Ruthless(42)

Continue to Part Four





CHAPTER ONE


Morgan




We walked into the living room of the manor, which was rarely used. The twins and I usually stayed in the West Wing, where the furniture was comfortable though luxurious. Here in the main house, things were different because the furniture was imposing and meant to intimidate.#p#分页标题#e#

Gerald Kingsley rose from an overstuffed couch, and I gasped. I’d never realized how much he looked like his sons. He had dark, windswept hair and penetrating blue eyes, even if he was heavyset in middle-age. Cole and Landon were spitting images of him, just thirty years younger.

“Cole, Landon,” he said stiffly. “Welcome. Thank you for accompanying Morgan on her college tour.”

Okay, so it seemed Gerald was a little more clued in than my mom about the twins’ college prospects. At least he knew that the twins had no interest in furthering their education, and had merely been my companions cum chaperones.

“Hey Gerald,” said Landon coldly. “So glad to see you. So glad you were there to comfort us after Violet died,” he added sarcastically. Violet was their mom, a stripper Gerald had had a fling with twenty years ago. After the twins were born, Gerald sent checks but never saw his boys, as if the money was a sufficient replacement for a relationship. Needless to say, Cole and Landon were bitter about their father, especially since Violet was an addict and completely neglectful parent.

But Gerald didn’t look ashamed. Instead, he poured himself some bourbon from a decanter, not bothering to offer us any anything. He took a sip, and I could tell this was a man used to getting his way. He was setting the pace, using the space and the silence to his advantage.

“So did you have a good tour?” he asked smoothly, skipping the small talk and ignoring Landon’s comment. Dang, this guy was cold. “I understand you visited RISD, Swarthmore, Bowdoin and a couple other schools right? Bowdoin was Morgan’s top choice before. Is it still, after your visit?”

I shot my brothers a glance, and decided to avoid answering directly.

“I thought the campus was beautiful,” I gushed, “And the studio art program is exactly what I’m looking for. I love sculpture, and they have an amazing facility, as well as the University Museum, where there’s …” my voice trailed off, faltering. Oh crap, the museum is where the University had caught my brothers and I on tape, engaged in heavy foreplay. How could I have forgotten?

“The Museum?” Gerald asked blandly. “Tell me more,” he continued.

“Well, they have some amazing art!” I rushed, trying to stick to the easy stuff. “Jeff Koons’ balloon dog exhibit is on display, and it’s an amazing piece of contemporary artwork, designed to make the viewer question the accoutrements of childhood,” I babbled.

Gerald looked amused.

“I see we have a budding art critic here,” he stated, with an eyebrow raised. “What else made an impression during your visit?”

My cheeks flushed, and I had the sinking sensation of falling into quicksand, but a slight shake of the head from Landon caused me to continue my story.

“I loved just about everything about Bowdoin,” I babbled, my cheeks flushing hotly. “We went to a diner on campus and it was so cute. I guess if there was anything that I didn’t like, it was they ran out of curly straws for my ice cream shake!” I finished lamely. God, I sounded like a little girl, but fibbing on the fly wasn’t my thing.

Gerald chuckled.

“Okay well a shortage of curly straws isn’t a big deal,” he said. “Boys, was there any particular thing that made an impression on you?” he said, eyebrows raised.

Landon and Cole shared a glance before answering.

“Naw,” said Landon smoothly. “Cole and I aren’t school types, they all looked the same to us.”

“Fine,” said Gerald. “Was there anything else you wanted to tell me?” he asked, a pregnant pause in the air. “We can always continue the conversation at dinner, if you like,” he said, a gleam in his eye. “You three look a little tired.”#p#分页标题#e#

I had an ominous feeling, but kept my mouth shut and shook my head no. Cole and Landon did the same.

“No Dad,” drawled Cole. “Let’s chat at dinner. We need to get cleaned up, we’re grimy from driving all day.”

“Alright, see you at eight,” said my stepdad. “Dress nice, Consuela is serving a five-course meal tonight.”

“Um … yeah, okay,” said the twins as we retreated to the West Wing. I felt shivery and scared, even as I looked at the broad, reassuring backs of my brothers.