Filed to story: Submitting to My Bestie’s Daddy Read Online >>???
I didn’t blame her. I swallowed, stuffing my notebook into my bag and getting to my feet. I followed her out of the classroom but quickly smashed into her back as she halted in her tracks.
“Hey,” I whined, rubbing my nose as she spun on her heel to face me.
“What’s going on, Olive?” Dahlia demanded, and I gazed around, realizing she had led me to one of the secluded corners. There wasn’t anybody but us in the hallway, and even our bodyguards were standing out of earshot.
“You’ve been acting weird all day, and don’t think I didn’t notice,” Dahlia snapped, tapping her foot anxiously on the ground as she stared me down like a hawk. “You didn’t say good morning. You’ve ignored at least three people’s greetings and bumped into four walls. Not to mention, you completely ignored the teacher in class. Something is going on, and you’re going to tell me what.”
“Okay,” I nodded. That was fair.
“And don’t try to lie to me because you know I’ll know–” Dahlia pointed her finger in my face and then paused, looking stunned. “Did you just say okay?”
“Yeah,” I frowned. “You’re right. Something is wrong. I’ve been distracted all day, and I’m sorry for not coming to you sooner. I just needed to get my thoughts in order.”
“Uh….” Her mouth flopped open and closed like a fish out of water, and I smiled, waiting patiently for her brain to reboot. She’d probably expected to have to pull it out of me like a bad tooth with pliers, but if I was going to expect honesty from Gio, I had to be the example first.
“Do you know what any of the Russians look like, the ones who took you or Alessandro? Did you get any of that info from Tallon or Gio maybe?” I asked straightforwardly.
Dahlia frowned, crossing her arms as she tilted her head uneasily. “Why? You’re not going to try to be a hitman, are you?”
“Of course not.” I rolled my eyes. “But I realized that I don’t know what any of them look like. If one of them tried to attack us again or kidnap one of us, I want to be ready, that’s all.”
“Oh.” Dahlia nodded but then shrugged. “That’s a pretty good idea, actually. But sorry, I can’t help you. All the ones I saw are dead now.”
I sighed, disappointedly. I should’ve expected as much. There was no way any of them would’ve survived if Alessandro had gotten their hands on them. I didn’t even know what Gio had done to the ones he’d captured, but I was pretty sure that was one thing I didn’t want to know.
“Look, I’ve got to get to my next class, but maybe ask Gio or Tallon,” Dahlia said, leaning forward to grab me into a hug. She squeezed me tightly, and I barely had time to even pat her back before she was rushing off down the hallway. “See you later!”
The bodyguard jogged to catch up with her, both of them disappearing around the corner, and I sighed.
I was going to be late for my next class if I dallied any longer. I pulled my class sheet from my back pocket, the paper all crumpled as I opened it up and read the room number. I was in such a daze I couldn’t even keep track of my schedule.
It wasn’t too far, so I was in luck.
I made my way down the halls, and as soon as I turned the corner into one of the more populated hallways, I was rushed by a dozen other students heading the opposite way. I dodged them, hoping my bodyguard didn’t draw too much attention as I made my way to the classroom.
As soon as I stepped inside, however, my entire body froze.
I recognized the room. My eyes fell upon the seat in the middle, the one I had been sitting in last time–I clenched my class schedule in my hand, hearing it crunch up, but I didn’t care.
Because this was the same room where I had found the note.
“Is something wrong?” my bodyguard asked from behind me with a bit of a concerned look. The students were impatiently piling up behind us, and I bit my lip, reluctant to step inside.
“Could you sit with me?” I whispered to him, hoping it would make me feel more assured.
“I don’t think–” he started hesitantly, but then he sighed when he saw the look of fear on my face. “Alright then. I’ll inform your professor.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, finally stepping inside.
I avoided my former seat like the plague, choosing to take one of the back ones. I stood by the seat as I watched my bodyguard talk with the professor.
Finally, he made his way to me, and I settled into my seat, him taking the one to the right of me. Only a few students sent us weird looks, but luckily, nobody said anything.
I clasped my shaking hands together, pulling out my notebook and pencil as I waited for class to begin. I had no doubt that I wasn’t going to be in any sort of mind to take notes on this one either.
I sighed, leaning my head on my hand as I turned to stare out the window. The sunbeams pouring through the glass didn’t make me feel any better.
Like a rat in a maze, I felt trapped.
I didn’t know how much longer I could do this… if I could at all anymore.
*Olivia*
The sun had kissed the sky goodnight, casting the empty city streets in a dull shade of gray. From the window, everything looked much smaller than it actually was. The car rumbled dully around me as the driver and I sat in complete and utter silence.
I watched the lamps on every corner illuminate as we passed by, a few flickering before falling dead. The path from school to home was a familiar one now. I couldn’t name the streets or the buildings we passed, but I knew the path by heart.
I counted each turn in my head, my mind awfully silent as we passed by the square for the festival. Half-built booths on the edge of the sidewalks and colorful banners thrown haphazardly into the trees were only the beginning.
Soon, there would be an explosion of tourists seeking alcoholic beverages, with decorations thrown on every building as bars and crafters came to showcase their mastery of cocktails. A parade would march down the streets to celebrate the history of their beloved city.
But for now, Florence was little more than a ghost town.
We turned into the driveway to the compound, the gate opening up easily for us. The car pulled around the circle drive, halting to a full stop. My bodyguard for the day, who had also volunteered to be my chauffeur, killed the engine.
I sighed tiredly, rubbing the sleep from the corner of my eyes as I unbuckled and got out of the car with my bag clutched in one hand.
“Thank you,” I whispered quietly to the bodyguard, who only nodded silently.
He watched me as I made my way up the path and to the front door. I stopped at the doorway, completely silent.
The door stared at me, and I pondered what was beyond its wooden appearance. I figured it was made of reinforced metal. Just like everything else in this house, it was never what it appeared to be.
Dahlia had fewer classes than me, so she had gone home earlier. I knew she had probably already left to go out with her new flavor of the week.
I raised my hand to grab the doorknob, my fingers twitching right before I touched the cold metal. Despite the commands I sent to my brain, it wasn’t listening.
After a full day of going back and forth in my mind, looking for a solution around what needed to be done, I was just exhausted. I didn’t want to face how complicated life had gotten.
For once, I just wanted to be a kid again.
My shoulders slumped as my hand dropped to my side, and I glanced behind me. The bodyguard still hadn’t moved from his spot, and he wouldn’t until I was safely inside.
I didn’t want to go in, but I couldn’t stay out there. I didn’t have anywhere else to go either.
My eyes drifted to the path to the right, and I realized that wasn’t completely true. There was one place to go where I could be safe yet away from the heavy weight the house put on my shoulders.
I turned my back to the door, following the stone path around the corner and past the drive. I unlatched the gate around the back, swinging it open. The sight of the trees and flowers was welcoming to my tired eyes.
I shut the gate behind me, making sure to relock it as I followed the path into the garden. Soon, I came upon the gazebo. I brushed a few fallen leaves off the swing, dropping my backpack onto the ground as I took a seat.
The ceiling of the gazebo was reinforced glass that was strong enough to withstand the elements, but it also gave a clear view of the sky. There weren’t any clouds tonight, and the stars shined brightly above.
I relaxed, kicking my feet to get the swing going before folding them up to my chin. I wrapped my arms around my knees, letting the breeze sink into my skin.
