Chapter 2 One

• Maria
• She reached for me and was engulfed in a hug.
• "Oh Maria, it's so good to see you. Come in." She looked the same but had more wrinkles here and there.
• She was in a jolly mood.
• "Its good to see you too mum."
• We entered the mansion. The decore has changed, there was a chandelier hanging in the middle of the hall, under that there was a table with flowers on it. In front of it were doors that led to the backyard. Stairs on either side which led upstairs.
• "Well, why don't you get fresh and then come down for breakfast." She said politely.
• "Yea ok."
• I went upstairs. My bags were already in the room brought up by Olivia, she is our maid. Thankfully my room is left untouched. The bed was against the wall facing large windows which lead to the balcony. There was a coffee table with two chairs. On the right of the bed, there was an electric fireplace. Then a door led to my dressing room and bathroom.
• It was 8:20 am now, so I still had forty minutes to go to breakfast. So I took a shower, wore some jeans and full sleeve white t-shirt, dried my hair and went downstairs. I'll unpack later, too lazy to do now.
• Mum and Olivia are setting up the table when Theodore walks in. His eyes lit up and there was a huge smile on his face when he sees me.
• "Maria!" He engulfs me in a hug.
• "Hey, Theodore! You look quite different." With a smile I am not joking when I say that.
• He is my older brother by 5 years so 26 years old, quite the ladies man and very protective of me. Four years back he was a bit slim but now he is covered in muscle and I can see that when he is wearing a suit! He has a light beard on his face, not cut his hair so they are long. His eyes used to be blue but now are a bit silver. He looked quite like dad, but a better version of it. He is 6"2.
• "I hope nothing bad. You look thin, are you eating enough?" He examines me.
• "Yes, I am. You have nothing to worry about." I brushed it off with a smile.
• "Come on kids, breakfast is ready." Mum says.
• "We are not kids mum, can't you see we are grown up. Well, I am not sure about Maria on that note." He jokes.
• "Hey!" I gave him a light slap on his arm.
• We sat at the table when dad walks in.
• "Good morning Anna." He said, kissed mum and sat at the head of the table.
• "Good morning Michael, you are just in time." Mum says with a smile.
• He looks the same, but more Wrinkles. He is 45 years old and approximately 6"1'. What is with these men and heights? He is always dressed in formal which looked and smelled rich and power. His face is always neutral, I have never seen him genuinely smile.
• Ah, sad life.
• My mother on the other hand is very polite and shy. Not very social has brown hair and blue eyes like me, but in height, she is one inch shorter than me. I don't know what she saw as a devil as her husband.
• We all started eating, the playful mood which was earlier was now filled with nervousness. He hasn't even looked at me, good at least he is not staring. Mum broke the silence by addressing me.
• "So Maria, what are your plans for today?" Still keep her tone sweet.
• "Well me and Jo are planning to go shopping this afternoon for the ball."
• "That's great. Anything, in particular, you have in mind?"
• "The ball is quite formal so I was thinking maybe black or silver colour dresses."
• She smiles, "that will look pre-" she was cut off by my father.
• "Wear something dark, that will hide your uneven curves and belly." He said roughly not even glancing at me.
• That stung my eyes. Theodore gave me a polite smile.
• "I think you will look beautiful in any colours as long as you are comfortable."
• "Yeah." My voice was barely a whisper.
• After breakfast I went back upstairs, Theo and dad went to the office mum went to the hospital for her shift. She is a doctor. Theo being the eldest son he got the family business of Reed Inc. I am currently looking for jobs similar to what my family does.
• I unpacked took a nap till 1:30. Afternoons are usually me and Olivia, I do my lunch, went upstairs changed into jeans and a crop top. Tied my hair, put on some makeup. Me and Jo were meeting at the store at three, so I have half an hour to reach there.
• Taylor was driving in my Mercedes. I am not allowed to drive even though I have a license. We reached there and saw Jo was standing outside the store. I walked towards her.
• "Hey." I said.
• "Hi. Come on let's go in."
• We walked inside, Taylor was few steps behind us. Jo's family is a bit relaxed at security so she doesn't have a bodyguard. Me and her have been friends since kindergarten, so we get along well.
• We tried many dresses and then I finally bought mine. It was black with some glitter on it, with a cut by side till my hips. It was sleeveless and had one shoulder.
• I do not have irregular curves. I look beautiful. I do not have irregular curves. I look beautiful I kept repeating it in my mind.
• Jo bought a silver dress with off shoulders. It was very fancy. After that, we bought some accessories, shoes. I was able to see Taylor getting bored, poor man. I told him he can wait by the car but he has been given 'orders' to follow me.
• Jo dragged me to the next shop which made me nervous. Victoria's secret. I told her not to but stillI was standing inside the store. Taylor was enjoying himself, I mean why not at least someone's having the time of their lives.
• "You should buy one." She said happily.
• "Um no. I don't wear those things I am fine with what I am."
• "Oh please. You have no lingerie, at least try one."
• "No Jo. Plus I don't have anyone to show it to." I tried reasoning with her.
• "You don't have to show it to anyone. You can simply enjoy yourself. Come on live a little." She said with pleading eyes.
• "No."
• "Please for me. You never know what happens at the ball..."
• "Well to be honest I don't know why you buy so many of them. Last week you bought three, you must be having a hundred at that rate you are buying. Where do others go."
• At this Jo becomes red with embarrassment. I don't know what she and her boyfriend Tom do with it.
• "Well... you know... Tom always has a knife with him... Soo.." she nervously scratches the back of the neck.
• I am still not getting anything, what does the knife have to do with it. She sees my confused expression and then looks over at Taylor who is very uncomfortable and red with embarrassment. so she gives him a look and drags me to the nearby changing room.
• "Ok tell me on the scale of one to ten how much did you get?" She asked me.
• "Um, zero? what does it have to do with the knife."
• "Well my innocent child, we both have that kink."
• Now I am more confused. What the fuck does that mean.
• "What?" With a confused expression.
• "God. How innocent are you?" She groans.
• "Hey! I am not innocent, I lost my virginity in high school remember..."
• "Yea I know that. When your definition of sex was to only put a dick in your vagina and nothing else." She says bluntly.
• "Well, I was not knowing what it was at that time."
• "Ok well listen we all enjoy different kinks in our sex life. One of them is knife kink, which I and Tom enjoy..."
• "What do you do in that?" Now I was curious.
• "Well just tear clothes with the knife, drag it here and there, some people even mark each other with it." She says it casually like this is the usual morning news.
• "Well, that explains your need for more clothes. Is he not patient with you that he has to rip it off of you."
• "Please don't make me imagine that. I am not seeing him till tomorrow." She says under her breath.
• "You are disgusting. Both of you." I can't look at Tom the way I used to now.
• "Oh please! You will enjoy it too once you start having sex." She complains.
• "Hey, I have a great sex life." I defended.
• "Maria, people need to have sex to have a sex life."
• Well, that's true. I lost my virginity to my high school boyfriend. It was awkward as hell because I didn't know how sex works. We left the store, Taylor was still not able to look at me. I don't blame him either. Jo bought herself 2 lingerie and I bought one for myself. Which I will probably wear tomorrow night.
• Taylor and I arrived home. It was 8 pm, damn time flies fast. Mum's car was parked so she is home. Theo and dad usually come home by 8:30 and then at 9 we have dinner.
• I went upstairs with my bags and lined them up in my closet. I changed my clothes into simple pyjamas and browsed on my Instagram for some time. There was a noise downstairs, indicating that Theo and dad are home. I went downstairs and greeted mum and Olivia in the kitchen.
• There was the usual silence at the table cause dad usually likes it quiet. Father cleared his throat grabbing our attention.
• "Maria, what are you doing tomorrow?" He asked.
• "Nothing, probably resting or talking with Jo." My voice was as soft as it can be.
• "Well then instead of wasting time tomorrow, from now you will start to work at the office with Theo. He will assign you with work."
• What. I just arrived yesterday, why doesn't he go to work, he doesn't care about my life to think these things. I glanced at Theo from where I sat, he was surprised just as I was.
• "Maria! Do I have to repeat myself?" He raised his voice a bit.
• "Um no. I will join him from tomorrow." I glanced at my lap fiddling with the napkin.
• After dinner, I went upstairs when there was a slight knock on my door. I gave a small 'come in, and my brother walked in. His brown hair was messy due to stress I guess.
• "Hey..." he sat on the chair across the bed.
• "Hi. What is it?"
• "About what father said, if you don't want to-" I cut him off.
• "No, it's fine. We both know what happens when he doesn't get what he wants and I don't want anyone else to suffer again."
• "Maria how many times do I have to tell you, Nora's death was not your fault. It..."
• "Please I don't wanna talk about it now. And about the job, I was going to search for it anyway." I smiled at him.
• "But-"
• "No buts. Plus you being my boss, you will cut me some slack, I can sleep in longer..." I gave him a grin.
• "No miss smartypants, that won't be happening..." He smiled.
• We talked more about what I will do tomorrow. Then he left for bed, I also went to bed early setting the alarm for 7 am.
• *******
• I woke up at 7 am getting ready for my first day at work. Did my makeup and hair, worea formal outfit. I went downstairs for breakfast,
• everyone was already at the table. After that Taylor drove me to the office. Dad and Theo shared a car cause our father cannot tolerate me. We are driving back home now cause the ball is at 8 in the evening, it was 4 in the afternoon. Father and Theo are not coming, so it's just me and Jo. Well, the office was hectic, my ob is to be with Theo and represent our company, you knovw second in command. There were back to back meetings and my only source of energy was my coffee.
• When we arrived the house was empty as usual only Olivia, a few other maids and guards. I ate some snacks, went to my room and started getting ready. By the time I was done with my shower, makeup and hair it was 7 pm. Wow, today is going fast. I slipped my dress up and when satisfied with my appearance I went downstairs. Taylor was already standing by the door ready for me. He looked at me and smiled.
• "You look beautiful Miss Reed." He said while walking me to my lemo.
• "Thanks. And how many times do I have to tell you to call me Maria?" I said once we get in the car.
• "I will keep that in mind, Miss Reed."
• He smiled at me through the rearview mirror. I shake my head and looked outside the window. The place where we lived was well established. People like us lived here so things like balls and charity events were a common thing. It also helped in expanding business. I know many people around my age but I have only two friends in particular. That includes Jo and Chris. They both will be there so I won't be bored. We arrived at the ball when Taylor said.
• "Be careful, I will be there but not enough for you to know my presence. Don't drink too much and try to stay away from boys." He says.
• I think I have learnt that speech now by how many times he has said it, but I like it.
• "Yes, I will take care. Bye" I smiled.
• "Bye."
• Maria The Chauffeur opened the door for me and I went inside. It was beautifully decorated with a theme of dark blue and gold with a hint of red. There was music, people were chatting and a few dancing. I noticed Jo and Chris on a table with Tom, flashback of yesterday came to my mind. I pushed it back and walked towards them when they noticed me.
• Chris is one of my best friends, he never takes anything seriously and is quite the ladies man. He is 6 feet, with blond hair with blue eyes. You get the point, he is gorgeous.
• Tom on the other hand is in a long term relationship with Jo since high school so that would be six years and still going strong. He has black hair brown eyes and a bit of beard. He is shorter than Chris though. They both have worn suits and look handsome.
• "Hey!" I stand next to Chris.
• "Hi." The three say together.
• "You look beautiful," Jo exclaimed.
• "Thank you for saying that. You look gorgeous."
• Chris wrapped his arm around my waist and handed me a drink. This was casual for us.
• "You look sexy." He says.
• God his voice is deeper than I remember.
• "Thank you. You look handsome as well."
• "Well duh. I always look handsome." He has his usual cheeky grin on his face.
• I elbow him in his stomach playfully.
• "You are such a dickhead." I shake my head.
• "But I am your dickhead." He smirks at me.
• "In your dreams."
• "Well, there I am not you dickhead."
• He's grinning even more.
• "Then what are you?" I say playing along.
• He leans over my ear and says.
• "Your daddy."
• My what? My eyebrows knit together. Jo choked on her drink and Tom was patting her back slowly. I was confused, am I missing something. I looked back at Chris who was still having that smirk, I just want to smack it off his face. I turned towards Jo who was catching her breath.
• "Are you ok?" I asked her.
• "Yea. I'm fine." She turns toward Chris and continues. "Why would you say that in front of her? You know she doesn't know these things."
• "What things?" I butted in.
• "I can show you if you want." Chris says while still grinning.
• "That won't be necessary." She says to Chris and turns towards me. "It's another type of kink."
• My face becomes red in embarrassment that I didn't know these things.
• "She should be knowing these things. What were you doing in school?" Chris says.
• "Study." I reply.
• He was about to say something when I saw someone. He is still as hot as he was four years ago but more mature. I am shocked to see him here, cause he never attends these parties. When his eyes lock with mine he was surprised to see me as well. Don't ask me why, I don't know the answer to that. I was not able to hear from this far but I was able to read his lips.
• Fuck.