out all the stuff I like? He set up the whole room in olive green-and I love that color. Specific types of trees I like-the shape, I mean. I'm not an expert on trees, but those rare bonsai ones that cost a fortune.

I love them and their look. He put one on the desk. He even made me a custom desk, like it was built just for me. Everything on it: a brand-new laptop, a new iPad still in the box. Everything was ready for me. Honestly, if he were my boyfriend, this would be sweet. But it's creepy as hell and makes me suspicious of a ton of things.

"Mom," I said, "haven't you noticed he's got everything I like?"

She put my stuff on a shelf casually. "He's really caring. He told me he wants Viola to be happy with us all the time. He doesn't have any kids, but he loves children a lot."

I rolled my eyes sarcastically and laughed. "If you think I'm a child, Mom, I'm 18. Girls my age are getting married these days."

Mom didn't respond. She just said, "Anyway, you've got a dressing room with a ton of clothes. The maid will bring the party dress right now. Relax, then come down for lunch with us. And stay in tonight for the party."

"Mom," I said, "I've told you a million times-I'm going to my party tonight."

She said, "That party has a lot of bad stuff going on. Mark himself said girls usually lose their virginity there."

I raised my eyebrows, put my hands on my hips, and objected. "Who the hell is this Mark to decide anything about my life? My dad's not dead, by the way-he's alive. And Dad would be fine with me going to the party."

"I have to go now," she said. "I need to take a shower and spend some time with Mark in the room. We're newlyweds, you know? You understand." Her face turned red. She was going to fool around with him-have sex, basically.

I looked her up and down. All the staff left. I told them, "Please, leave me alone."

There was a dress laid out, shoes, and a necklace in a box. I opened it. "Wow." Stunned, I thought, If he's giving me this, what the hell is he giving Mom? Curiosity was killing me. Then I said to myself, Whatever, I'll just wear this outfit and go to the party tonight. I'll be the hottest, most stylish girl there. After the party, I'll figure out how to piss them off, make him uncomfortable, and get him to kick me out.

I pulled out my phone. "Let me see how much this necklace and these earrings are worth." I searched online and found out they were $100,000. Shocked, but I thought, Okay, that means he's filthy rich.

The maid kept standing there. "Miss, you should take a shower. I'll help you."

"No," I said, "I don't like that level of luxury. I'll shower alone."

She stayed put. "Girl, get out! What do you want? I don't need help-I'm not used to this."

"I can't," she said. "Those are Mr. Mark's orders. I have to stand by you and help while you bathe."

I felt like I was going to explode. "Fine, prepare the bathroom." It was the first time anyone had ever prepared a bathroom for me.

I finally understood what that meant: warm water, rose petals, scented bubbles-super luxurious, honestly. She even helped me undress. I don't know what happened to me, but I wasn't embarrassed at all, even though it was the first time I'd stripped in front of a woman-or anyone, really.

Anyway, I got undressed, got in the water, and let her scrub my back and body.

Suddenly, there was a hard knock at the door-a man's voice. The maid said, "It's Mr. Mark."

"I'm in here!" I yelled. "Get out! Don't you dare come in-I'm naked and taking a shower!"

He laughed from outside. "What? Don't worry, I'm not coming in. And if I did... your body's like a kid's anyway. You think I'd look at you? You're like my daughter now."

I was furious. "What the hell do you mean, 'kid's body'? Kid? Have you even seen my body? And what do you mean 'kid'? I'm 18!"

I found myself yelling, "Fine, get out! Go to your wife!"

He said, "Okay, I just came to tell you the party starts a little early tonight."

I huffed, annoyed. "Fine, fine."

Seven is way too early. My other party starts at 9:00. Okay, I can come down in two hours, and then... what? I'll try to sneak out, meet my friends at the gate, ride with them, go party, drink, do whatever we want.

Because tonight, I was planning to lose my virginity one way or another. I've been holding back for so long-no one's ever been my boyfriend, no one's ever touched me.

All the other girls... I've always been at boarding school. No guys look at me, no guys try to get close. I have so much pent-up frustration. I wanted to do something wrong tonight-anything. Everything.

I decided, Okay, fine. But first, I'll ruin his party.