Feeling thirsty, I decide to go downstairs to the kitchen to get a drink. My mother is out at her yoga class, but my father is here, conducting business as usual.
As I get down to the bottom of the stairs, I start to walk past his study when I hear my name being mentioned.
“Evelyn’s almost fifteen. She’s beautiful … and highly popular.” I frown, but then smile at my father’s compliment of me. That’s the first time I’ve heard him refer to me as beautiful.
“We can discuss finances when you get here,” he says, making me frown again. “When are you next in town?” It goes silent for a moment before he speaks again. “I know there’s a couple of others who are definitely interested, but I’ll see what I can do. In this day and age, you have to strike whilst the iron’s hot.” He starts laughing, and all I can think about is what in the hell is he on about?
“Okay, I’ll set it up and get her ready by then. See you Tuesday. Bye, Isaac.”
Frowning, I hear the phone click and rush away before my father catches me. While I’m in the kitchen getting some water, all I can think about is that phone call, how strange it was, and who the hell Isaac is. In fact, his name sounds all too familiar.
Shivers run down my spine when I think of that evil-looking guy at my house a year or so ago. Could it be him? Drake knows him, and I remember him telling me to tell him if I saw him again. Technically, this isn’t the same, but I have to ask.
Rushing back up the stairs with my bottle of water, I grab my phone off my bedside and text Drake.
Me: This guy you told me to tell you about. His name’s not Isaac, is it?
My phone immediately rings. It’s Drake. I’m about to say hello, but he beats me to it. “Is he there?” He sounds really angry.
“No, but I heard my father on the phone. I think they were discussing me.”
I hear a loud crash, and I’m about to ask if he’s okay when he speaks. “Tell me everything, Evelyn. The whole conversation you heard.”
I tell him all that I heard being discussed, and when I’m finished, Drake immediately says, “Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be there in ten minutes. Just stay in your room until I come for you. Okay?”
“Okay,” I answer a little shakily. For some reason, his reaction is scaring me. Who is this Isaac and what does he want?
The line goes dead, and I sit, waiting and wondering what’s going to happen. I’m supposed to be meeting Mandy in an hour. Getting up, I start pacing the floor, wondering what’s going to happen once Drake gets here. After a few more minutes, I hear the thunderous wrapping on the door and then my father answering. The shouting gets louder as they talk, but pretty soon, it fades away. They must have moved into my father’s study.
At first, I sit there, waiting for when Drake will arrive, but then curiosity seems to get the better of me. Step by step, I wander over to the door, open it a little, and creep through. Whatever argument they were having seems to have died down, but I can still hear voices. Once I reach the bottom of the stairs, I take tentative steps towards my father’s study, so I can hear them better.
“I don’t want to hear any more of this, William.”
“Of course not, sir,” my father answers. “You’ve made me a very happy man. I’m sure Charlotte will be thrilled when she hears the news. You’ve very generously brought us out of a rather messy situation.”
Wondering what they’re talking about, I lean in further and notice that the door isn’t completely shut. It opens slightly, making me gasp. I close my eyes, thinking they’d heard me, but when I open them again, all I can see is Drake leaning over my father’s desk, writing something. After a few seconds, he rips out a piece of paper—which looks like a cheque—and hands it to him. “This is first of two instalments. I want you to keep Evelyn here and away from prying eyes. Do you fucking understand me?”
“Of course.” I can hear the slight tremble in my father’s voice.
“Once she turns eighteen, you can have the other half, and I will be taking her into my care. I’m offering you a very generous deal here, William. She’s a fucking child at the moment. Don’t ever forget that.”
Gripping my shirt tight to my chest, I feel like I want to hyperventilate. I want to run away, but I just can’t seem to move my feet.
“I know, Mr Salvatore. We’ll do our best by her, you can be assured of that.”
“Now that I’ve paid this down payment on Evelyn, I will assure she is also kept safe and secure in my care. I will pay for anything she needs and will provide for her in any way I can. Do you understand that?”