Chapter 5

Chloe

I suffered through the dinner with my father the night before, trying hard to change the subject to something that would leave us on good terms. I loved him, but he could push me from calm to pissed within seconds. Everything revolved around his career. Everything.

Turning to smile at my best friend, Jessica, I tried to let the day before go. I would deal with my dad and his demands later, after a day of blowing my allowance at the mall. Fashion Valley was the place to be, the stores vast and the people beautiful. It felt like taking a step up in the world for some odd reason.

"So... tell me about all the hot boys in L.A." Jessica popped her gum for the tenth time and I ground my teeth, forcing myself to not resort to being the spoiled ass I was in high school.

"There are plenty of them, but San Diego has the same breed of men." I pulled a shirt off the rack and lifted it up to see what she thought.

"Naw... that's way too big. Get a small size and show off your tits. They’re awesome, and you hide them far too much." She popped her gum again and picked up a pair of red heels that looked like they should have a tramp stamp on the bottom of them. "I've been wanting these all spring. My birthday was in March..."

I rolled my eyes as she whimpered and brushed the shoes by her face. "Fine. I'll get them for you, but don’t tell anyone it was me. I’d never admit to buying those… not even for you."

"You sure?" She checked the tag and gasped. "Chloe, these are like three hundred dollars. Forget about it. Shit. What are they made of? Gold fillings collected and chipped out of the mouths of orphan kids in India."

I laughed loudly and slapped my hand over my mouth. She had no couth or class, and I loved her for it. She was the only thing in my life that brought me back down to reality when nothing else would. Too bad I didn’t get to see her too often.

"It's cool. Stop whimpering and throw your gum away and I'll get them." I turned and picked up the same shirt again, just a smaller size. The shimmery pink material would be beautiful under the strobe lights of the club. I loved to dance more than anything else, so going to the club - every club - was a must.

"You're really getting that?" Jessica pulled her gum from her mouth and flicked it.

I turned and pulled her the other way as someone let out a soft gasp. "Dude. You can't do that. This is Nordstrom's for shit sake."

"So? When you have money, you can do whatever you want." She shrugged. "I mean, I don't have any money, but you do and we're besties; therefore, I have money."

"Where did you hear that lie? Being rich doesn't get you anything but more headaches." I pulled her toward the checkout stand and put my shirt on the counter.

She tossed her shoes up there without a care in the world. I swear the girl hadn't a single strand of guilt over forcing people to do her bidding. It had been the same in high school. She was the bully until she found out that I was wealthy and didn't put up with much. We'd been friends ever since. Funny enough, I could see her still being the bully in life.

"What headaches do you have? Really? What color your nails should be or what guy you should turn down this week?" She poked me in the back.

I turned and pinned her with a stare. "How about, 'who's going to try and kill my father this week’?"

"Awe, damn, C. You're gonna throw that shit out?" She moved up beside me, tugging at the back of my hair. "I'm sorry. I was just teasing."

"It's all good." I gave the lady my card as she gave me the once over. The shoes just didn't seem to fit my prim and proper look. I got it. "The latest is that my father wants me to take on a bodyguard, or really, he's assigning one to me. He's worried about me."

"Oh my God. Seriously? Is the guy hot? You know all those great movies and books where the rich girl gets a bodyguard. They totally have anal sex in the shower and fall madly in love with each other, but that shit doesn’t happen until the girl almost dies. No dying on me or even faking it. How fucked up would that be if someone tried to take your ass out?"

I couldn't help but laugh as the older lady in front of me stopped checking us out and turned to stare at Jess as her mouth dropped.

"Ignore my friend. She doesn't get out much." I turned and gave her the 'cut it out' look.

"Clearly," the lady murmured.

"Don't hate, old lady." Jessica leaned forward and popped another piece of gum in her mouth, smacking it loudly as the clerk's lip turned up in disgust.

I took our bags and thanked the woman, but she turned and wiped her hands as if trying to rid herself of us. It was more than expected, and yet I couldn’t help but want to retaliate with my stature. I didn’t, but I was damn close.

"Wow. I forget how rude people can be." I glanced at Jessica as she shrugged.

Her life had been very different from mine, but I didn't mind. My main group of friends from high school didn't want anything to do with her, but I would hang out with them later. They were rich and powerful, most of them not bothering with college.

"Where to now?" She took the bag from me and popped her gum.

"I'm meeting with my dad again before he gets out of town, so let's grab a bite to eat and then I'll drop you back off at home. We can get together later this week."

"I'm coming on Friday to stay with you at that kick-ass pad you got."

"I'll see what's going on and text you, but yeah, of course you can come stay with me." I pointed to my favorite Chinese restaurant. "How about there?"

"Ugh. You know I hate that place."

"Come on... I'm buying, which means that I get to pick the place."

"Yeah, uh, no shit. The last thing I bought us was a week in detention in fifth grade." We laughed together as we walked through the crowds of people, the looks we received were nothing new.

The two of us couldn't be more different. Me with my pressed blue skirt and white oxford, my blond hair in a ponytail and my sandals white and toes painted.

Jess had her hair dyed blue and she wore the same boyish shorts she had in school. The four t-shirts she layered made her look much larger than she was, but she didn't give a shit.

We were exactly alike on the inside and that made the difference.

Tainted. Angry. Lonely.

Best friends.

****

After dropping Jessica off in the slums, I headed back to the beach house feeling like shit. I should have invited her to spend the summer with me, but I was far too much of an introvert to do something stupid like that. Time by myself was something I craved and being stuck in the middle of a house of twenty-plus girls most of the year left my skin crawling.

Thank God for Alyssa or I wouldn't have made it.

The spunky New Yorker didn't want to interact any more than she had to, and being the new president of the sorority, she had made some big changes. One was to abolish roomies or roommates. I almost cried tears of joy when it happened. I wasn't a child at a sleepover, but a grown-ass woman and I wanted my own room. I never should have joined the sorority, but my father kept after me about it until I finally gave in.

It would look good… Right… for who? Him.

My thoughts scattered as I parked in front of the house. Two suits with dark glasses and slick hair sat on the porch swing as I walked up.

"I'm starting to think I'm in a Men in Black movie. You guys looking for a few little green men?" I smiled as they pulled their glasses down and looked at one another, clueless.

"They aren't that cool and you know it." The male voice behind me was familiar. Pauly.

I turned and let out a soft yelp, running and jumping into my father's oldest friend's arms. "Pauly. Oh my God you're getting old."

He laughed and squeezed me tightly, spinning me around like he did when I was a child. "You don't look old at all, but you just get more and more beautiful. How is that even possible? You look just like Melinda."

Heat rushed up from my chest to coat my neck and face. The pictures of my mother were breathtaking. I was nowhere near as beautiful as she had been. My father had met her at an event when they were in their twenties, my mother having just put out her third box office hit.

"Please… You flatter me." I glanced behind me and turned back around. "Is one of these monkeys the one you're forcing on me by chance?"

"So he told you?" Pauly smiled and ran his fingers through his short black hair. I told him all the time when I was younger that he would make the perfect gangster, but he laughed and reminded me that he was simply one of the good guys. I still had my doubts.

"He did, though he was nervous as shit when he finally spit it out. When am I supposed to meet the brute?"

"Tonight. What time are you going dancing with your friends?" He crossed his arms over his chest.

I growled and narrowed my eyes at him. The hopes of intimidating him had long gone out the window, but I was just ballsy enough to still try. "How do you know that? Did you guys tap my phone again?"

"No, butterfly. You've been in my care for twenty-one years. I know you love to dance. Are you not going out tonight?" He tilted his head to the side and gave me a funny look.

I smiled, though I hated myself for doing it. Why my father didn’t just send Pauly to do his dirty work was beyond me. He was the only one I might sorta-kinda be willing to listen to without throwing massive amounts of attitude around. Maybe.

"I am. I'll meet your guy tonight, but I’m only promising to meet him. We're going to The Roxy, so tell him to dress pretty."

"And I assume if I send him, you'll do your best to make him run screaming from the premises?" He lifted an eyebrow and leaned toward me.

"You know me too well, old man. Better than anyone."

"It's my job, kiddo, and you make it too easy."