FIXATION Page 8

  Everything Eden thought of me was true. I was a terrible person. I was a bad guy and I enjoyed it.

  Chapter 14.

  Ross POV

  "I can't believe what we did. This is wrong on all level," I said. Getting up and putting on my clothes.

  "You regret it?" She asked.

  "No." I didn't lie.

  "We are both adults. We don't need to act like adolescents who just lost their virginity" she was right.

  "You came here to find me for a reason," she said grabbing a cigarette and smoking it. I did the same thing.

  "Yeah, I wanted to ask you something," I said.

  "Okay shoot," she said clearly feeling no remorse of what we had just done.

  She acts like it didn't matter and she was right we weren't virgins. We weren't children either we were both adults. So, what If I just screwed my dad's girlfriend, she wasn't his wife and she didn't mind then neither did I.

  "I wanted to ask what should I do about a situation. You know Monique right my girlfriend kinda, well she wants to move to Switzerland she got accepted to this cooking school or some shit and she wants to move obviously I can't let that happen so what should I do to make sure she doesn't leave while pretending to be okay with it if that makes any sense?"

  "Of course, it makes sense you love her, and you don't want to lose her and if she leaves for Europe you fear that you will"

  Olivianna was a very smart woman which added to her appeal.

  "Yes, I want to sabotage that somehow without her knowing it was me who did it."

  "I see, so what do you need me for? You already have it all planned out you want to destroy her chances of having a career and a life away from you. Are you sure this is the right thing to do Ross?" She asked.

  "Yes, yes, it is I can't lose her I won't"

  "So just ask Rock to seduce the woman who is giving her the scholarship and make them choose someone else"

  I hadn't thought of that. That was a great idea. Eden will finally be all mine. With nowhere else left to turn too no family around because they all abandoned her, I made sure of that. She was left alone and vulnerable. She would turn to me and only me. I was her family. I was her life. She needed a bit of reminder once in a while. Fuck Europe! Forget her dreams I had to be all! I had to be everything! Nothing else.

  "Olivianna are you going to tell my father about this? About what we did?"

  She looked at me and smiled.

  "Are you scared if I do?"

  "No, I'm not scared of anything you should know that by now. And I don't have any regrets I'm not a man that goes by impulse or quick passionate thoughts. If I did something is because I wanted to do it not because of some stupid momentary thought or feeling."

  I got up to leave but before I did, I turned and told her,

  "If you decide to tell my dad what we just did I won't deny it. But I leave the decision to you."

  EDEN POV

  I woke up with a huge migraine. A throb on my head. My neck and shoulders we're hurting as well. My entire body felt like it was thrown across the floor landing hard on the ground with all its force. Ross was responsible for all of this. He had caused me this pain.

  Thankfully I will be gone for good in a couple of weeks. I wasn't going to tell my family. They didn't care to leave me here with Ross. So why should I inform them of where I was going. I was in pain, yes, but my heart was hurting more.

  "How are you feeling sweetie?" A familiar voice asked me, and I quickly smiled.

  "Carol so glad to see you"

  "What happened child?" She asked.

  "Oh well you know the usual, Ross hired some gang female criminal to attack me for defying him once more," I said leaning back in my pillow.

  Carol opened her mouth in disbelief. "Mr. Lyner did that?"

  "Yes, Carol your Mr. Lyner is a cold-hearted piece of..." I wasn't one for cussing and especially not around an older woman.

  "Are you hurt?" She asked alarmed placing a hand on my forehead to check if I had a fever.

  "Just my ego...she put me in a sleeping hold, and I fell asleep. She didn't physically harm me"

  "He would not allow anyone to harm you. That boy loves you more than he would care to admit".

  She said with confidence.

  I didn't know how to take that. Do I take it with shock at the news or with anger? I mean carol was just making assumptions there is no way that Ross loved me. I was just merely his possession. His pet. His play toy. He didn't love me. He just wanted to control me and own me.

  " Carol if you don't mind. I would really like to be alone now please"

  I hope she didn't get offended, but I did need to be alone to process what she just said. Obviously, it wasn't true.

  "Yes, of course, my dear I will go and make you some tomato soup with a grilled cheese sandwich also with tomato your favorite"

  She said getting up with a smile on her face.

  I asked her to shut the door on her way out and she did.

  I got up and locked it. I didn't want Ross coming in here. It was impossible that he loved me. A man like him doesn't know what love is. He is with Monique anyway. He wouldn't leave her for a plain girl like me. Please, a guy like Ross so feared and powerful and rich dated girls like himself. Why was I sitting here thinking about this now? I had to get out of here. I had to escape. I wanted to go back to the mansion and grab my things. But where would I go? The boats were out of the question Earl was still in jail because of me. My family was hundreds of miles away. I had no one.

  Then a flashback came into my mind.

  I was seven rolling down the greenest hill in all of Sevilla. Our little village was only a few miles away but me being the nosy child I was I went there retracing the way back. I always wanted to know what it was like to roll down that hill. So, I tried it. It wasn't too far from my school, so I skipped school and went there instead.

  I rolled all the way down and landed in another little village entirely. I didn't even pay attention to where I would land, I just wanted to try it. When I landed in the new village it was all so different. I wanted to go back and climb up the hill and find my way back to school but I couldn't climb back. My little legs couldn't hold on to the grass long enough. I tried to jump but I didn't make it far. I went back down. I was scared. How was I getting home now? I wondered inside the village and everyone was inside. It was close to the siesta. So, people were resting. The shops we're closed everything was. It was a very small village. I never expected that there would be a tiny village down that hill. I started walking and when I was further enough, I turned around and saw my school in the distance on top of the hill way up there. I kept walking to see if there was someone, I could ask for help but the few people that answered their doors looked at me suspicious and closed it in my face. I was so scared I started to cry. Then suddenly I see a man laying down on a pavement next to an old building which seemed like it was closed. "Excuse me, sir," I told him in Spanish. The man slowly turns to face me and looks at me weirdly. I continued.

  "I'm loss can you call my parents?" I asked him. He looked at me gets up and nods.

  "What is a little girl like yourself doing alone in this village? " he asked his Spanish was broken. I don't think he was from here.

  "I'm lost," I said looking at the ground.

  "You are a very beautiful little girl," he said getting closer to me.

  "Come on don't be scared you are my ticket out of here," he said launching himself at me. I immediately backed away and started running as fast as I could.

  "Get back here!" He was shouting. Still chasing me. I ran crying and screaming all the way. When I couldn't take it anymore I tried to hide underneath a house's upper balcony but there was nowhere to hide really so I braced myself for the worse when the man caught up with me and started walking towards me smiling his evil wicked smile. I saw my life flash before me when all of a sudden, the man fell down. Blood on his head from where he was struck. The bat fell down with him the bat full of his blood
. I look up to see who I here was when I saw his beautiful brown eyes and wavy long black hair. Julio.

  I later found out after the man was arrested that he belonged to a human trafficking ring. He was there pretending to be innocent while trying to steal people and sell them to who knows who the hell. He was arrested and deported back to his country. But it just shows how cruel the world really is and how dangerous it is to be in unfamiliar surroundings alone. I kissed Julio on the cheek and thanked him all the time for saving my life. He was my hero and he wasn't here. He would save me from the monster I lived with Ross Lyner.

  "How did you know where I was Jul," I said to him.

  "I followed you silly. I saw when you were skipping school and I knew it had to be something sneaky because you never do that. I brought the bat with me just in case I needed it, or we needed it and good thing I did."

  I hugged him again. From that point on I decided I wasn't going to love another man that wasn't Julio Gonza. 11 years now and I have no idea where he is or what he is doing if he is even still alive. I prayed that he was. But one thing was for certain. He wasn't here to save me from Ross or from the dangers of these streets which is why I decided to stay put and think of a better escape route. Maybe I could ask someone for a ride back to the mansion. Someone, I could semi trust. But who? This whole place was ruled by Ross Lyner and no one would dare cross him. Except for me.

  Chapter 15.

  EDEN POV

  Ross barely spoke to me. I prefer it that way anyway. I was off to meet with the person who was going to be my mentor in Switzerland. This was so exciting. Finally, I was off to a new start away from Ross and away from here. I arrived at a large building with glass windows everywhere. I was surprised that Ross had allowed Rhino or whatever his name is to drive me here. He had given him permission. With how far we lived from everything you needed a car to get around anywhere. I went inside and the building was huge. I went to the reception area and asked for Mrs. Norway which was my mentor.

  They directed me to her, and I waited. When she came to get me, I didn't think it was her. A beautiful tall and YOUNG blonde woman. Super young. She looked like she was in her early twenties or even twenty.

  "Good morning Miss Alicante. My name is Montana Norway how are you doing today?"

  "I'm great Miss Norway super excited about this and this opportunity I really can't wait" I said with a huge smile from Mars to Jupiter.

  "Well about that, I am sorry to inform you miss Alicante your place has been revoked."

  "What. What?" The air escaped my lungs and I couldn't breathe. I didn't hear right. This must be a mistake.

  "I'm sorry what?"

  "Apparently the judge who judged your place was not feeling…herself that day and we have found a more suitable applicant who would benefit more from this scholarship."

  "How can you say that?" I didn't want to make a scene but what the hell was this lady talking about?! Someone more suitable what the hell?

  "What do you mean? She loved my plate. How can she take away my place just like that?!"

  "No contract was signed no papers we're given. It was just a word of mouth at that moment and let's face it. Those don't really count, do they?"

  I wanted to slap this cruel, snotty woman and break her face in two.

  "But...I don't understand she said I was to meet with you my mentor and.."

  "I'm sorry Miss Alicante but there must have been a mistake. She send me here to personally tell you that they have decided to go with someone else. I am really sorry but there is nothing I can do. I'm just the messenger"

  "Who can I complain too about this...this joke!"

  "Well, you can complain to our director of academic cooking scholarships for western Europe, but to be honest it will not do any good. The director is a very busy man and he lets the decisions to the judges, and you didn't get accepted I am sorry."

  But that's the thing I did! What part is so hard to understand!

  This woman was clearly mistaken.

  "I did get accepted though..."

  "Miss Alicante, I have to go, I have to be the mentor to the person who did get selected and I am meeting them in half an hour. That's how long it will take me to get there so if you don't mind, I'm sorry but I can't stay and chit chat. The decision has been made and unfortunately, it was not your time I'm sorry"

  "Do you have the judge's number who gave me the spot in the first place. I would like to talk to her and see why she took my place after she gave it to me?!"

  "Yes, but I am afraid she is in Europe and will not be returning to Australia anytime soon. Miss Alicante, I know this is a very hard time, but you must look forward and not backward. Let it go it wasn't your time and look to other things."

  She rose from her chair and I wanted to push her and bury her face in the table.

  Easy for her to freaking say that to me. A young educated European woman with the looks and education to get anything she wanted. It was easy for her to say move on when I had nothing to move on too! I couldn't afford college. I didn't have a job! I wasn't working. I had nothing! This scholarship was my ticket out of here and now I had nothing. I wanted to punch her in the face, and I knew that if I go home and not do anything, I will regret it. It will eat me alive.

  She was walking away with her grand posture and her pencil skirt. Women like her had it easy, so it was easy for her to rain on my parade and not give a shit about who she hurt.

  I couldn't take it. That made me angrier.

  I ran after her before she got a chance to open the door and leave, I pulled her by her blue navy dress shirt and she stumbled back. She broke a heel. Good!

  She turned to face me "what the fuck!" She shouted at me.

  "Not very professional Miss Norway" I told her before I punched her in her nose making it bleed. I stumbled too and lost my balance. I almost fell. She screamed.

  When I regained my balance, I grabbed her by the hair and pushed her back again yanking her hair. She let a loud scream.

  "Must be so easy for you to make people feel like crap and smile about it right!"

  I wanted to hit her again but was stopped when someone grabbed my hand from behind.

  "What the fuck is your problem, Eden!"

  Rock grabbed my hand and was holding it hard. Rhino stormed in after him holding the woman back from coming at me.

  "Self-defense is not a crime!" She was shouting "let me go so I can show this little nobody shit who she messed with!"

  The woman started screaming but Rhino held her.

  "I don't think the boss will like that very much," he said.

  What?! Who was the boss?

  I was also trying to get my hand back, but Rock just held it harder. Giving me a dark evil look. He was angry. No, he was furious and there was no doubt that Ross would know about this. Who cares? What was he going to do?

  The woman screamed all kinds of profanities at me I mostly blocked her words but there was one thing she said that really stopped me on my tracks. Or I would had stopped if it wasn't for Rock pushing me to go. How did he even get here? Rhino drove me here, not him.

  "You will never be anybody, you will never go anywhere, nobody will give a violent piece of shit like yourself an opportunity at anything successful watch your back little girl watch it!"

  She wanted to say more but Rhino took her out the other door the opposite way.

  The lady in the reception area just stood there with her mouth open in shock holding the phone in one hand clearly to call the police. Rock kept pushing me slowly.

  I spotted Rock's red mustang. "Get the fuck in," he said. No questions, it was a demand, not a request.

  Of all of Ross's gang members, it was him I feared the most. He was serious and loyal as heck to Ross he would do anything for him. Of that, I had no doubt. What had I done?

  But Rock didn't stay quiet like I thought he would. As he drove, he spoke.

  "You are so fucking lucky that Ross protects you. That woman will most likely press cri
minal assault charges on you! With a record like that how the fuck do you think that people will take you seriously or even give you a job?! Nobody will. You might as well become Ross's bitch for the rest of your life because that is all you will ever have!"

  I didn't know what to say to all of that, but he was right. What the hell was wrong with me? I was never a violent person. But when pushed to the limit I didn't have control and my mouth most of the time got the best of me. But becoming physically violent and hitting someone. That, I had no idea where it came from. Perhaps all the anger built up. Perhaps the fact that I had absolutely nothing to fall back on and that woman could care less because let's face it. It wasn't her life. It was mine. And it wasn't going anywhere. So, yes, I was angry. Angry at life and at people who thought they were better because they had great jobs and fancy houses and cars and accents. I was angry at everyone but also at myself!

  Rock said what he had to say, and I just stared out the window. When we got to the mansion Ross was outside with of course! Monique. Not the day to have her here.

  "I bet you are going to tell Ross everything aren't you?" I said more of a statement than a question. He looked at me with his sunglasses on.

  "Who the hell else is going to solve this problem for you? Because if it was me. I would leave your ass rotting in jail. Now get the fuck out of my car!" He said. I didn't think twice.

  I slammed his door so hard I was surprised the window didn't break and ran up the stairs to the mansion.

  "Hey, babe..." Ross said smiling his wicked smile at me but I ran past him. I climbed up the stairs and ran to my room and locked the door. I laid on the floor. Not on the bed. The floor is where I deserved to be. This wasn't my house. I had nothing. I was a beggar. And I felt it as such every time. I couldn't look in the mirror. I hated who I saw.

  "Don't worry. You will do great things little Eden" Julio's kind words hung in the air. A distant pleasant memory. His words always cheered me up.

  "Where are you, Julio?" I said staring up at the ceiling. Wishing the floor would swallow me whole and I could escape this.