Possession(21)

It’s just a matter of time.

After half an hour of riding, we eventually head back home and put Max back into his booth. As we do, a man I have never seen before approaches Drake. “Sir, Mr Stewart is on the line. Do you want to take it?” He holds out the phone, and Drake eagerly takes it from him before turning to me.

“I need to take this, but I’ll be right back.”

I nod my head and off he goes. I start taking the reins off Max, but notice in the corner of my eye that the guy who approached us hasn’t moved. When I look at him, he’s casually leaning on the wall observing me with a cocky smile on his face.

Frowning, I wonder whether to say something, but decide against it and carry on doing what I’m doing. “So, you’re what all the fuss is about.”

I immediately stop and stare back at him. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“You’re Drake’s girl.”

I want to argue that I’m not, but something tells me not to. “So?” I ask, placing the reins on their hanger. I then take his saddle off and bend down to place it on the floor.

“You’re even prettier than I imagined … and that arse … fuck me.”

Snapping my posture up, I turn to the arrogant twat. “Who the hell are you?”

Pushing himself off the wall, his cocky grin disappears as he offers me his hand. “I’m Joe. The newbie.”

I don’t accept his offer. Instead, I stand with my hand on my hip and stare at him. This just makes that cocky grin come back again. “Okay, Joe … the newbie, I think you need to learn some boundaries. I doubt Drake would like it if he knew you were talking to me like this.”

I observe him as he shrugs his shoulders. I can’t tell whether he’s overly confident or just too stupid for his own good. He’s young—not that much older than I am—with a good four inches in height over me, dark blond, spiky hair and blue eyes. He’s attractive in a sense, but he does nothing for me in particular. In fact, his eyes tell a sinister tale which I do not want to explore.

“Maybe I like pushing boundaries. Have you ever thought about that?”

I snort. “Well, that’s painfully obvious, considering you’re the first guy working here who’s dared to talk to me like that.”

Not caring for my words, he stalks towards me until we’re only a couple of feet apart. “They might not say it to your face, but believe me when I say that they all think it. They’re just too chicken shit to voice it out loud.”

“How old are you?”

“Twenty,” he says, waggling his eyebrows. “Why? Do you dig me?”

Huffing, I move away from him and start walking out of the stables. “You’re full of shit,” I mutter under my breath.

I’m sure he’s about to retort, but as we venture outside, Drake is stalking towards us. He notices that we’ve just come out of the stables together and his face turns to thunder. “Can I help you, Joe?” he asks vehemently.

“No, sir. I was just asking Miss Montgomery if she needed my help.”

I feel like laughing again, but instead walk up to Drake and place my hand in his. “Are you finished, baby?” Drake frowns at my baby comment, but little does he know I’m doing it deliberately in front of this jerk-off who’s now smirking at me.

“Yes, all done. I’ll take you home now.”

I don’t want to go home. Lately, home is an ugly place with two equally ugly people living in it. I don’t condone people hating their parents as a rule, but if they had ones like mine, I think I could make an exception.

But, not wanting to argue with Drake in front of this arsehole, I nod my head. “Okay, you can take me home now.”





Age Fourteen


I heard Drake and my parents arguing a couple of days ago, and things have been tense ever since. I’m not sure what it was about, but I certainly heard my name being mentioned once or twice. I hate the fact that they may be arguing over me.

Also, lately, my parents have been acting really weird. They’ve been fussing about my hair, makeup, what dresses I should wear—you name it. The other times, they ignore me like I’m not even there. I don’t like it when they fuss, though. That’s definitely worse than being ignored. I’m not sure why, but there’s something rather… disturbing about their behaviour.

Today is a good day. Today, I’m being ignored and it feels like I can have some breathing space. I’m in my bedroom, getting ready for a day out shopping with my new friend, Mandy. I’ll be fifteen soon and want to get a new outfit for my birthday party round Drake’s house. He’s been such a good friend to me. I would even say he’s fast becoming the father I never had. Although, for some reason, I don’t like to think of him in that way.